The following article will be published in the March edition of Saginaw Township Living magazine.

Building Character While Building Skills in Junior High Athletics

By Sarah Witten & Hadley Pinkerton, Nouvel Class of 2030 

Photo Courtesy of Veronica Hrywnak

At Nouvel Catholic Central, junior high students are offered opportunities to participate in a variety of sports and activities. In 7th and 8th grade, Panthers have the chance to take part in basketball, football, cross country, track, volleyball, and the clay target team. It’s an introduction to sports before high school, when those opportunities expand to 22 varsity sports.  

Athletic Director, Matt Solek shared, “The goal of junior high athletics is simple, develop the whole athlete. At this level, we’re focused on skill development, confidence, character and love of the game. Wins matter, but growth matters more.”  In junior high, Panthers continue to develop skills, while still focusing on sportsmanship and team building. By not just prioritizing talent, Panthers learn to care about all of their teammates. Jaece Hrywnak, an eighth grade Panther shared, “I love Nouvel sports because all of my teammates feel like family to me. Playing with friends makes the games fun. We get pumped and excited together.”

Athletics are competitive but also inclusive. There is a roster spot for everyone that wants to participate. This also means when more players go out for a sport, another grade level team can be added. Everyone should be able to play, even if they’ve never played before.

In the Nouvel community, faith is also a part of our athletic programs, with prayer before every game and thanking God for the opportunities given. Student-athletes like eighth grader Zoe Hartwell are grateful for the chance to participate. She shared, “Nouvel sports helped me to meet new people and create new opportunities outside of learning.” 

In addition to sports, Nouvel offers other extracurricular activities including theater, band and more, to anyone who wants to participate. Students can explore interests and try new things. Everyone gets the chance to be a part of something. By exploring different extracurriculars, Panthers learn to go beyond their limits and may discover new things they love. 

Nouvel loves seeing every student grow and shine, developing their God-given talents. Panthers enjoy incredible opportunities to shine in the classroom, on the court and as leaders in their community. They receive the benefit of smaller class sizes and individualized attention. For more information on Nouvel athletics, please visit www.NouvelCatholic.org/Explore.