Dayton, Waitsburg Discuss Sports Combine

DAYTON – Administrators from Dayton and Waitsburg schools met last week to discuss the possibility of fielding combined athletic teams for some sports as early as next year.

In a press release issued this week, Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson said that both schools are experiencing declining enrollments, as well as lower participation in several junior and senior high school athletic programs.

“A potential solution would be to create a ‘combined’ athletic program in those sports where participation numbers seemed to jeopardize the ability to have a competitive and safe environment for student athletes,” Johnson said.

He said that immediate attention is being given to high school football for the 2016-2017 school year. The districts began a combined middle school football program this year.

Johnson said that other sports that could be considered for the combine in the near future include cross country, wrestling, soccer, baseball, and golf.

“The remaining sport offerings, including volleyball, basketball, track and softball appear to have enough numbers in both districts without the need to combine,” he said.

“While there are many issues yet to discuss, representatives from both districts believe it is in the best interest of both communities’ student athletes to move forward with the concept,” Johnson added. Both school boards will discuss and take potential action to continue exploring the combine at their first meetings in December, he said.

An advisory council will be formed to provide guidance and decision-making regarding formation of the combine. It is expected that the two school boards will have a joint work session in late January in order to potentially approve the combine. The plan will have to be presented to WIAA District 9, which represents school athletic programs in this region.

“Representatives from both schools believe with all the changes related to school enrollment and league structures and small participation numbers in both Dayton and Waitsburg the ‘combine’ makes sense in order to provide safe and competitive programs for all students,” Johnson said.