CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Tuloso-Midway Independent School District student athletes now have some extra motivation to go support their fellow Warriors and Cherokees.
T-M ISD has introduced a new student athletic pass. It gets them, cheer and drill team members into home games for free. District officials said they want more kids coming to their games, like how it is on Friday nights during football season.
They said it can also encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities, which could help at-risk kids stay productive.
"The opportunity to have kids come to a positive environment—one of our games—support the Warriors or Cherokees, is really a win-win situation," said T-M ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre.
Coaches across T-M ISD started handing out student athletic passes to students on their teams this week. VanMatre said almost 400 passes were given so far. He said it is generating lots of excitement across campus and at games.
"They feel pride. Building school pride is very important to emotional, social well-being as well as student performance," VanMatre said.
The passes were introduced this week just in time for a basketball tournament hosted at T-M ISD. Boys Basketball Head Coach Tres Garcia said the passes create an opportunity for people to join athletics and have friends support them. He said they can also help pack the stands with fans and prepare teams for a playoff atmosphere.
"It usually makes them play harder and, and maybe do something a little extra that maybe when they're tired, give a little extra for the fans and, and knowing that they got their back," Garcia said.
T-M ISD Athletic Director Kris O'Neal said the passes speak to the district's goal of developing students all the way through graduation. He said every student has an opportunity to be in athletics, and this might incentivize them to take part.
"That might be the thing that has one kid try something. Hey, I, I wasn't going to try before, but this, it's just enough incentive to make me work a little bit harder and to be part of a group and bond," O'Neal said.
Student athletes will also be able to use a new weight room. A private donor provided more than $50,000 to make it a reality. He said it is an investment in the future of T-M's athletic programs and the students that play in them.
"We want every student in our district to have access to elite facilities so they can grow into a full person, and this is part of that process," O'Neal said.
VanMatre also mentioned new improvements to their athletic facilities. There is a complete renovation of the natatorium, new turf for the baseball and softball fields, and resurfacing of the tennis courts. It comes after the new renovations to Warrior Stadium before last season.
They also plan to give out the athletic passes in the future, VanMatre said.