DRACUT — After a dizzying day which included a press release from administration, a spirited rally after which a false report, the way forward for the Dracut High soccer program remained in jeopardy getting into Friday.
Parents of gamers huddled Thursday evening on campus in an effort to avoid wasting this system.
But the rally was squelched an hour later when unconfirmed studies surfaced that the college had reportedly already pulled the plug on this system because of dangerously low numbers.
The studies weren’t true. Prior to follow, in accordance with sophomore quarterback Ryan Cole, athletic director Paula Chausse addressed the crew.
“She said she was going to make a decision in 24 hours,” Cole mentioned Thursday evening. “Everyone on the team is wanting to play. We all want to play. We’re all so dedicated to the team and the coaching staff.”
Efforts to succeed in Chausse and varsity soccer coach Jermaine McKenzie for remark had been unsuccessful.
An emotionally-charged rally was held in entrance of the college, which featured over 150 dad and mom, college students and followers. They acquired a lift from a military of Dracut Pop Warner gamers.
“This is more than we hoped for, this is incredible,” mentioned Jenn Wakefield, one of many occasion’s organizers and Cole’s mom. “This is a community coming together to rally. Listen to this. I couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. I was thinking 25 maybe 50 people would be here. There are easily over 100 here. This is an absolute show of support for our kids, community and the future of the Dracut school sports programs, not just football. All of the sports. We’re here. We’re not going anywhere.”
The Middies completed 2-10 final 12 months amid dwindling numbers.
In a joint assertion launched earlier within the day, Chausse, Principal Richard Manley and Superintendent of Schools Steve Stone addressed the problems.
“We continue to explore any and all viable options by which we might be able to field a team this fall,” the assertion learn.
According to the discharge, Dracut initially enrolled 28 soccer gamers, a ample roster to discipline a crew. However, as of Thursday, that quantity was decreased to twenty, with 17 bodily cleared to play.
“Declining participation in football across the country is being felt most prominently in smaller communities, and there are a number of municipalities in or approaching similar situations in regards to participation in football,” the assertion continued. “Our commitment to our football program continues as we investigate and evaluate all possible options to preserve the upcoming season. We are also in communication with neighboring schools and officials from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).”
At the time, the college directors maintained that the matter remained fluid, and so they’d proceed to maintain the neighborhood knowledgeable as extra data grew to become accessible.
A neighboring faculty, Innovation Academy Charter School in Tyngsboro, appeared able to step in to assist. According to Innovation Head of Schools Greg Orpen, the college made a co-op pitch to Dracut. IAC doesn’t have a soccer program however has between 13-15 gamers who expressed curiosity in enjoying soccer someplace if such a merger was proposed, however nothing got here of it.
“The only word I got was that it didn’t look like something that would work out this year,” mentioned Orpen. “I didn’t get any specific reason why. Whether it’s scheduling, busing, finances, there’s a whole laundry list of things that could gum it up.”
According to Cuom Truong, father of Dracut senior participant Robbie Truong, the information of a potential misplaced season is the most recent in what he says has been an uphill battle.
“If they fielded a team this year, wins and losses would be irrelevant,” mentioned Truong. “Would they be competitive? That’s beside the point. The seniors have poured their blood, sweat and tears into this. This is my second kid to go through this program, it’s been nothing but disappointments after disappointments, year after year the past four years, with four coaches and countless assistant coaches. The instability in the leadership positions have created a loss of interest among the kids in a sport that requires leadership and teamwork.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com