Staff writer
Centre USD 397 Superintendent Brian Smith told board members at their May meeting that conversations with Marion High School are ongoing to allow Centre athletes to participate in Marion’s baseball program in 2014-15.
Marion athletic director Grant Thierolf said the discussion is in the initial stages, and nothing has been put down on paper.
“The baseball coaches are in favor of it, so I’m in favor of it,” Thierolf said. “It’s a matter of numbers.”
The Marion baseball squad lost eight seniors to graduation.
Smith said he would like to see Marion’s softball program also open to Centre students. Cooperative agreements would have to be signed between the two schools and approved by their school boards.
The establishment of a fall girls’ golf program is also under consideration. Girls’ golf is sanctioned by the Kansas State High School Activities Association as a fall sport. Boys’ golf is in the spring.
Golf coach Greg Wyatt said the seven girls who participated in golf this spring are interested in playing golf this fall. He said a girls’ golf team would be competitive with other girls’ golf teams. It would level the playing field for them.
The board will be asked to take action on these added activities later this summer.