Cambridge, McCook to share tennis

McCOOK, Neb. -- Before it was unanimously approved, one member of the McCook Board of Education seemed to express caution about an agreement that will allow a Cambridge student to compete in boys tennis at McCook High School.

"We as a board really want to think about what programs we offer...so our students can benefit as well, just as small schools are benefitting from us," said board member Loretta Hauxwell. Hauxwell said she is "for all kids and for all families" but also for "giving McCook Public School students as much opportunities" as possible. Later in the discussion, she explained her concern about the limited number of spots -- six -- available on varsity tennis and how these kind of agreements would work in the future.

Other board members weighed in, referencing the past successes of other athletic cooperative agreements MPS has, with Maywood for tennis and Southwest High School for swimming. (Both had one student competing this year, according to MPS activities director, Darin Nichols) Board member Diane Lyons cited that students coming in from other districts showed a dedication and willingness to compete and that having more athletes spurred competition.

Board president Tom Bredvick told the board that it's pretty straight forward on how tennis members earn a spot on varsity: whether by winning and advancing their position or by losing and dropping position.

Both Superintendent Grant Norgaard and board member Brian Esch said they could see it from a small school perspective. Norgaard was a superintendent at a small school that had a wrestler who competed for a neighboring school, Schuyler, and the student was able to advance to state competition. "Small schools are limited in what they can offer...and they can't always meet the needs of kids who have the talent," Norgaard said.

Esch said he grew up in a small school district - Republican Valley in Indianola, which later merged with Beaver Valley and Bartley into the current Southwest High School) and appreciated the leadership he found while playing legion baseball in McCook. He added that it would be a concern to him if the agreements allowed students from a neighboring school to compete in a sport where athletes have to try out for a spot, such as softball.

Hauxwell clarified that as of now, she sees no problem with athletes coming into the McCook School District to compete, but wanted to look at the big picture for the future, such as the impact it would have if more students, like 10, would compete. Bredvick responded that if staffing had to be added, it could not be done and that these agreements can be voided at anytime.