Imagine walking into the gym, the smell of sneakers in the air, the sound of basketball bouncing. As you take it all in you notice a giant poster bigger than any other poster in the Northview High school gym.
Behind the basketball hoop as you enter the gym is a giant poster of 2022 graduate Kyler Vanderjagt.
The poster lists all of his achievements from the 2022 basketball season including Mr. Basketball runner up, 1000 plus points in his basketball career and more. Vanderjagt also helped the 2022 team to the State Finals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center. Vanderjagt continues his academic and athletic career at Division 1 Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
I think it’s weird to have the biggest poster in the gym be of an alumni and his accomplishments. There are many people in earlier classes that have amazing accomplishments and didn’t get a huge poster in the gym, so why does Vanderjagt?
I’m not alone in my sentiment. Although Vanderjagt and the entire 2022 basketball team experienced great success and boosted morale in our community, the lone focus of this individual athlete is trending. The poster in the gym has stirred a lot of controversy in the school and in the community.
A Northview alumni and 2022 graduate Madi Rempalski also committed to the Division I (DI) level but for cross country and has a very strong opinion on the poster.
“I’ll admit, the achievement of playing at the DI level is no small accomplishment,” Rempalski said. “[However,] In the grand scheme, it is really unnecessary to highlight a single person. The class of ‘22 had some amazing athletes who worked just as hard and went to compete at high levels.”
The administration assistant Nikki Mulhisen recognizes the honor.
“It’s a proud moment for a student athlete. It is very spot on,” Mulhisen said. “He had some great accomplishments, and it shows how hard he worked, but other players deserve recognition, too.”
On the other hand, other students in the school find the poster a source of motivation. Junior Jaymere Owens is one of them.
“The poster inspires me to always strive for greatness and not let anyone or anything get in my way of pursuing my dreams,” Owens said.
Another junior who likes the poster is Vanderjagt’s former teammate EJ Ryans.
“The poster is cool. I like it,” Ryans says. “It is a good way to represent how hard he worked throughout the season.”
In all, I feel like the poster focuses on only one athlete where there are many good athletes that have come through Northview. It dismisses the work of other student athletes and is excessive. If someone is going to put up a poster of just one persevering athlete might as well put up posters for all the athletes.
