Students at Revere High School recently formed a council to help members of various sports teams improve their leadership skills.

Revere swim team captain and senior Camille Volk approached Athletic Director Tom McKinnon last spring about forming a captain’s club for Revere’s sports teams, which coincided with the Suburban League’s plan to create leadership councils. The Suburban League had leadership councils before the number of school districts in Summit County increased from eight to fifteen. According to McKinnon, Kent Roosevelt High School and Barberton High School “are spearheading the program.”

McKinnon explained the process of selecting members for the council, noting that a student does not need to hold the position of team captain to contribute.

“I asked all of our sports [teams] to nominate who they felt were effective leaders. . . . Our winter sports, who have not even named captains yet, already sent names in, so you do not have to be a captain to be an effective leader. . . . We are hoping to help guide [students] on being better leaders for their sports teams, and as we go, we will keep adding more and more students to [the council],” McKinnon said.

Volk, president of the council, noticed issues Revere sports teams faced and hopes that the council will increase the effectiveness of leaders and bring together the school as a whole.

“The goal of the [council] is to unite the leadership from various areas of the school. Many times high schoolers are given leadership positions but never directly learn how to effectively lead. Revere’s Athletic Council will aim to teach [students] how to better lead on and off the field within Revere,” Volk said.

Revere women’s soccer co-captain and senior Madison Lanford expressed her feelings towards the council.

“I hope to learn how to become a better leader because it is a very important skill to have for being a captain and [for] future jobs. . . . [The council] will help me learn to communicate better with people and be able to direct others,” Lanford said.

McKinnon also remarked on the impact the club will have on Revere sports teams.

“It is always good to get different people’s views on leadership, and that is what we are looking to do. I think we have great leaders in the school. We have great leaders on our athletics teams, [and this council] shows that they are being recognized in our school and in our district,” McKinnon said.

Council members include Tyler Ankrom, Emily Azzolina, Alyssa Baker, Jack Baker, Jack Bollinger, Hunter Bonfiglio, Andrew Boyazis, Angelo Bucci, Eliana Burlotos, Sammy Crisalli, Angela Debs, Jakob Dorsey, Alex Dye, Nick Dye, Tyler Ebert, Julia Effinger, Jason Fan, Stefan Farian, Taylor Fee, Charlie Fink, Tim Grandon, Kaitlyn Hagarty, Joe Hathaway, Conor Head, Grace Hete, Alec Johnson, Zack Kasson, Elisabeth Kelly, Cassidy Kohmann, Lanford, Goodman Li, Paul Liccardi, Dalaney Mier, Daniel Miller, Angie Mills, Pete Nance, Ramon Pardo, Sophie Paxton, Jake Peterson, Nolan Printy, Ray, Kelly Schikowski, Armani Shepherd, Allie Staats, Ellie Stupar, Volk, Ian Weiland, Hannah Weisburn, and Audric Wertz. The council plans to meet once a month and involve itself in other Revere athletics and Suburban League events.