Soccer Coach Adrian Advocates For Multi-Use Athletic Field

I think it's time I introduce myself and share my perspective on the "football practice field." I haven't had a voice on Facebook, but the amount of misinformation and misunderstanding about this field has become hard to ignore. If you've struggled to support this bond because a small portion of the funding would go toward athletic facilities, I hope you'll read this with an open mind and consider the broader impact athletics and activities have on students.

I've been a teacher and boys and girls soccer coach in McPherson for 16 years. I also have a fifth-grader and a third-grader at Roosevelt Elementary, with one more starting kindergarten next year. The 3rd Adrian is the wildest yet, so watch out, teachers! We love it here in McPherson and want our kids to have the facilities that support their education and aspirations.

I have a passion for soccer, but what matters most to me is the role athletics and activities play in shaping young people. Research clearly shows that students involved in extracurricular activities perform better academically and gain skills that last a lifetime. They learn leadership, teamwork, time management, resilience, and accountability. They develop pride in their school and community, something we could desperately use more of right now. With all of that in mind, it's hard for me to understand why we wouldn't invest in facilities that help provide those opportunities.

Now, the "football practice field." People need to understand it is so much more than that and is used by hundreds of students. Yes, for Coach Pavlovich and the varsity football team, it is currently a practice field. I hope that this bond passes and we soon get the chance to see the first true home varsity football game played there. Friday night football has a way of bringing the community together in a way that no other sport can.

But for many other programs, the field is necessary. Close to 80 boys and girls soccer players use it for home games, along with practice. More than 175 high school and middle school track athletes now have a place to practice and host meets. Freshman and JV football teams can play at home. Band students finally have a safe space to rehearse that isn't a parking lot. On any given evening, youth football and soccer teams are practicing there, taking pride in playing on a field with the Bullpup logo, dreaming of being a future Bullpup someday. I've also watched the Special Olympics team use the track, and the excitement on their faces says everything you need to know about its value. No other field or facility serves as many McPherson students and youth programs, and it's not even close.

Beyond athletics, the field has become an outstanding classroom and school resource. PE and SPS classes use it regularly. Staff and community members walk there for exercise. It serves students and teachers throughout the school day, not just after school.

Completing the field isn't about building something flashy or excessive. It's about giving our students the same basic opportunities that schools our size already provide. It's about supporting student athletes, school pride, and investing in experiences that shape who these kids become.

I want to sincerely thank the community members who stepped up to help fund it. Their generosity shows how deeply people here care about our students, and it is something we should be proud of. Their contributions ensured that many teams have a place to practice and compete while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

Our kids work hard and represent this community with pride. They deserve facilities that reflect that effort. McPherson has a long tradition of outstanding student-athletes and programs, and supporting them isn't just about sports; it's about investing in the future of McPherson.

MMS PE Teacher/MHS Soccer Coach Chris Adrian

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