NANKIN — Mapleton indoor track and field athletes have qualified for state competition and earned championship placements. Coach Joe Ortiz said it’s time for students to earn more recognition for their accomplishments.
Ortiz asked the Mapleton Board of Education Thursday to consider recognizing indoor track and field as a varsity sport.
His presentation outlined the program’s history, athlete accomplishments and options the district can pursue to recognize these students during the winter season.
“We have established and dedicated coaches, training facilities and competitive meet schedules,” Ortiz said.
Indoor track and field opportunities have been provided for Mapleton students for more than 16 years. Participation has grown from a handful of athletes to about 15 to 20 middle and high school students annually.
Since 2017, Mapleton athletes have earned 10 individual qualifications and seven relay qualifications for the indoor state meet, according to Ortiz. Three athletes have placed at the state championship.
“Recognition should reflect achievement, not just participation,” Ortiz said.
Indoor track athletes compete against schools from all four divisions. Ortiz found at least 14 Ohio schools that recognize indoor track and field as a varsity sport.
Ortiz also said varsity sport recognition would give indoor track athletes opportunities to be included in winter senior night celebrations, receive senior banners and featured in athlete spotlights.
Several options and challenges
Establishing indoor track and field as a varsity sport could bring financial and administrative challenges. Indoor facilities, meet entry fees, transportation, coaching arrangements and scheduling conflicts were some of the challenges Ortiz mentioned.
Indoor track and field is not a championship sport sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). The Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches organizes indoor state championships.
Ortiz shared two possible financial plans for the program. One would charge athletes a $400 seasonal fee covering facility and competition costs. The second is a pay-as-you-go format as they participate.
The total cost ranges from $245 to $420 per athlete under the pay-as-you-go plan. Fundraising opportunities and team entry caps would help reduce expenses.
Ortiz said their coaches are willing to continue volunteering and could explore an agreement with the Mapleton Teachers Association about coaching arrangements.
Ortiz’s proposal included performance-based lettering standards. Athletes could earn varsity letters through performance and events, or qualification for the indoor state championship.
If the district chooses not to establish indoor track and field as a varsity sport, Ortiz said offering participation patches, state qualifier patches, senior recognition and a wall of fame for state qualifiers and placers could provide meaningful recognition.
“Varsity is the goal, meaningful recognition is the next step,” Ortiz said.
The next steps require administrative approval, a finalized operating model, coaching and recognition standards and a one-year pilot for the 2026-27 school year.
A one-year pilot would have an end-of-season review of participation and cost.
Board members did not make a decision on varsity recognition during Thursday’s meeting. They did however discuss the possibility of finding other ways to recognize indoor track and field athletes and their accomplishments.
The proposal requires further discussion before the district can determine whether varsity status or another form of recognition is possible.
