High school Rifle teams are disappearing everywhere in PA, where they used to be common place events in most schools (high school and college).

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/

March 26
AH District may not renew rifle team again
By Christopher J. Hughes chughes@theabingtonjournal.com




CLARKS SUMMIT - For the second year, the Abington Heights Board of School Directors nearly decided the fate of the high school’s rifle team without representation from the team’s members or its coaching staff.

In discussing new business at their Wednesday, March 20 public business meeting, board members opened discussion on the rifle team in preparation for the opening of athletic positions for the 2008-09 winter sports season. The team came under scrutiny in May 2007 after a 5-3 vote eliminated the coaching position. The board first suggested the program cost too much based on the number of average participants, but it was later revealed that the cut was a reaction to an incident where a single student stole 900 rounds of ammunition.

After several visits to the board last year following the cut, long-time rifle team head coach Dane Bower, of Factoryville, defended the team’s co-ed status and the opportunities provided to non-traditional athletes through the sport. An August motion to reinstate the team passed by a vote of 4-3, with board members Ken Heron, Louise Brzuchalski and Jody DeRitter dissenting.

On March 20, Brzuchalski, board treasurer, said that the team has no local competition, no nearby range to practice and is one of 46 districts of the 501 in the state that offer the varsity sport. “I just question the relevance of rifle in 2008,” she said.

Board Vice-President DeRitter agreed, “In practical terms, we spend a lot of money for a small number of kids.”

Board members like Warren Acker expressed mixed feelings over eliminating the position on Wednesday, citing the importance of enrichment weighed against the cost to the district. Heron added that the team, which is not a spectator sport, cannot be viewed by fellow classmates. The team used a range at North Pocono High School as a practice range through the 2007-08 season. “It’s a sad way to see a program die on the vine,” he said. “We have reservations because the students are involved. I wonder if there’s a more gracious way to bring an end to the program. It seems to have outlived its day, and that’s a sad thing to say.”

Cathy Hardaway, board president, said that she will continue to support the team based on the number of students, although few, supporting it. “For years, the range was open at Clarks Summit Elementary. Changes in the district have had an unfortunate, adverse effect on the rifle team,” she said.

Following discussion, including input from members of the community, DeRitter stated that he planned to file an agenda item to eliminate the rifle team. The board is expected to vote on the measure in April.