Sports are among the best ways for students to get involved in their community. Not only do they keep students active and healthy, but they also help develop social and physical skills. One of the significant challenges that student-athletes face is balancing sports with schoolwork. How do they balance school and sports if they travel for events?

Any sporting event requiring students to stay away from home overnight is considered a travel meet, which could be out of the district, city, or state.

“Each sport is different, and every situation is different,” Athletic Director and Associate Principal Stephen Baranowski said. “I speak with the coach and the team, and we decide [whether or not to have travel meets] based on the cheapest and smartest decision for each sport.”

“I traveled for the hole in the wall, districts, and state meets,” CHS athlete Sophia Shattles said. “All three meets took place on the Saturday of the weekend, but we drove up the Friday during the day so we could practice the afternoon before.” 

Shattles is a member of the Varsity Girls Cross Country team. The team recently traveled to Pasco, WA, for the state competition. The general athletic fund was raised through ticket sales and sports user fees to pay for the meet.

“We went to districts by charter bus, and we left Thursday afternoon so we could swim in the pool before the districts,” CHS junior athlete Yuna Lee said. “The meet was in Walla Walla, [WA], and was over the Friday and Saturday of the weekend.”

Lee is a Varsity Girls Swim team member who most recently traveled to Walla Walla for bi-districts. The charter bus ride was possible due to fundraising done by the team. However, they went by school bus for any regular meets they traveled to. A charter bus becomes an option if it is cheaper and the distance is over 140 miles. Most of the trip was paid for by fundraising; the girls had to pay for only snacks and lunches.

Most sports at CHS will have multiple travel meets in a season. As this is a representation of the school, the accommodations will be paid for if the team ends up staying overnight. Depending on where the meet is and if a game is played the next day, the school will decide based on the most cheap and sensible decision regarding staying overnight or traveling back on the same day.