Athletics are a key component of the CIS community
Many middle and upper school students participate in at least one sport during the regular academic year.
Teamwork, effort, and personal achievement define our athletics program
We seek to build not just athletes, but exemplary all-around students.
Students are not required to try out for athletic teams, giving every student the opportunity to take up new sports they are interested in.
All athletes are required to have a current sports physical on file prior to competing in athletic activities.
Upper School Athletics
We offer eight sports overseen by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA): Girls and boys cross country, girls volleyball, girls and boys golf, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys swimming, girls and boys track, and cheerleading.
We also currently maintain a co-op arrangements with Battle High School, which allow students to participate in MSHSAA-recognized activities not currently offered at Columbia Independent School. These include baseball, football, softball, soccer and wrestling.
Middle School Athletics
CIS offers five sports for middle school students, Grades 6-8. These include girls and boys cross country, girls volleyball, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys track, and cheerleading. We also maintain a co-op arrangement with Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School for middle school football and wrestling.
MSHSAA Activities for Upper and Middle School
CIS participates in two MSHSAA-governed activities for both upper and middle school: music and scholar bowl. Music activities are led by Samuel Fessehaye and Christine Jarquio, while Lisa McClary leads our scholar bowl teams.
See below for more details on CIS Athletic programs!
Our Sports
Cross Country
Our cross country team competes during the fall semester, meeting for regular after-school practices and participating in local meets within our class. This sport is open to girls and boys in 6th through 12th grades. Daniel Radkowiec is our cross country coach.
Volleyball
Students in 6th through 12th grades can join the middle school and upper school volleyball teams. Workouts/practice start in the summer and the season begins in the fall. Kirsten Hann coaches the upper school team, and Heidi Royer coaches the middle school team.
Tennis
Tennis is offered to students in 9th – 12th grades: girls in the fall and boys in the spring. Both teams are coached by Laurel Owen.
Track & Field
Track and Field is offered to students in 6th-12th grades in the Spring. The track team is coached by Daniel Radkowiec.
Swimming
Swimming is offered to students in 9th-12 grade. Boys swimming and diving is offered in the fall, and girls swimming and diving is offered in the winter. CIS swimming teams compete against other larger schools and are coached by Cassidy Crew.
Basketball
Basketball at CIS is offered at the middle and upper school levels, to boys and girls in 6th through 12th grade. The middle school season begins in October and runs through mid-January, while upper school basketball begins in November and runs through mid-February. Jeff Martin coaches the upper school teams, Blake Bethard coaches middle school girls, and Justin Browning coaches middle school boys.
Cheer
Cheer is offered to middle and upper school students during the winter sports season. The cheer teams are coached by Anel Castro.
Golf
Golf is offered for girls in the fall, and for the boys in spring, and is open to students in 9th-12th grade. Golf is coached by Connor White.
Athletic Accomplishments
In the past four school years, CIS Athletics have achieved the following.
Seven volleyball players received all-district honors
Upper School Volleyball set a school record for wins (2022-23)
Two boys basketball players received all-district honors
Upper School Boys Basketball set a school record for wins (2024-25)
Girls Tennis finished with an undefeated regular season (2024)
Girls Tennis Team District runner up (2024)
In the 2024-25 school year alone CIS had the following number of state championship qualifiers in each sport or activity:
Girls Cross Country – 2
Boys Cross Country – 1
Girls Tennis – 1 (finished 2nd in state)
Boys Tennis – 1 (finished 6th in state)
Scholar Bowl Team – 6 (team finished 2nd in State)
Girls Track – 5
Boys Track – 5 (2 state medals)