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Midwest High School Football Faces Safety Concerns as Osawatomie Forfeits Varsity Season
- 2024/09/04
- 再生時間： 3 分
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あらすじ・解説
In the heart of the Midwest, high school football is a staple of community spirit and athletic pride. However, this season has brought an unexpected twist for one Kansas high school. Osawatomie High, located just south of the Kansas City metropolitan area, has made the tough decision to forfeit its entire 2024 varsity football season due to safety concerns.
The reason behind this decision is a lack of returning upperclassmen, which left the team with insufficient players to field both varsity and junior varsity teams. With the safety of their students as the top priority, Osawatomie High School officials decided it was best to focus on a junior varsity and combined JV/C schedule instead. This move was not taken lightly, with hours of discussion and consultation with district officials leading to the final decision.
Osawatomie Superintendent Greg Clark emphasized the importance of student safety, stating, "Our players' and students' safety is our priority over everything else. Due to our numbers, we had to forfeit a Varsity or JV schedule. We could not do both." Clark also mentioned that the school received numerous concerns from parents, which further solidified their decision.
This decision marks a significant change for the Osawatomie Trojans, who have struggled in recent years. The team has not won a varsity football game since October 22, 2021, and has gone 0-9 in each of the last two seasons. Despite this, the school is committed to maintaining long-standing traditions like homecoming, albeit in a modified form to ensure the safety of their young players.
While Osawatomie High adjusts to this new reality, other high schools in the Kansas City area are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season. PrepsKC is highlighting key matchups, including renewed rivalries and cross-town clashes, which are set to kick off the season with high energy and anticipation.
For fans of high school football, this season will be a mix of new challenges and familiar excitement. As teams take to the field, the spirit of competition and community will remain strong, even as Osawatomie High focuses on building its young players' skills and ensuring their safety.
The reason behind this decision is a lack of returning upperclassmen, which left the team with insufficient players to field both varsity and junior varsity teams. With the safety of their students as the top priority, Osawatomie High School officials decided it was best to focus on a junior varsity and combined JV/C schedule instead. This move was not taken lightly, with hours of discussion and consultation with district officials leading to the final decision.
Osawatomie Superintendent Greg Clark emphasized the importance of student safety, stating, "Our players' and students' safety is our priority over everything else. Due to our numbers, we had to forfeit a Varsity or JV schedule. We could not do both." Clark also mentioned that the school received numerous concerns from parents, which further solidified their decision.
This decision marks a significant change for the Osawatomie Trojans, who have struggled in recent years. The team has not won a varsity football game since October 22, 2021, and has gone 0-9 in each of the last two seasons. Despite this, the school is committed to maintaining long-standing traditions like homecoming, albeit in a modified form to ensure the safety of their young players.
While Osawatomie High adjusts to this new reality, other high schools in the Kansas City area are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season. PrepsKC is highlighting key matchups, including renewed rivalries and cross-town clashes, which are set to kick off the season with high energy and anticipation.
For fans of high school football, this season will be a mix of new challenges and familiar excitement. As teams take to the field, the spirit of competition and community will remain strong, even as Osawatomie High focuses on building its young players' skills and ensuring their safety.