The winter sports season is dwindling. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams begin their regional tournaments the last week of February. Will you be there to cheer them on or did you even know about it?

Worried about what’s next as we enter the spring sports season? Men’s baseball got off to a decent start, 6-4 in their first 10 games. Women’s softball is about half way through their season. Mesa track and field looks promising. Men’s and women’s tennis, the swimming and diving team, women’s badminton, all their respective seasons are under way. But the question is, does anyone really care?

It wouldn’t surprise me that, for most of you, this article may be the first information you’ve received concerning spring sports here at Mesa.

Did you know that sophomore Morgan Bogard returns to the women’s track team after finishing last season ranked 10th in the nation in the hammer throw? She also happens to hold the school record in that event and will more than likely hold others as this season moves on.

Did you know that one of our own baseball Olympians, Nick Buss, was drafted this year by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the second day of the major league draft after an outstanding freshman season last year?

Did you know that diver Andrew Skewes won a state title last year in the men’s 3-meter event and was named state diver of the year?

Did you know that we even had a badminton team?

As a student journalist covering our sports teams, it pains me to see such a complete lack of enthusiasm for sports at what is only the 4th largest community college in the state, a school that happens to feature a competitive athletic program.

I understand that sports are not important to some people. But to a certain degree, enthusiasm for college sports begins with the school, and in this department the administration is lagging.

The reason that most of you probably don’t know about the athletic accomplishments of teams or individuals at Mesa is that the school doesn’t seem to share any of this information.

Have you ever seen a banner hanging anywhere that says “Congratulations” to any athlete of team? Or a sign posted in a highly congested area such as the cafeteria that invites you to any upcoming athletic events?

One event that you’ll never be invited to is a home track meet. Why not? They can’t host a home meet due to the fact that the school has a non-regulated dirt track that hasn’t been renovated since 1965. How’s that for school support?

A school newspaper can only do so much to drum up enthusiasm for our Olympians. It’s time for the school to step it up. I know we’ve got our school website that, when not completely outdated, gives us some of the sports schedules. It will even occasionally make note of certain accomplishments.

That’s not enough. I want to see something on one of the millions of posting boards we have scattered all around campus. We need banners, signs and celebrations honoring our gifted athletes, at least for those of us who are halfway interested.

I know that this is only a community college. Most of us are here just to earn a few credits before transferring to a university. We don’t have the time for a baseball game on a Thursday night. And honestly we could really care less. But I feel that leadership reflects attitude.

If the school would show just a little support for its athletes, they could get some fans to fill their bleachers. Mesa athletics could be a topic of conversation amongst students. With a little effort they could give this college a little sense of “community” and that is something that I feel this school could use.