World War II knew no boundaries. The crisis changed the way residents of the Calumet region lived their daily lives. The war clearly affected  teenagers, who only recently had begun to attend high schools in large numbers and participate in physical education and organized sports.    

     From 1941 to 1945, the war effort affected extracurricular activities in high schools throughout the Calumet region. Schools reduced the number of competitive sports programs and limited travel. They also sacrificed coaches and players to military service. 

    Nevertheless, play continued. Throughout the war, high school football and basketball shared local newspaper headlines with reports of allied setbacks and victories.  European nations were never afforded so great a luxury.  They did not play while the world was at war.

    After Pearl Harbor, Calumet-region high schools justified sports in a variety of ways.  They used sporting events to sell war bonds and promote patriotism.  They also expanded education  programs to prepare students if they were needed to fight.  However, the popularity of high school sports during so devastating a crisis demonstrated the region's commitment to enjoying leisure, competitive athletics, and teenage culture.

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