Rising fuel prices have MHS sports fans thinking carpool
Sports reporter
Rising gas prices are affecting everything from travel to retail.
Since Marion High School moved into the Mid-Central Activities Association one year ago, travel to those events is farther than in years past.
The spirit bus, which takes Warrior fans to road football games, is still in operation.
If the bus sign-up sheet is half full, like years past, the fans will be able to carpool to the games.
"We haven't cut anything back," MHS activities director Tod Gordon said. "We're still doing the same thing."
Gordon does think more people will sign up this year for the bus, effectively cutting down on the total amount of gas used for Warrior fans to travel.
Another thing the school has done is put a few fill-over kids each trip in the equipment van instead of bringing another bus.
The MCAA on the other hand could be making changes as well.
Last year the league set up its two divisions for volleyball solely based on travel time, and Gordon said in the near future the divisions could change in football for the same reason.
Still, USD 408 athletic events will go on this year as scheduled.
"We're not going to change much as far as activities," superintendent Lee Leiker said Monday at the USD 408 board of education meeting.
Leiker did stress he wanted everyone to know the school is not in a budget crunch because of the fuel.
"We will make it through the year whether we do anything or not."
Leiker also said he wants to be pro-active by letting the board know if fuel continues to rise at the current rate, some measures could be taken to help curb the inflation.
While the school must follow a schedule that was set before prices started to increase, parents and other fans who travel to games don't always have that luxury.
Mike Jeffrey has four children ages 8 to 17 who play sports.
"A lot of people I've talked to are carpooling to games," Jeffrey said.
While Jeffrey hasn't done that yet, he did say there would be some changes in the Marion Junior Warrior Wrestling Club schedule this year.
"We're not going to as many meets this year," he said.
Jeffrey, who travels with his family to Wichita every Sunday this month so his two older sons can play in a Wichita fall baseball league, isn't alone.
Lyle Leppke's sons Mitchell and Ben both participate in MHS athletics.
"We're not going to miss our kids' events," Lyle said.
At the same time, he agrees with Jeffrey when it comes to carpooling because not only does it save gas but it provides an opportunity to visit with someone on the way to the game.
Lyle also said with his wife working in Peabody and himself in Hillsboro, they have driven separately to games before.
"We tried not to do that even before," he said. "But now we're paying a little bit more attention to that."
For now, fans will have to decide between carpooling, driving by themselves, or not going at all when it comes to an athletic event.
Jeffrey, who owns Mike's Service Station in Marion, said although gas is slowly on the decline he expects it to rise again in the near future, but not as fast as the past month.
Leiker wants everyone to know if the rising prices do come back in the near future, changes could be made. For now, it hasn't come to that.
"We're going to maintain a schedule," he said. "We want students to be active."
