Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a student-led organization that supports athletes in their faith and promotes a community based on their shared beliefs. They meet in the high school gym.
“It’s like youth group, we meet every Sunday at 7, and play a short game and then one of the students, or sometimes we bring in a coach or a former athlete to speak and they talk about the bible and Jesus,” Eli Steinmetz, trade senior, said.
The role of the student leaders is to help organize huddles and events.
“We’re very involved within the school trying to plan fifth quarter activities for both the football and basketball season,” Elezar Sanchez, trade senior, said.
To become a sponsor you need to participate and show leadership qualities.
“So our leaders are typically our upper classmen, we ask that they complete their freshman year. Just being a part of the group, coming consistently, being a leader within the group before they apply to become a leader,” Kylee Hipp, FCA sponsor, said.
Steinmetz began his involvement and soon discovered he wanted to be more involved.
“I just kind of found out about it, sophomore year, and I went a couple weeks, then I got invited and I wanted to be a captain. In the summer I turned into a captain and that’s just how I’ve been involved ever since,” Steinmetz said.
Sanchez’s story follows a similar road as he began to become involved.
“My Sophomore year I was pulled into it slowly and started my second semester of sophomore year, and from then on I was asked to take up a leadership position,” Sanchez said.
Steinmetz’s role in the group is to help with activities.
“I don’t come up with huddles as much but I come up with games, and I go to the meetings and share my thoughts,” Steinmetz said.
FCA sponsors support these athletes by being there for them.
“FCA is very good at supporting us, because our sponsors always love to hear about our athletic accomplishments, and enjoy watching us. As well as helping us through our faith walk,” Sanchez said
The leadership isn’t just good role models in FCA but express that outside of their huddles.
“The group of leaders have been our leaders for the past two years, and seeing them not only grow as leaders by taking responsibility, organizing events, taking the charge, planning our huddles but also seeing them grow in their boldness and their faith and just being willing to talk about FCA outside of our huddle times, to be a good representation in the hallways,” Hipp said.
FCA isn’t only for athletes but open to all students interested in it as a program.
“I just want to emphasize that you don’t have to be an athlete to come, If you’re interested in learning more the doors are always open,” Hipp said.
