Ask the AD - Lisa Shives, Clear Spring High School
This summer, CSZ will be doing a segment on the WICKipedia entitled "Ask the AD". In this feature, we'll be conducting Q&A's with various athletic directors around Maryland to learn more about how different high schools run their athletic programs, and what to expect from them in the future.
Today, we're featuring Lisa Shives from Clear Spring High School in Washington County! Lisa spoke with us about the importance of having multi-sport athletes, the role community plays in high school sports and her goals for Clear Spring athletics!
County Sports Zone:How did you become Clear Spring athletic director? How did your appointment come about?
Lisa Shives:I was asked by a previous athletic supervisor if I would take the job as athletic director after the person before me resigned. I was very hesitant at first, because I knew the time commitment involved and I had two small children, but I am so glad that I did.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started?
LS:We've added many more sports at Clear Spring since I became the AD in 1991, such as JV and varsity football, girls soccer, golf, indoor track, JV softball, JV baseball, freshmen girls basketball and unified sports. These additions have of course increased the workload, but have been great for the students and Clear Spring community.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for Clear Spring athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
LS:I honestly think each year is a great year for Clear Spring Athletics. We strive to have students be multi-sport athletes and not just concentrated on one sport. Most of our parents and athletes have bought in to this train of thought. The memories the athletes take with them after participation, whether it was a winning season or not, are immeasurable.
As for highlights, we had our first player in football be offered a full scholarship from a Division I school. He was also a stand-out in basketball and helped our team reach the states finals for the first time. He broke the school record in track for shot put. He was a great role model to the other athletes in the school and I'm hoping they remember that you can be a three sport athlete and still receive a college scholarship- you don't have to limit your participation to one sport in high school.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished as athletic director at Clear Spring that you are most proud of?
LS:I am most proud of the sportsmanship initiatives we've implemented. We started a "6th Man Club" a few years back which has been a great success. Students sit in a designated area at basketball games and cheer our team on. We have a faculty member assigned to that area to make sure all cheers are positive. I also have a player read a specific sportsmanship announcement before games, and that has helped with crowd behavior. We are not perfect, but students and the community know what is expected at our contests. Our school was actually awarded the sportsmanship award for the boys basketball state tournament this year, which I was so happy to share with the community.
CSZ:The boys basketball team won its region and reached the state semifinals this season. When you have a team making a deep postseason run and going to states, what is the atmosphere like around the school? How does the athletic department try to enhance the atmosphere?
LS:Our boys basketball team going to the state tournament for the first time in the school's history was something that I'll never forget. The entire town was a ghost town that night because everyone was in attendance. The day the boys left the high school for states all the elementary, middle, and high school students lined the streets to wish them well and cheer them as the bus left town. It was quite a sight for a small town. We were told by many workers at the Xfinity Center that they had never seen such a crowd in attendance for the 1A tournament.
CSZ:What do you enjoy the most about your job?
LS:I enjoy the interactions that I have with the students the most, and the many people I have a chance to work with. There is nothing better than being able to watch a good basketball game, tennis match soccer contest etc.
CSZ:How do you view the athletic director's role within the high school community?
LS:My role with the community centers around getting their support. We have a very closely knit community, so this task is not difficult to accomplish. One of our shirts that many of our students wear has the logo, "One Family" on it. The logo not only refers to the school but also the community.
CSZ:Is there anything exciting or new we should be on the look out for from Clear Spring's athletic department?
LS:We will have a new stadium scoreboard installed by this fall. This is the result of community support as I was referring to before.
CSZ:What're your long term goals for the Clear Spring athletics program?
LS:Each year, I try to instill the importance of sportsmanship and that it is an honor to wear the "Blue and Gold." This is always a short term and long term goal for me.
Today, we're featuring Lisa Shives from Clear Spring High School in Washington County! Lisa spoke with us about the importance of having multi-sport athletes, the role community plays in high school sports and her goals for Clear Spring athletics!
County Sports Zone:How did you become Clear Spring athletic director? How did your appointment come about?
Lisa Shives:I was asked by a previous athletic supervisor if I would take the job as athletic director after the person before me resigned. I was very hesitant at first, because I knew the time commitment involved and I had two small children, but I am so glad that I did.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started?
LS:We've added many more sports at Clear Spring since I became the AD in 1991, such as JV and varsity football, girls soccer, golf, indoor track, JV softball, JV baseball, freshmen girls basketball and unified sports. These additions have of course increased the workload, but have been great for the students and Clear Spring community.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for Clear Spring athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
LS:I honestly think each year is a great year for Clear Spring Athletics. We strive to have students be multi-sport athletes and not just concentrated on one sport. Most of our parents and athletes have bought in to this train of thought. The memories the athletes take with them after participation, whether it was a winning season or not, are immeasurable.
As for highlights, we had our first player in football be offered a full scholarship from a Division I school. He was also a stand-out in basketball and helped our team reach the states finals for the first time. He broke the school record in track for shot put. He was a great role model to the other athletes in the school and I'm hoping they remember that you can be a three sport athlete and still receive a college scholarship- you don't have to limit your participation to one sport in high school.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished as athletic director at Clear Spring that you are most proud of?
LS:I am most proud of the sportsmanship initiatives we've implemented. We started a "6th Man Club" a few years back which has been a great success. Students sit in a designated area at basketball games and cheer our team on. We have a faculty member assigned to that area to make sure all cheers are positive. I also have a player read a specific sportsmanship announcement before games, and that has helped with crowd behavior. We are not perfect, but students and the community know what is expected at our contests. Our school was actually awarded the sportsmanship award for the boys basketball state tournament this year, which I was so happy to share with the community.
CSZ:The boys basketball team won its region and reached the state semifinals this season. When you have a team making a deep postseason run and going to states, what is the atmosphere like around the school? How does the athletic department try to enhance the atmosphere?
LS:Our boys basketball team going to the state tournament for the first time in the school's history was something that I'll never forget. The entire town was a ghost town that night because everyone was in attendance. The day the boys left the high school for states all the elementary, middle, and high school students lined the streets to wish them well and cheer them as the bus left town. It was quite a sight for a small town. We were told by many workers at the Xfinity Center that they had never seen such a crowd in attendance for the 1A tournament.
CSZ:What do you enjoy the most about your job?
LS:I enjoy the interactions that I have with the students the most, and the many people I have a chance to work with. There is nothing better than being able to watch a good basketball game, tennis match soccer contest etc.
CSZ:How do you view the athletic director's role within the high school community?
LS:My role with the community centers around getting their support. We have a very closely knit community, so this task is not difficult to accomplish. One of our shirts that many of our students wear has the logo, "One Family" on it. The logo not only refers to the school but also the community.
CSZ:Is there anything exciting or new we should be on the look out for from Clear Spring's athletic department?
LS:We will have a new stadium scoreboard installed by this fall. This is the result of community support as I was referring to before.
CSZ:What're your long term goals for the Clear Spring athletics program?
LS:Each year, I try to instill the importance of sportsmanship and that it is an honor to wear the "Blue and Gold." This is always a short term and long term goal for me.
| July 5th, 2016 | By: Wick Eisenberg |