Republic sports library will provide gear to those in need

Sports equipment cache the brainchild of Republic High School footballer Hradek
Republic kids who want to participate in sports but can’t afford to purchase the equipment can borrow it instead, thanks to the creation of the new Republic Sports Equipment Library by Hayden Hradek.
The sports library is a cache of sports equipment kept in a storage container behind the Republic Community Center, and it was Hayden’s capstone project in the National Leadership Academy, which he took in the fall of 2023.
Hayden, 17, who plays football for the Republic Tigers, was quoted in a press release as stating the idea for the sports library came from his own experiences while growing up.
“I was raised by a single mom,” he said, “so in my younger years, money was tight, and I could only play one sport because of the cost to outfit me for other sports. The idea with this library is to be able to provide equipment, some of which gets really expensive, to coaches who have players in need.”

At the presentation of the sports library, Hayden said it was “exhilarating” to see it come to pass, especially with the level of effort he had to put into securing the funding for it.
“It’s been a lot of work,” he said. “It’s been a lot of grant writing. I’ll tell you what, grant writing is not for the faint heart.”
Garrett Cline, recreation superintendent overseeing athletics and aquatics for the City of Republic, said that the sports library currently has equipment for football, baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. He added that the department would accept donations of sports equipment, provided it was in good condition.
“It would have to be gear that is in very high-quality condition or like new or new gear, something that’s reusable,” he said.
Sports coaches who wish to borrow sports equipment from the sports library should contact the Republic Parks and Recreation’s Athletic Department, either by phone at 417-732-3500 or by email at athletics@republicmo.com.