The History of Jr. Comet Sports:
It began in the Fall of 1984, with Flag Football. But the cause and effect started in 1983. Why, there was a YMCA Youth Football program that year in Medford and our Founder (Darryl Summerfield) had a Son that was in the 3rd grade and interested in playing. The cost to participate in the Y program that year was $20, and upon investigation, our Founder was dumbstruck to learn there were only three Central Point participants in the whole program. His Child, plus a 4th and 6th grade Boy. In idle chit chat with the 4th graders Father (Roger Neufeld a good friend and a 1964 Crater Grad) it slipped out that Darryl thought Central Point could have a “League of their Own; the cost could be more affordable and jerseys could be a lot more classy”. Well, after opening his mouth he had to put up or shut up. Being a 1964 Crater Graduate himself the name of the organization just had to have the word Comet in it, thus Jr. Comet Sports became a reality in 1984.
In our inaugural season (flag football), we had 14 teams with 12 players on each team. There were six 3/4 grade teams and eight 5/6 grade teams. The cost was $12 and we used NFL team names on the jerseys and eventually even provided NFL team logo caps for coaches. The Coaching staff that first year was nothing short of fantastic and would have made most High School Athletic Directors envious, as we had many Ex Varsity Head Coaches and several Varsity assistants in the coaching ranks. The program "REALLY" caught on, and the Varsity Basketball Coaches, seeing success, wanted Jr. Comet to start a Basketball program. So Basketball was also initiated. The first basketball season we had 3/4 and 5/6 grade level teams, with boys and girls playing together. Beginning the 2nd year, boys and girls each had separate seasons. The Varsity Coaches helped establish the rules for both Football and Basketball. Those rules are still mostly followed, but there have been several beneficial modifications over the years, again with the help of (the then current) Head high school basketball coaches.
After a few years, the program had grown to the point were more help was needed. In 1987, several 64 Crater Alumni were asked to serve on an "Executive Council" and help run the various programs. The initial Council had five members and as it turned out, not all from Crater or the Class of 64. There was one 60 Crater grad (John Anhorn), three 64 Crater grads (Mike Anhorn, Errol Coffman and Darryl Summerfield), and one Park City, Utah graduate from the class of 62 (Marv Hackwell). After several years of running the Boys Basketball program Errol Coffman, passed away. A plaque honoring Errol, and his commitment to the youth and community, is on the North wall of the Weight Room at Crater. You should read that plaque sometime. It will tear at your heart. He gave often and freely of his time for his community. As Project Coordinator, he was “The Man that built Crater's Weight Room”. Errol ran fundraising events, secured monetary donations and "in-kind" donations of labor & equipment. He also oversaw and coordinated the construction of the Crater weight room. He truly epitomized the quality, devotion and ideals that Jr. Comet Sports tries to attain.
In 1989 the Council added Volleyball to our roster of sports and a new Councilor for VB (Cathy Salmon, a 73 Crater Grad). In 1990, a Constitution was drafted and we registered as a Non Profit (501-C-3) Organization through the IRS and the State of Oregon. Councilors either oversee a specific function for our organization, or branch out, and set up a Board to help run one of our current seven programs. For the school year 2020-21, nine of the 14 Councilors are Crater Grads and one 64 Crater grad is still hanging in there as the elder statesmen for the program.
The Jr. Comet program was established on the premise that all children should have the opportunity to participate in sports; at the lowest cost possible, on a level playing field (no advantage to any team), with equal playing time, and in a setting that is FUN, positive and productive. Our program is not perfect and may not be as good as some would like, but we strive to do our best and try new ideas, to make it better.
In the late 80's, the Executive Council of Junior Comet Sports decided they would (in the future) offer two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors. We committed to provide a scholarship to at least one male & one female graduate. Scholarships would begin being awarded when the sixth graders of 1984-85 were set to graduate in 1991. Scholarship eligibility was to be based on several personal attributes. The following list are some of the key aspects that were felt to be of utmost importance in selecting recipients:
1. Applicants "must" have participated in Junior Comet Sports.
2. Applicants should be role models for and of Citizenship.
3. Did applicants continue to be involved in athletics in high school?
4. Did applicants exhibit voluntary involvement in extracurricular community activities?
5. Were the applicants parents or relatives involved in helping a Junior Comet Sports team or program?
Jr. Comet Sports has continued to award scholarships every year since 1991, and has exceeded the two scholarships at the $500 amount. From 1991 through 2022 our totals are: 248 Scholarships awarded for a combined sum of $225,100. The averages since 1991 have been 7.8 scholarships per year at $908 per scholarship. Over the last several years our scholarships have averaged over $1,000 each.
