Editor's note: Jozlyn Baumann comes to the Mountaineer has part of the Big Sandy High School Co-Op Class. It is a class that allows the students to experience a work experience. There are 19 students involved in the co-op classroom. They do have class room studies as they study what is involved in getting ready to go to another job opportunity with a school to work curriculum. Nine businesses around town participate including the high school, The Grocery Store, Kamut, the Grade school, Big Sandy Medical Center, the Mountaineer, and some are individual studies.

Sports play a valuable role in small towns. Not only are they essential to the students, but they are important to the community too. Sports mean something different to each kid who participates in them. Parker Proulx, a junior at Big Sandy High School, says sports are "something fun to do that you can learn a lot from." He also stated, "skills can be used later on in life." Kody Strutz, a freshman, says he participates in sports because he "enjoys them, they are fun. They help kids get away from doing boring things at home." He says sports are important because they "bring people together and help people get to know each other better."

Because small towns don't have much to do, sporting events are excellent entertainment. Amanda Cline, a senior, participates because she "loves being active and doing sports that involve coordination." She also "appreciates all of the support from the community." Besides being relevant to those wearing the jerseys, sports bring much value to the community who is cheering for them along the sidelines. Melanie Schwarzbach, Big Sandy High School's Athletic Director, proclaims "the school is the head of the community, and sporting events are what bring everyone together to help support our kids." Having all the parents, supporters, and kids come to the games brings a lot of joy to our small town. When asked how sports impact the community, Amiya Griffith, a sophomore, claims they "bring everyone together and create a sense of pride in the community." Many people come and watch sporting events to take them back to their youth when they once got to play. Clint Darlington, a senior, says sports are "important to other people besides the athletes because it's fun for them to watch something they may no longer be able to do."

Athletics not only bring joy, but they also bring in funds for the school. Concessions help the school and the classes. No matter if you are an athlete, a parent, or just a supporter, sports are important, because they represent a more profound value in our small town- a fun community we love and are proud of. Sports impact us all.