ENID, OK - Enid Public Schools is reviving a valued community tradition and staple of many successful school sports programs: building-level middle school athletics.
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The district will reinstate the programs, in phases, beginning in the fall of 2020. Sign-ups for the programs will be accepted during the 2020-21 enrollment process this spring. Parents and students will have the opportunity to learn more about athletics during a meeting on April 2 at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the new EHS gymnasium. The meeting coincides with a public open house for the facility.
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According to school officials, they made the decision following an extensive middle school community engagement study that began in the fall of 2018. The study resulted in improvements in many areas, including academics and athletics.
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“We asked our community what we could do to improve the school experience for middle school students. Overwhelmingly, they asked the district to return to building-level athletics,” Superintendent Dr. Darrell Floyd said. “We believe this change will improve participation in our programs, as well as help promote school spirit and pride. We look forward to seeing more students involved in these important programs.”
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In order for the transition to be successful, the plan requires several phases, Floyd said. Initially, in most cases, Waller (the largest school) will have its own teams, while students at Emerson and Longfellow will combine to make teams. Some sports will still need all three schools to play together, while other sports will combine students in the seventh and eighth grades to make teams.
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According to Billy Tipps, Athletic Director, the district would be thrilled to expand all programs to all three sites as soon as participation levels will allow.
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“We have been gathering feedback from district coaches to ensure we select a configuration that will help the student athletes and the programs to be successful,” Tipps said. “No matter how the sport is organized, they will take the field, court or course as Plainsmen and Pacers, just as they will when they compete on behalf of Enid High School in the future. While we are expanding offerings for students, we are also working to build a cohesive program that will realize both short-term and long-term achievements for our community. This is an exciting announcement for past, current and future Plainsmen and Pacers.”
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Tipps said the district is in the process of identifying practice and game locations for the expanded programs, as well as working to recruit additional coaches. The change is expected to allow most students to practice and compete closer to their homes; however, transportation will still be provided to those who must travel to another site for practice.
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The first-year program offerings will likely include:
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Boys & Girls Track: All Three Schools Combined
Baseball: All Three Schools Combined
Tennis: All Three Schools Combined
Slow Pitch Softball: All Three Schools Combined
Golf: All Three Schools Combined
Wrestling: All Three Schools Combined
Fast Pitch Softball:All Three Schools Combined
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Football:
Waller 7th & 8th Grade Teams
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Teams
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Volleyball:
Waller 7th & 8th Grade Teams
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Teams
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Boys and Girls Cross Country:
Waller Combined 7th & 8th Grade Team and
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Combined Team
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Cheerleading:
Waller Combined 7th & 8th Grade Team and
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Combined Team
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Pom:
Waller Combined 7th & 8th Grade Team and
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Combined Team
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Boys & Girls Basketball:
Waller 7th & 8th Grade Teams and
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Teams
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Boys & Girls Soccer:
Waller 7th & 8th Grade Teams and
Longfellow/Emerson 7th & 8th Grade Teams
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Middle Schools Returning To Individual Teams
