SOUTHWICK – A group of Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School parents are hoping to add freshman sports to next year’s high school roster.
The parents have been working with high school Athletic Director Frank Montagna to make this happen and wrote a letter to Superintendent John Barry and the School Committee seeking support.
Parents Matt Secovich and Christine Strain attended the committee meeting last night to urge members to consider the request.
Secovich said with the upcoming combination of grades seven and eight with the high school, it is the perfect opportunity to create freshman boys and girls soccer and basketball teams.
“The Rec Center has been an excellent, positive influence in our community,” said Secovich. “It’s really allowed this age group to play at a higher level, but it runs out at their freshman year.”
Strain said young athletes leave the Rec Center programs and while they are often ahead of their peers, they may not be ready for a junior varsity or varsity team. A freshman team would allow them another year to gain the skills needed on the field and court and off.
“From a psycho-social and playing perspective, it’s appropriate,” said Strain. “They will be that much more prepared for JV.”
Barry said the parents have been working with Montagna to incorporate freshman teams into the athletic offerings.
A letter signed by numerous parents asked the committee to allow freshman teams in 2014.
“We feel sports can be very helpful with the important transition year (ninth grade) for many children,” stated the letter. “With our projected numbers, many students will miss out on the opportunity o have a positive co-curricular activity in their freshman year. Also, as many coaches and the athletic director can probably attest, many kids have not developed yet at the age of 14 and once they get cut from a team they are highly unlikely to ever return. This year for some of those kids could make a tremendous difference in retaining student athletics.”
