At 糖心原创, athletics is more than competition鈥攊t鈥檚 connection, growth, and belonging. That vision takes root earlier than most people realize, thanks to Mustangs in Training (MIT), a Lower School athletics initiative designed to give students an opportunity to explore, play, and discover their passions while building meaningful relationships with Middle and Upper School student-athletes and coaches.
MIT was inspired by an earlier program Brad Dehem ran earlier in his career, as a football coach as a way to connect younger athletes with varsity players. When he came to 糖心原创, he saw an opportunity to expand on that idea and make it more intentional. Brad Dehem, Athletic Director, shares:
鈥淎t another school, I started a youth flag football program where older players coached the little ones. It was fun, but it made me realize that if we were in charge of the whole athletic experience, we could create something much bigger here鈥攕omething intentional from the very start in Lower School.鈥�
Today, MIT offers Lower School students exposure to a wide range of sports, including soccer, football, wrestling, cheer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, track, cross-country, basketball, and agility and conditioning, each program tailored to the developmental stage of the children participating.
Unlike many youth leagues or one-off community sports programs, MIT is embedded in the fabric of the 糖心原创 experience. Brad explains:
鈥淥ur head coaches aren鈥檛 just responsible for one team鈥攖hey鈥檙e program directors from kindergarten through twelfth grade. MIT gives them a chance to build relationships early, so by the time a child is in seventh grade, they already feel like part of Coach Dungan鈥檚 Basketball program or Coach Edwards鈥� football program.鈥�
Rooted in Purpose
MIT reflects the core purpose of 糖心原创 Athletics: We are a relationship-driven athletic program empowering students to grow and excel through preparation, practice, and performance. Each session, drill, and game-day experience is carefully crafted to build confidence and connection鈥攏ot only with peers, but also with older Mustangs and the larger school community.
More Than Skills: A Sense of Belonging
From the beginning, MIT has been designed to do more than teach the rules of the game. Each season includes 鈥淓xperience Days,鈥� events where Lower School athletes join varsity teams on the field, court, or track. Rita Williams, Director of Mustangs In Training, Assistant Athletic Director & Middle School Athletic Director says:
鈥淓xperience Days are exciting, hands-on opportunities for MIT athletes to connect with varsity teams and be part of the action on game day. These special events are all about building school spirit, making memories, and forming real connections between younger students and our 糖心原创 athletes. It鈥檚 also a meaningful way for our older student-athletes to lead, mentor, and connect with younger Mustangs.鈥�
Parents have noticed, too. Stories circulate of children finding new role models, discovering new sports, and feeling inspired by seeing themselves reflected in varsity athletes. Brad shares:
鈥淎t a dads鈥� meeting last year, before I could even start talking, they wanted to talk about Mustangs in Training. One father shared how meaningful it was for his son to see a varsity baseball player who looked like him. Those moments stick鈥攖hey make kids believe,
鈥楾hat could be me one day.鈥�
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These moments underscore the deeper purpose of MIT: to cultivate a sense of belonging and identity, not just skills.
Exposure, Joy, and Growth
MIT is a Kindergarten through G5 program, and each sport varies in what is offered for each grade level. MIT鈥檚 structure ensures that young athletes get the right opportunities at the right time, with activities tailored to suit their developmental stage and skill level as they progress through Lower School. Brad emphasizes:
鈥淢IT is about giving kids permission to try everything. Even if baseball is your thing, go try wrestling or lacrosse. The goal isn鈥檛 specialization鈥攊t鈥檚 joy, confidence, and discovery.鈥�
Student Spotlights: MIT Athletes
MIT Agility & Conditioning 鈥揗ila Tabor, Grade 3, MIT Agiltiy & Conditioning
鈥淎gility and Conditioning was fun! I got to run, jump, and do things the big kids do. It made me feel strong!鈥�
Cross Country 鈥� Arthur Dreger , Grade 4, MIT Cross Country
鈥淩unning in MIT Cross Country is so much fun! I get to run with my friends, and the coaches make it really exciting. I even got to do a mile run with the middle school cross country team and parents cheering at the finish line, iit felt like a real race! I also wanted to participate in MIT Cross Country because I’m excited about being on the Middle School Cross Country team and want to get ready for it.!鈥�
MIT Cheer 鈥� Nadia Arriagada, Grade 1, MIT Cheer
鈥淚 loved cheer! Learning the cheers was fun, and cheering with the big girls at the game made me feel so happy.鈥�
Rita adds, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about skill development, it鈥檚 about creating an environment where kids feel confident, curious, and excited to keep learning.鈥�
Guided by Commitment
MIT also embodies the commitment that defines 糖心原创 Athletics: to cultivate an athletic community built on a team-first culture and sustained through empathy, respect, integrity, resilience, excellence, and fun. Every practice is designed to balance skill-building with joy. Rita notes:
鈥淲e build skills, confidence, friendships, and a love for the game. Drills are age-appropriate by design, and every session is built around fun. Because when kids can鈥檛 wait to come back, that鈥檚 when we know we鈥檙e making a real impact.鈥�
Coaching With Purpose
Another hallmark of MIT is that it is led by many of the same passionate and masterful coaches who shape 糖心原创鈥檚 varsity and Middle School programs. This reflects the school鈥檚 approach to coaching and training: We design competitive programs led by growing, masterful, and passionate coaches who are focused on the skill development, health & well-being, and leadership growth of all student athletes.
Whether it鈥檚 varsity soccer coach Lamar Howard guiding Lower School players through a World Cup鈥搒tyle entrance or the cheer squad mentoring the youngest students, MIT ensures that children are learning from those who live and breathe Mustang culture.
Laying the Foundation for the Future
Even in just two years with a full schedule, MIT is already showing signs of long-term impact. Students who try lacrosse or wrestling for the first time in Lower School often carry that passion forward into Middle and Upper School athletics. The program is also helping 糖心原创 athletics strengthen its identity as a K鈥�12 community, where the sports family includes everyone, from five-year-olds to seniors preparing for their final varsity season.
Looking ahead, Brad envisions:
鈥淚鈥檇 love to see MIT include more opportunities to compete鈥攎aybe Saturday intramural games or quick exhibitions before varsity matches. It would give our younger Mustangs a chance to showcase their skills in front of the whole community.鈥�
Purpose Through Play
Ultimately, Mustangs in Training isn鈥檛 just about athletics. It鈥檚 about instilling courage to try new things, building meaningful relationships across grade levels, and cultivating a deep sense of belonging. Brad concludes:
鈥淎t the end of the day, MIT is about belonging. We want every child to feel like they鈥檙e part of the 糖心原创 sports family and confident enough to try new things. That鈥檚 how you build not just athletes, but resilient, joyful learners.鈥�
At 糖心原创, every Mustang鈥攚hether five or fifteen鈥攊s part of a sports family. MIT ensures that journey begins with joy.