It began in the Fall of 1984, with Flag Football. But the cause and effect started in 1983. Why, there was a YMCA Youth Football program that year in Medford and our Founder (Darryl Summerfield) had a Son that was in the 3rd grade and interested in playing. The cost to participate in the Y program that year was $20, and upon investigation, our Founder was dumbstruck to learn there were only three Central Point participants in the whole program. His Child, plus a 4th and 6th grade Boy. In idle chit chat with the 4th graders Father (Roger Neufeld a good friend and a 1964 Crater Grad) it slipped out that Darryl thought Central Point could have a “League of their Own; the cost could be more affordable and jerseys could be a lot more classy”. Well, after opening his mouth he had to put up or shut up. Being a 1964 Crater Graduate himself the name of the organization just had to have the word Comet in it, thus Jr. Comet Sports became a reality in 1984.
In our inaugural season (flag football), we had 14 teams with 12 players on each team. There were six 3/4 grade teams and eight 5/6 grade teams. The cost was $12 and we used NFL team names on the jerseys and eventually even provided NFL team logo caps for coaches. The Coaching staff that first year was nothing short of fantastic and would have made most High School Athletic Directors envious, as we had many Ex Varsity Head Coaches and several Varsity assistants in the coaching ranks. The program "REALLY" caught on, and the Varsity Basketball Coaches, seeing success, wanted Jr. Comet to start a Basketball program. So Basketball was also initiated. The first basketball season we had 3/4 and 5/6 grade level teams, with boys and girls playing together. Beginning the 2nd year, boys and girls each had separate seasons. The Varsity Coaches helped establish the rules for both Football and Basketball. Those rules are still mostly followed, but there have been several beneficial modifications over the years, again with the help of (the then current) Head high school basketball coaches.
After a few years, the program had grown to the point were more help was needed. In 1987, several 64 Crater Alumni were asked to serve on an "Executive Council" and help run the various programs. The initial Council had five members and as it turned out, not all from Crater or the Class of 64. There was one 60 Crater grad (John Anhorn), three 64 Crater grads (Mike Anhorn, Errol Coffman and Darryl Summerfield), and one Park City, Utah graduate from the class of 62 (Marv Hackwell). After several years of running the Boys Basketball program Errol Coffman, passed away. A plaque honoring Errol, and his commitment to the youth and community, is on the North wall of the Weight Room at Crater. You should read that plaque sometime. It will tear at your heart. He gave often and freely of his time for his community. As Project Coordinator, he was “The Man that built Crater's Weight Room”. Errol ran fundraising events, secured monetary donations and "in-kind" donations of labor & equipment. He also oversaw and coordinated the construction of the Crater weight room. He truly epitomized the quality, devotion and ideals that Jr. Comet Sports tries to attain.
In 1989 the Council added Volleyball to our roster of sports and a new Councilor for VB (Cathy Salmon, a 73 Crater Grad). In 1990, a Constitution was drafted and we registered as a Non Profit (501-C-3) Organization through the IRS and the State of Oregon. Councilors either oversee a specific function for our organization, or branch out, and set up a Board to help run one of our current seven programs. For the school year 2020-21, nine of the 14 Councilors are Crater Grads and one 64 Crater grad is still hanging in there as the elder statesmen for the program.
The Jr. Comet program was established on the premise that all children should have the opportunity to participate in sports; at the lowest cost possible, on a level playing field (no advantage to any team), with equal playing time, and in a setting that is FUN, positive and productive. Our program is not perfect and may not be as good as some would like, but we strive to do our best and try new ideas, to make it better.
In the late 80's, the Executive Council of Junior Comet Sports decided they would (in the future) offer two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors. We committed to provide a scholarship to at least one male & one female graduate. Scholarships would begin being awarded when the sixth graders of 1984-85 were set to graduate in 1991. Scholarship eligibility was to be based on several personal attributes. The following list are some of the key aspects that were felt to be of utmost importance in selecting recipients:
1. Applicants "must" have participated in Junior Comet Sports.
2. Applicants should be role models for and of Citizenship.
3. Did applicants continue to be involved in athletics in high school?
4. Did applicants exhibit voluntary involvement in extracurricular community activities?
5. Were the applicants parents or relatives involved in helping a Junior Comet Sports team or program?
Jr. Comet Sports has continued to award scholarships every year since 1991, and has exceeded the two scholarships at the $500 amount. From 1991 through 2022 our totals are: 248 Scholarships awarded for a combined sum of $225,100. The averages since 1991 have been 7.8 scholarships per year at $908 per scholarship. Over the last several years our scholarships have averaged over $1,000 each.