Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT — Low athlete turnout has prompted local high school administration and coaches to decide that the Gorilla football team will play an independent, 8-man football schedule this fall season, athletic director and head coach Tim Rasmussen confirmed this week.
Just 12 to 15 students have turned out for football practices, which began Wednesday, Aug. 16.
“We have low turnouts, so we informed our league that we’ll be playing an independent schedule this year,” Rasmussen said. “We’re trying to find some 8-man teams with bye weeks in their schedule…it will probably be a combination of varsity and junior varsity games.”
Not only is turnout low, but turnout is young. Brody Schillinger is the team’s only senior, while six are freshmen that didn’t play football in eighth grade, Rasmussen said.
A full schedule is expected to be released later this week.
The topic of low turnout and the possible impacts on school sports was also discussed at a school board meeting Monday, Aug. 21.
Superintendent Chad Prewitt reminded the board that the new WIAA cycle for classifications starts in 2024. Davenport, presently a 2B school, needs to consider if it should petition to move down to 1B, he said.
“We have until December to appeal,” Prewitt said, sharing data stating that predicts 30.8% of students won’t be able to participate in sports between now and 2030.
The district can consider staying 2B if enrollment allows, petitioning to move down to 1B for only football as 2022 state 1B football champion Liberty Bell did or moving all sports down to 1B.
A move down would most affect football and volleyball for fall sports, as soccer and cross country frequently cross over to compete against 1B and 2B schools. Basketball, softball, wrestling, track and baseball would all be largely impacted by a move down.
“I think this day’s been coming and we know it’s been coming that we might need to move down,” board member Deanna Fitzpatrick said.
No action was taken Monday, and Prewitt said community forums and more board discussion is necessary before a final decision is made.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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