Hawks Take Flight

Even amidst changes due to the pandemic, Prairie’s Upper School athletic teams have seen much success in the 2020-21 school year

—By Rachel Shuster

When fall rolled around, schools across the state were still figuring out how they would hold classes, let alone athletic practices and competitions. Many districts, including those neighboring Wind Point, chose to either defer or cancel athletic seasons.

But not Prairie. Even amidst uncertainty, the Hawks took off — and they haven’t been grounded since. Both the fall and winter saw a packed slate of Upper School sports, and our athletes took full advantage of that opportunity.

The Boys’ Soccer team clinched yet another Division 4 State Championship title. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country each sent runners to the state meet. Girls’ Golf finished out a stellar season as the Division 2 state runner-up, followed by the Boys’ Basketball team’s historic run to their own runner-up finish in the Division 4 state tournament.

Since the pandemic, the Athletic Department has shifted many policies to ensure conditions are safe for student-athletes to train and compete, including limitations on spectator attendance and scheduled Fitness Center access. But faculty still want to make sure that students who want to work out, get better, and stay healthy, get a chance to do just that.

“When I think about my entire time in this department, I’m most proud of giving our students the opportunity to compete this year,” says TPS Athletic Director Jason Atanasoff. “We are far more fortunate than plenty of schools around the state who have not been able to compete at all. We got through fall and winter sports with little to no incidents, just a few hiccups along the way. We’re looking for more of the same in the spring.”

“The opportunity for these kids to get to be around their peers and play — some little semblance of normalcy during this crazy year — I’m super proud that Prairie, our administration, and our Athletics team have been able to make that happen.”

THE EVOLUTION OF ATHLETICS

At Prairie, athletics are more than just co-curricular activities. From Middle School through Upper School, competitors are students first and athletes second, focused on strengthening their minds and their bodies with the help of expert coaches in state-of-the-art facilities. Their teams are an extension of our school community, one in which expectations for leadership and sportsmanship extend beyond their huddles and long after the last buzzer.

While this spirit and community atmosphere remain the same, in recent years, the Athletic Department has seen quite a few changes – specifically, additions to strengthen program offerings. Members of Prairie’s Athletic faculty took stock of this evolution during a recent “Spotlight” webinar, hosted by Prairie’s Admission Office for prospective families.

“Prairie athletics are unique, but pretty amazing,” says Jason Atanasoff, TPS Athletic Director. “Our no-cut policy sometimes raises eyebrows, but we believe that if you’re dedicated enough to come out for a sport, we’ll find the appropriate team for you.”

“We’ve worked to make it a welcoming environment,” he continues. “My office has become a common area where everyone from all sports comes to hang out or check in. They know I have an open door policy.”

Including Atanasoff, the Athletic Department now boasts five faculty members specifically dedicated to working with student-athletes: an Athletic Administrative Assistant; a Game Manager; a full-time Athletic Trainer, who is employed by Ascension but works all practices and athletic events for both Prairie’s Middle and Upper School; and a Strength & Conditioning Coach. That’s Zach Perkins; prior to joining Prairie, Perkins spent his time in collegiate strength and conditioning, where his role’s purpose was similar.

“The goal is to help athletes reach their physical potential for a sport,” Perkins explains. “I work to help our students produce as much force as they possibly can, in the shortest amount of time. It’s also very important that athletes are able to absorb that force, to land properly, decelerate, and stop to prevent injury.”

In addition to the time he spends with student-athletes, Perkins also works with students who aren’t members of sports teams. Every Prairie freshman is required to take the Lifelong Fitness course, to develop confidence in getting in a good workout, and to build a foundation for health and wellness for the rest of their lives.

Students can begin playing intramural and interscholastic sports in Middle School. Upper School student-athletes have seventeen sports to choose from throughout the year, including a few recent additions: Boys’ and Girls’ Swim co-op teams with Racine St. Catherine’s, and a Wrestling co-op team with Racine St. Catherine’s and Racine Lutheran High School.