A Shawano Community High School senior basketball player is looking to be the best athlete she can be.
Limited access to the school’s gymnasium is hampering her goal, in her view.
Leah Nordin and her father both approached the Shawano School Board on July 28 to suggest allowing students to have key cards — similar to what coaches, teachers and other staff use — to access the gym for practicing baskets and other athletic needs. Nordin, who will be playing college ball for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that she has previously used her mother’s key card whenever she needed to get in some extra practice, but now that Mom is no longer working for the school as a volleyball coach, her time is limited to when the school is open and the gym is available.
“I would like to discuss the option of getting student athletes that are serious about playing at the collegiate level, like myself, a key card that allows them access to the gym facilities,” Nordin said.
Nordin noted that Shawano does not have a recreation center like Clintonville’s, which is attached to the school and allows anyone with a key card to access the facility. Shawano’s recreation center is separate from SCHS athletic facilities and is currently closed for renovation and expansion; it is scheduled to reopen in 2026.
Nordin said the only way currently to access the basketball court is during open gyms, when there is a coach or other staff member available to supervise.
“Even those do not fully cover the time it takes to be an athlete at the next level,” she said.
Nick Nordin, Leah Nordin’s father, told the board that it isn’t just his daughter who could benefit from additional gym access. He said he has been discussing the issue for the past three years with school officials.
“To be honest, I’m sick of having Leah come up to me and say, ‘Can we get in the gym? Can we get in the gym?’” Nick Nordin said.
He added that summer access to the gym has been extremely limited, especially for the girls.
“I understand boys’ sports are a little more prominent, but we can’t just let these girls go to waste like this,” Nick Nordin said. “We have some phenomenal athletes involved.”
Nick Nordin reiterated that Clintonville has figured out how to let those who need to use the gym use it, but Shawano area residents are denied.
“We are a community school, I believe, and we can’t use our gym,” Nick Nordin said. “If Clintonville can figure this out, why can’t we?”
Most of the SCHS students who have the best GPAs are student athletes, according to Nick Nordin, so it doesn’t seem out of the question to allow those athletes extra access. He believes they’re responsible enough, and if they prove otherwise, it’s simple enough to take the key cards back.
“If we can work together to find somehow to get these kids into the gym and at least give them an opportunity — it’s not going to be successful the first time, the second, the third, the fourth — but if we don’t do something, we’ll be discussing this in five or six years again,” Nick Nordin said.
Currently, the Nordins have to travel 45 minutes each way for Leah Nordin to access gym space.
“We’re fortunate to be able to pay for AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), which some parents don’t have the money for,” Nick Nordin said. “If I could apply for a permit or a key card, I would love that.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Key card access for athletes wanted
