(November 2, 2007) — This is the second year in which mesh P.E. shorts are being sold, so now both the sophomores and freshman are equally stylin’ in their every-other-daily exercise routines. After a decision made by P.E. teachers, Chris Axelgard, Randy Tiffany and Judy Thomsen to offer this breezy alternative to students who were dissatisfied with cotton shorts, a great demand has arisen for them. So why the switch? Axelgard summed up their decision into one word: comfort . The mesh shorts have proved to give the wearer more freedom of movement and better ventilation during a grueling mile run. Axelgard argues that, as an athlete, this decision was in the best interest of the students because greater comfort creates greater performance. “It’s a better short,” says Axelgard, and most of the students agree, voting with their purchases. But Thomsen seems to have a slightly different opinion of why students are turning away from cotton. Students are not only choosing in the interest of their physical performance, but following fashion. Thomsen is humoring this change of preference so that kids can stop worrying about their appearances and put more effort into getting in shape. While the fabric-nouveau is the most noticeable difference, the real selling point is the difference in cut. Thomsen related stories of tiny girls buying extra-large shorts to have the extra length cover their knees and many boys would shift the waist of their shorts below their bottoms for the same effect, and who would buy baggier shirts to make up the difference. Some kids who wore the correct size often found themselves showing more leg than they may have liked, causing them to be distracted from their participation by their appearance. “We want students to concentrate on learning,” Thomsen said, “and not on what they look like.” This is not the first style change to occur in the P.E. department. Until 1997 shirts were the panther colors of black, yellow, and white, but switched to a simpler green. The P.E. teachers decided to switch shorts after Organized Sports, Clark’s sportswear provider, sent a sample pair of mesh shorts. For those traditional types, cotton shorts are still being sold for the same price of $10.