School’s new athletic director to expand program

Columbia Independent School has drafted a new athletic director this offseason.

Matt Wightman, currently the coordinator of intramurals and the student recreation facilities manager at Columbia College, will begin in the newly created position of athletic director in the fall. Previously, a CIS faculty member filled in as athletic director.

Creating an athletic director position, rather than having it as an extra duty for a teacher or other employee, is intended to help the school’s athletics programs grow, said Trent Amond, head of CIS.

Wightman said he hopes to “bring a level of athletic competition that rivals (students’) level of academic ability.”

CIS will introduce cross country, golf and girls’ varsity basketball. Wightman said the athletics department will continually be assessed to determine the needs of students. The goal of the school’s athletics program is to enable all students to participate, Amond said.

Along with his duties as athletic director, Wightman will serve as the physical education teacher in CIS’ upper school. As a physical education teacher, Wightman said his goal is “getting students to realize the benefits of being fit and active.”

Wightman said athletics are important in school because they can help build leadership and cognitive skills, in addition to improving physical skills.

Amond said the lessons in teamwork and leadership that athletics provide are applicable throughout a student’s life.

As the coordinator of intramurals at Columbia College, Wightman said he is most proud of the increased involvement in athletics resulting from formalized intramural sports. Before, he said, intramural sports relied on pickup games. Now, there are structured leagues with scheduled games.