In a friendly wager with a classmate, we're trying to guess the most popular high school sport in each state. Anyone got any info on this?
Interesting challenge! It can be quite tricky to confidently say which sport is the most popular in each state because it can depend on many factors such as school size, climate, cultural interest, and so on.
However, according to sourced data from the National Federation of State High School Associations, as of the end of the 2023-2024 school year, football is the most popular boys high school sport in terms of participation numbers in the majority of states in the U.S. The states where another sport is more popular for boys are a bit scattered, with swimming and diving being the most popular in Hawaii, tennis in Vermont, and cross country in DC.
On the girls' side, it's a bit more varied. Basketball, track and field, volleyball, and soccer are popular in various states. For example, track and field is most popular in Texas, volleyball in Hawaii, and soccer in Virginia.
Another interesting finding is that in terms of individual participants, outdoor track and field is quite popular across the board for both boys and girls due to the large team sizes.
Remember that popularity can vary widely even within each state, depending on factors such as local traditions, available facilities, and more. But overall, these trends may give you a good starting point for your wager. Good luck!
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