State of High School Athletics

Hello Sentinel Family,

While I have already had the pleasure of meeting many of you, I am excited to continue getting to know the rest of our community as the school year progresses.There have been several exciting developments both on campus and within our athletic program, and I wanted to share this update to keep everyone informed about what is happening now and what lies ahead on the horizon.

Strength and Conditioning Program

CLASSICAL is excited to now offer a Strength and Conditioning Program for all student-athletes in grades 7-12.

Our weight room is fully operational, and many of our fall teams are already training daily after school under the guidance of Strength and Conditioning Coach Elmer Bullock. The facility is also available for out-of-season training and individual workouts for any students interested in improving their strength, fitness, and athletic performance.

The weight room schedule is as follows:

• Team training: Weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Individual training: Daily from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We are excited about the impact this program will have on the overall development and success of our student-athletes.

Upper School Concession Stand

The concession stand in the upper school gym is now complete and ready for action.

One of its newest features is a television that will livestream games taking place in the gym, ensuring that concession workers can enjoy the action without missing a moment. The stand will offer a variety of hot and cold food and beverages, spirit wear, and, of course, our popular slushies.

Be sure to stop by and support the program at your next event!

Current Athletic Offerings

The most effective approach to building a successful athletic program is to grow intentionally and strategically. Rather than expanding too quickly, we will focus on providing the highest-quality experience possible for the sports that best align with our student population, facilities, and available resources.

For that reason, we will not be adding any new sports during the current school year. (Exceptions for those in current development – teams in current development have strong student interest, as well as a head coach to help in the development of the team) However, we remain open to future expansion as our school continues to grow.

Fall Sports

• Cross Country
• Golf
• Football
• Girls Volleyball

Winter Sports

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Wrestling

Spring Sports

• Track & Field
• Boys Volleyball

Future Athletic Offerings

As enrollment continues to increase, we anticipate opportunities to expand our athletic offerings. However, with projected high school enrollment reaching approximately 450 students, we must be mindful of maintaining program quality and competitiveness.

Offering too many sports can dilute participation and negatively impact the success of existing programs. As a result, our current goal is to limit athletic offerings to approximately six sports per season. This allows room for growth while ensuring each program receives the support and resources it needs to thrive.

Sports currently being considered for future expansion include:

Fall

• Boys Soccer (currently in development)
• Girls Soccer (currently in development)
• Girls Tennis

Winter

• Indoor Track
• Bowling
• Swimming and Diving
• Fencing

Spring

• Baseball (currently in development)
• Softball (currently in development)
• Boys Lacrosse
• Girls Lacrosse
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Flag Football
• Boys Rugby

We know many families have questions about how new sports are added. Later this year, we will distribute a survey to gather feedback from students and parents regarding which sports they would most like to see introduced.

This feedback will help guide our planning and determine where we focus our efforts. In addition, qualified coaches must be identified and hired, as they play a critical role in building schedules, acquiring equipment, and developing programs. Finally, families and students must demonstrate sufficient interest by registering through FinalForms during the designated registration period.

If these pieces come together and timelines are met, there is a strong possibility that several new sports could be added in the coming years.

Joining a League

One of the questions I receive most frequently is whether CLASSICAL plans to join an athletic league or conference. The answer is yes, and we are actively working toward that goal.

Several leagues have already been identified as strong potential fits, and initial conversations have begun. However, joining a conference is not as simple as submitting an application and waiting for acceptance. There are numerous requirements, considerations, and negotiations involved.

Two of the primary challenges are:

1. CLASSICAL is not yet an OHSAA member school.
2. We do not currently offer some of the cornerstone varsity sports, most notably varsity football.

Football often plays a significant role in conference alignment, which is one reason we continue working diligently toward establishing a sustainable football program.

At this time, we are optimistic that CLASSICAL could potentially join a league or conference as early as the 2028-29 school year.

OHSAA Membership

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) serves as the governing body for high school athletics in Ohio. Membership provides schools with access to state tournament competition, district and state recognition programs, and a consistent framework for athletic compliance and safety.

Currently, CLASSICAL is not an OHSAA member school. Our goal is to achieve membership during the 2028-29 school year.

To reach that milestone, we must first complete a one-year probationary period, which we hope to begin next year. Before entering probation, the school must satisfy several membership requirements, including meeting minimum participation standards for interscholastic athletic competition.

While the process takes time, we are making steady progress toward meeting all necessary benchmarks.

Moving Forward

As you can see, this is not a matter of choosing not to join a conference or deciding against OHSAA membership. Rather, we are following a deliberate and strategic timeline designed to give our athletic programs the greatest opportunity for long-term success.

Our goal is to create programs that are organized, competitive, well-rounded, and rewarding for everyone involved. We believe it is important to build carefully and responsibly rather than risk undermining future success by expanding too quickly.

The enthusiasm and support of our students, parents, and community members have played a tremendous role in creating the positive culture that already exists at CLASSICAL. As Director of Athletics, I am committed to harnessing that energy and building an athletic program that reflects the high standards and expectations of our school community.

I sincerely appreciate the support, feedback, and encouragement I have received as we continue to shape the future of athletics at CLASSICAL.

I look forward to helping carry the torch forward in the years ahead and hope to see all of you out supporting our outstanding student-athletes throughout the season.

Have a great day,

Mr. Kevin Bissmeyer