IN SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES SPORTS ARE USUALLY USED AS AN OUTLET. A WAY TO ESCAPE FROM REALITY. LIKE MANY SENIORS AT CODY HIGH SCHOOL, MATT SANDOVAL WAS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE, PLAYING FOOTBALL, WRESTLED AND WAS PLANNING ON GOING OUT FOR TRACK AND FIELD. NOW HE IS TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO KEEP BUSY.
“RIGHT NOW I’VE JUST BEEN STAYING AWAY FROM AS MUCH PEOPLE AS I CAN BUT, JUST A FEW FRIENDS AND I GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.”
WITH GRADUATION APPROACHING SANDOVAL IS ALREADY LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE. HE LAYS OUT HIS POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS.
“WELL I WAS GOING TO GO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM THAT I LIKE SO IM JUST GOING TO GO TO NORTHWEST CAUSE THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM. GET MY CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE. BE A POLICE OFFICER FOR A FEW YEARS, RETIRE FROM THAT. AND BE A JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, PROBATION OFFICER.
BUT WHY A CAREER IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE?
“SO MY SOPHOMORE YEAR I GOT INTO SOME TROUBLE AND… AND I HAD A LOT OF TIME TO THINK AND I DECIDED WHY NOT BE SOMEONE THAT COULD HELP JUVENILES GET ON THE RIGHT PATH AND FIND THEIR WAY AND MAKE BETTER CHOICES.”
HE ADDS THAT’S WHERE HIS MOTIVATION LIES.
“I’M EXCITED BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW WHAT I WANT. ONCE I GET MY DEGREE IT’S JUST GOING TO BE, IT’S NOT GOING TO BE EASY SAILING BUT IT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY EASY TO GET MY CAREER DONE CAUSE I HAVE FAMILY IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT I WANT TO GO. I’M JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR IT.”
SANDOVAL, LIKE MANY HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IN THE AREA WAS BUMMED TO HEAR ABOUT THE SPORTS SEASON BEING CANCELED BUT LOOKS BACK ON HIS SENIOR YEAR FONDLY.
“WHAT I’M GOING TO MISS MOST IS WAKING UP IN THE MORNING, TIRED, GOING TO ZERO HOUR FOR GAME DAY. EATING THAT BREAKFAST. AND THEN JUST THE HYPE UP BEFORE GAMES AND DURING THE GAMES, OBVIOUSLY. I’M GOING TO MISS THAT THE MOST, BUT ALSO AFTER GAMES CAUSE EVERYONE COMES UP TO YOU, RECOGNIZES HOW YOU PLAYED. IT’S JUST A GREAT FEELING. THE WHOLE TOWN IS WATCHING YOU. I’M GOING TO MISS ALL THAT.”
SANDOVAL MOVED TO CODY HIS FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AND SAYS HE WOULDN’T WISH FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
“WELL WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE MY FRESHMAN YEAR IT WAS COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY OPPOSITE FROM WHAT I WAS USED TO. IT WAS JUST A GREAT TIME. PEOPLE CHANGED ME, MADE ME A BETTER PERSON. I LOVED THE SPORTS. I BECAME A BETTER ATHLETE. I WAS MORE DETERMINED, HAD MORE MOTIVATION TO GET BETTER. CODY HIGH SCHOOL WAS JUST A GREAT PLACE FOR ME. I LOVED IT THERE.”
MATT SANDOVAL WILL BE ATTENDING NORTHWEST COLLEGE IN THE FALL, PURSUING A DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. STAY TUNED TO THE BIG HORN RADIO NETWORK FOR MORE ON THE SENIORS THAT MAKE UP CODY ATHLETICS.
