I always hear (and in the age of Facebook, read) the same complaint about Yorkton.
That complaint? 鈥楾here鈥檚 nothing to do in this city!鈥�
Well, to those of you that believe that statement, I have but one thing to say to you: you really couldn鈥檛 be more wrong.
You see, the City of Yorkton has not one, but two, high schools. Now what does that mean? Not too much if you stop reading right now.
However, if you continue on past this sentence then you鈥檒l see my meaning.
Those two high schools have two football teams each, four basketball teams, four volleyball teams, two soccer teams, etc., etc.
The list really does go on.
So when you get the urge to complain about your boredom, please call up either Sacred Heart or Yorkton Regional and see what their athletic schedule is.
Then go out and support the local athletes. They鈥檇 be absolutely ecstatic to see the locals out supporting their teams as they attempt to bring a title back to the city.
Now I can hear some people still complaining, saying, 鈥淥h, well that would be boring. High school sports are awful.鈥�
Once again, you鈥檙e wrong. Dreadfully, horribly wrong.
High school sports are an absolute treat to watch. Not only do the teams play at a very high level, but the athletes play for the love of their chosen sport and for the chance to earn a scholarship (which many have done from both schools, especially in recent years).
In fact both the Sacred Heart Saints and YRHS Raiders boast many high calibre athletes that not only excel at the provincial high school level, but nationally and internationally as well.
It鈥檚 not often that I say that we could learn something from our southern neighbours, but when it comes to supporting high school sports, we really can.
The way the Americans support their high school sports is admirable. They really do care. It鈥檚 not just the parents and grandparents of the athletes that religiously attend high school sporting events down south, but alumni and boosters as well.
Sadly here in Canada, or at least Saskatchewan, people tend to forget about the high school that they graduated from almost as soon as they get their diploma and exit the doors for the last time as a student.
We really need to adopt the American mindset when it comes to high school sports.
But unlike the United States, here in Yorkton it鈥檚 very inexpensive to go and watch the high school sporting event of your choice. A ticket to a local high school sporting event will cost you around zero dollars (or at the very most a donation to charity).
So next time you feel as if there is nothing to do in Yorkton do yourself a favour: attend a high school sporting event.
You鈥檒l thank me later.
