Sports play a crucial role in student development, fostering teamwork, discipline, and school spirit. However, not all teams receive the same level of financial support, which affects their ability to perform, access quality equipment, and compete at higher levels. Many student-athletes face financial obstacles that impact their participation, making school sports less inclusive than they should be.

One of the biggest challenges teams face is financing tournaments. The soccer team, for example, is struggling to cover the costs of their upcoming international tournament in the Dominican Republic in April, as well as the High School Cup later that month. 

“It’s a challenge that is immense, in every aspect that you look at it,” said Urbano Mesa, the football team coach. Despite their dedication, financial burdens often fall on the athletes and their families, making it difficult for some to participate.

When asked about financial assistance from the school, athletes and coaches expressed skepticism. “I think it’s hard because the school, at least in this sense, always puts the student-athletes to pay, and it’s always been like that,” Mesa stated. Even for essential expenses like hydration supplies and referee fees, players sometimes have to contribute out of their own pockets. “Sometimes in games, when it comes to buying things for hydration or even paying for referees, I have had to do it,” Mesa admitted. While these costs may seem minor individually, they add up over time, placing additional pressure on athletes.

The consequences of limited funding go beyond missing tournaments—they also affect opportunities for student-athletes. “I have had cases where we have left behind players who are really good because they don’t have enough funding to travel on sports trips,” Mesa revealed. This raises serious concerns about accessibility and fairness, as talent alone is sometimes not enough to secure a spot on a team due to expensive travel requirements.

Basketball player Juan Jose Perez also spoke about how financial issues can impact performance. “Sometimes we don’t have enough money for new equipment, travel expenses, or even proper training facilities. There have been times when we had to reuse old jerseys or miss out on tournaments because we couldn’t afford the entry fees,” he explained. 

The lack of funding not only affects individual players but weakens the overall team. “Yeah, we’ve done things like selling snacks, organizing bake sales. It’s a lot of work, and while it helps, it’s never quite enough to cover everything we need,” Perez added.

One potential solution that athletes have suggested is implementing scholarships or partial financial aid for the best players. “Something that I have always wanted is for the best athletes to receive scholarships of a certain percentage within Columbus Life. Columbus Life has a cost for inscriptions and tournaments, so for a student who is really good, it would be nice for them to get at least a scholarship of 10 to 20 percent,” Mesa suggested.

Samuel Mendivelso, a former football player, shared how financial struggles impacted his decision to stop competing. “Yes, it was one of the biggest reasons. I couldn’t keep up with the costs of travel and equipment, and without better resources, I felt like I wasn’t improving the way I wanted to.” He believes that with better funding, he would have continued playing. “If we had better support, I think I would’ve been able to stay in the sport and push myself further,” he said.