One day after Yelm Community Schools announced in a newsletter that C-team sports at the high school and middle schools and athletic transportation would be cut districtwide during the 2024-25 school year, Total Sports Development (TSD) launched a fundraiser to save four teams from being cut at Yelm High School.
TSD’s “No Kid Left Behind” fundraiser was announced during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and seeks to raise $50,000 to save the YHS football, basketball, volleyball and soccer C-teams next year. While a date for the money needed wasn’t provided by the district, TSD organizers feel a sense of urgency raising the money for the three C-team level sports at the high school that begin in two weeks.
Donations can be made at https://tinyurl.com/SaveYelmSports. Tax write-off forms will automatically be sent to email inboxes following a donation.
Jason Ronquillo, 11-year Yelm High School head football coach and current TSD vice president, told the Nisqually Valley News that if people who have ever played athletics or have family involved in athletics understand the value and lessons that come with it.
“Because of my roles in both the school district, the private sector and having that third wheel in one of my programs getting cut, I feel that I’m in the right seat to get this rolling,” Ronquillo said. “Nobody wants to be in this situation, but I need to find solutions because our teams, volleyball, football and soccer teams are about to start in two weeks.
“Athletics can literally change the trajectory of a child's life. I've seen so many student athletes saved by athletics,” Ronquillo added. “They've stayed in school, removed themselves from gang activity and have come back to their coaches to say thank you. ‘Thank you for all the lessons you've taught me and for never giving up on me.’ Personally, I would have never gone to college, got a bachelor's degree, got a masters degree, my national boards, etcetera, if it wasn't for athletics. It changed the entire landscape of my life.”
During the Zoom meeting, Ronquillo stated that athletics are currently in a time of crisis and that he believes a lot of people recognize that. With girls soccer, football and volleyball starting soon, he recognizes something needs to be done soon to keep C-teams alive at the high school level.
“When you cut sports out of kids’ lives, they may not have any other options. There’s a larger picture to this,” Ronquillo said. “In order for this to work, we all have to work together. We all have to act. I’m going to give us some strategies to act that can really get our kids in a good position to play this year.”
Ronquillo also emphasized that the fundraiser is currently strictly focused on this upcoming school year, and the money raised is not intended for athletic transportation or middle school sports.
“The reason why it’s not [focused on middle school C-teams] is because if I’m in sixth or seventh grade and I don’t have the ability to play on that C squad at that time, I still have six years left of playing ability later on as I get older,” Ronquillo said.
He added that athletic transportation in 2023 cost YCS $325,000, and TDS is currently not in a position to attempt to fundraise that amount. Ronquillo also mentioned that additional fundraisers could be organized for athletic transportation and middle school sports in the future.
Ronquillo believes it is most important to fundraise for YHS C-team sports because that level of participation could be the last opportunity for many athletes to compete in high school sports, adding that not all athletes continue their athletic careers deep into high school.
The unintended consequences of cutting C-team sports, according to TSD and Ronquillo, include decreased student grade point averages; lower school attendance; less after-school supervision; fewer positive figures in students’ lives; loss of enthusiasm for sports; loss of friendships; loss of character development; loss of joy; increased disciplinary issues and more.
“We know as coaches and as parents that if kids don’t have things to do, they do things they’re not supposed to do. They get involved in things they’re not supposed to,” he said. “A lot of the athletes that we have on our teams are only in school because of sports. If it wasn’t for soccer, if it wasn’t for basketball, volleyball or football, they wouldn’t even be coming to school.”
He added that the school district gave TSD a $40,000 fundraising goal, based on expenses from the 2023-24 athletic year, however the organization aims to raise $50,000 due to changes in scheduling and rising costs.
“One thing we will absolutely not do, is we will not give the district any more money than the C-teams cost, and any money leftover will be banked for next year,” Ronquillo said. “We want to create a platform for donations, large or small, that the community can contribute to and rally around. Our students need us now more than ever. They didn't get a vote in the levy, but they're the ones that are going to suffer the most. They need our community's support like never before. We are providing the manpower to get out into the community, organizing fundraising events, contacting local business, meeting with community leaders and utilizing our platform to spread awareness and answer the call to save C-team sports.”
Phil Ogle, TSD president, said that businesses interested in making donations to the fundraiser will also receive tax receipts. He said the donations can be written off in two ways: either as a charitable donation or as marketing.
“As long as you donate $1,000, we’ll put something in the stadium with the company name and logo on it,” Ogle said. “If you guys want to do something bigger, let's negotiate and we’ll talk about another type of sponsorship as far as a bigger banner.”
TSD organizers strongly believe that the experiences stemming from sports cannot be cut from the lives of C-team athletes.
“They are the future leaders of the world, and they deserve an opportunity to be the best person they can be. Lost opportunities like these change kids,” Ronquillo said. “The great news is we have people in this community that are willing to sacrifice their time, money and efforts towards making sure we do everything possible to keep these opportunities for kids.”
