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The last several seasons have been tough ones for the Campus High Colts. But the players say it's not all about winning games.
"I've seen a lot of improvements--not winning record-wise, but with being a family, being together," player Jonny Hyde says. "I've seen a big improvement on that."
The players found out this week that Coach Mike Schartz has left the school. They say he was fired for not winning enough games. Several players, led by team captain Devon Rogers, say they don't want to play for anybody else. Rogers submitted a petition to the school board with the signatures of 75 players who say they'll quit the team if Schartz isn't the coach.
The Campus Colts won just one game this past season, and just six in the past four years Schartz has been coach. We have no official confirmation on why he is no longer the coach. School administrators say they can't comment on personnel matters, and Schartz isn't commenting. All we have to go on is what the players and their parents say. Many showed up at Monday's school board meeting to show support for their coach.
In a statement, school spokesperson Liz Hames says, "We felt it was important to give our student athletes and parents a forum at the board of education meeting to hear their concerns..."
"He's always there for us, if we need somebody to talk to," player Cody Brooks says. "He's pretty much like a father to the whole team."
Parent Vicki Bentley says, "He has really been focused on the community and the kids. He is a great teacher, and to let him go the week of Thanksgiving and a month before Christmas was uncalled for. They could have waited until the end of the school year if they were going to make a change.
Schartz also taught weightlifting at Campus High.