The Shadow Ridge Flag Football Team is known for its hard work and teamwork on the field, but recently the team took that same effort and applied it to something different: helping clean up their school campus.
As part of a community service project, the team spent time picking up trash around the school, showing that their commitment to Shadow Ridge extends beyond the football field.
The idea behind the clean-up project was simple but meaningful. The team wanted to make the campus a better place for everyone who attends the school each day.
Head coach, Matthew Nighswonger, explained that the motivation came from a desire to give back to the community that supports the team throughout the season.
“We wanted to make the school a better, cleaner space for everyone,” Nighswonger said.
Players spread out across different areas of campus, collecting trash from sidewalks, grassy areas, and other parts of the school grounds. What started as a small service project quickly became an eye-opening experience for many of the athletes.
“I didn’t really realize how much trash the school actually gets that students just don’t even try to pick up,” said junior Chloe Covington.
One of the biggest surprises for the team was the amount of trash they found around campus. While they expected to pick up some litter, many players didn’t realize how much had accumulated in certain areas of the school.
Despite the surprising amount of trash, the team also noticed something positive while working, many students and staff members stopped to thank them for their efforts.
“We also received a lot of appreciation for helping around school,” Nighswonger said.
For the players, the clean-up project was also about recognizing the strong relationship between the team and the school community.
During the season, the flag football team relies heavily on support from students, teachers, and staff who attend games and cheer them on. Participating in community service was a way for the athletes to show their appreciation.
According to Nighswonger, student-athletes represent their school in many ways, which makes it important for them to set a good example both on and off the field. Athletes are often seen as leaders within the student body, and their actions can influence how others view the school community.
“Student-athletes are the face of the school,” Nighswonger said. “They need to be the ones who are putting a good face out to the student body and the community.”
Beyond the clean-up itself, the experience also served as a learning opportunity for the team.
Projects like this help players recognize the value of giving back and understanding the advantages they have as part of a supportive school community.
Nighswonger hopes activities like this will help his players understand an important life lesson. Even small actions can have a meaningful impact.
By taking time out of their schedules to help improve the campus, the team showed that leadership is not only about athletic performance, but also about service and responsibility.
In addition to this clean-up effort, the team hopes to organize more service projects in the future. Because they noticed how much litter still exists around campus, more school clean-up events may be part of the team’s plans going forward.
The players and coaches also hope their efforts help strengthen the relationship between the team and the rest of the school community.
By stepping up and helping improve the campus, the Shadow Ridge Flag Football team demonstrated that leadership is not limited to the playing field, it can also be found in the simple act of giving back.
