Sports League Provides Athletics For Homeschooled Kids In NE Oklahoma

The NOAH Jaguars are in a sports league for kids who are homeschooled.

They have a Track and Field team and some of their athletes recently medaled at the National Junior Olympics at Texas A&M.

In a sport that's all about Personal Bests and form, Michael Byrams is coaching his athletes to not only improve in the sport; he wants to improve their character as well.

"If they have that foundation and that discipline, that should give them the strength to take it over into something else, like they might become a doctor. They have learned the discipline here, and it rolls into their career path. They got the discipline here, and now they are taking the trash out on a weekly basis at home," he said.

Michael is the head coach of the Northeast Oklahoma Association of Homeschools--their team is known as the NOAH Jaguars.

He's coached for eight years, and his athletes range in age from 10 to 18 years old.

Athletes like Anja Brandenburgh have bought into his coaching techniques, and it's paid off.

"We have such a great coach who just loves this team and is really invested in it," said Anja.

She and four others competed in the National Junior Olympics at Texas A&M last month. Along with striving for excellence on the track, she says she wants to be a good teammate too.

"Definitely, when I was younger, I looked up to the captains on our team, who are the juniors and seniors on the team, and as I am getting older, I see that I am now stepping into that role and mentoring the youngers," she said.

Tulsa NOAH offers other sports like baseball, soccer and football for homeschool students. No matter the sport, their message to the athletes is the same.

"The mission is to compete for something bigger than ourselves," said Coach Byrams. "We want to make sure what we do benefits somebody, inspires somebody, encourages somebody, uplifts somebody."

These kids walk--or run away--with skills that will turn them into the best version of themselves.

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