Board approves soccer teams for middle school

Monroe seeks more
comprehensive athletics program at Applegarth

By tara petersen
Staff Writer

Board approves soccer
teams for middle school
Monroe seeks more
comprehensive athletics program at Applegarth
By tara petersen
Staff Writer

MONROE — The girls asked, and the answer was yes.

The Board of Education voted at its July 23 meeting to allow the creation of boys’ and girls’ soccer teams at Applegarth Middle School after a group of girls approached them with the request last month.

"The more kids that are involved, the greater the school spirit," Applegarth student Nicole Ragucci told the board.

Several girls also stated that the middle school is one of the few in the area without a girls’ soccer team.

Ragucci’s mother, Joyce, said more programs are needed at the school.

"Numerous students were turned away from clubs" because there were more interested children than available space in the current programs, she said.

The group only asked for one team, but the school will get girls’ and boys’ soccer teams this fall. Field hockey and cross country teams may be considered for the following year.

In February, approximately 25 boys approached the board at a meeting to ask for the establishment of a baseball team. That request was also granted.

"This way, the middle school will have a comprehensive program," Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferrie said.

Ferrie said that after boys asked for baseball earlier this year, and the girls asked for soccer, they decided to take a look at the entire athletic program at the school.

"We wanted to put the students [at Applegarth] on the same level playing field as other schools," so that when the children play at the high school level, they won’t be at a disadvantage, Ferrie said.

He noted that "it is not good business" to wait for people to approach the board with such requests, and that it is better to instead be proactive and examine all of the needs.

The cost associated with the new teams has not yet been determined. Officials said that it will depend on a variety of factors, including the number of coaches needed, transportation, equipment and the cost for referee officials.