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Madonna faced difficult decision

Our region received another hard dose of reality last week when it was learned that officials at Weirton Madonna High School made the decision to suspend the school’s football team for the coming season.

It was a decision that — for now — ends a long tradition of successful seasons at the school. Fans have cheered the Blue Dons on to six West Virginia Class A state championships (in 1968, 1971, 1972, 1987, 2009 and 2013;) the Catholic state title in 1975; and 11 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A championships (in 1962, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1987, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2020.)

Competitiveness has never been an issue — in fact, last year’s team finished with a record of 7-4 and played well enough to earn a spot in the Class A playoffs before being eliminated with a 68-13 loss to Wahama, the eventual state champion.

What led the administration to reach that difficult decision was numbers — last year’s team finished with 18 players, seven of whom were seniors who graduated this spring. Seeing no path to being able to attract enough players to ensure a safe and productive experience for the students, the school had few options available to save the program.

It’s a decision that administrators at other schools in the region likely will be faced with in the coming years. Already, some athletic teams have been dropped, and some have seen participation decline to the point where it’s no longer possible to have a reserve program for some teams.

All of that is another reminder about our region’s changing demographics. Fifty years ago, the largest schools in our area had graduating classes that hovered near 300. Those numbers have been cut by almost half, and some of the smaller schools have graduating classes that number 50 or fewer.

That puts a strain on school officials, who want their students to have access to as many programs as possible in academics, athletics and the arts.

Madonna’s decision also has an effect on the local schools that had been on this year’s schedule. Those schools — Steubenville Catholic Central, Toronto, Oak Glen, Cameron, Clay-Battelle and Conotton Valley — are now left scrambling to find teams to play on those dates, a difficult task with the season scheduled to begin in less than two months.

Those who had planned to represent the Blue Dons on the field this season and want to play football still have options. According to John McCune, who would have been entering his second season as coach, students who live in Weirton can play for Weir High, and students who live in New Cumberland, Newell or Chester can play at Oak Glen.

And, officials at Madonna have left the door open to reviving the program in the 2026 season, provided they receive sufficient interest.

Whether or not that becomes a reality is a question that will have to be answered sometime in the coming year. Until then, Madonna fans, alumni, former players and members of the community might be saddened that the school’s football program has been suspended, but they always will be able to share the memories and enjoy the friendships that have been created on the field and in the stands.

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