Parent Stephanie Dickinson spoke during public comment at Clearview Regional’s April 25 board of education meeting to request a girls golf team.
Dickinson said her daughter, Annalyse, is the only girl on the high school’s co-ed team, which consists of 11 other players, coached by Dan Lafferty (head coach) and Rob MacKerchar (assistant).
“That comes with a lot of challenges with being an only girl on a primarily boys team,” she said. “You’re competing against boys, upperclassmen and there’s not a real fair playing field. There’s some different dynamics with boys and girls playing together. With only 12 spots on the team, and six playing, the chances of a girl getting playing time are extremely difficult.”
Nine schools in South Jersey have a girls golf team in the Olympic Conference. The schools are: Cumberland Regional, all four Lenape Regional schools, Moorestown, Williamstown, Paul VI and Kingsway. Eastern Regional has begun talks of supporting a girls golf team.
“[On April 15], there was a tournament for girls with 96 present,” said Dickinson. “[On April 29] is another tournament with 132 girls representing 27 schools. I think the numbers speak for themselves that this is a growing sport in our surrounding communities.”
In an email to The Sun, Dickinson said she and her daughter know of at least two eighth-graders, who will be freshmen next year, who would join the team if the board approves it.
“I’ve also heard from another current freshman parent whose daughter is interested in playing next year,” said Dickinson in the email. “I think there is a lot of interest out there, and Clearview would have no problem fielding a team. We’ve gotten support from many people that we have talked to in the community about this, and I think everyone is hoping this happens.”
Dickinson went on to add college opportunities exist for the girls, however coaches “want to see you playing at a competitive high school level.”
She added the hurdles the district would need to solve are transportation to and from practices and paying for coaches because, according to her, no referee exists in the sport, uniforms are typically paid for by the students or parents and the students provide their own equipment.
“We feel the girls and boys could be bused together,” said Dickinson. “They share the practice facility, which is now Pitman.”
Superintendent John Horchak said he was notified of the appeal in mid-April, and one of the difficulties the school faced with a golf team was securing a practice facility.
“It took us about five or six years to finally secure Pitman,” said Horchak. “We were finally able to get in there, and they won’t allow a 13th player.”
Dickinson said GolfU, which is located in Mantua and where her daughter works, is willing to provide an indoor facility in the event of inclement weather, and Riverwinds Golf Course in West Deptford is another option for the district, which is where Kingsway practices.
In coaching, Dickinson said many school districts have avoided substantial stipend increases by promoting the boys’ or co-ed assistant coach to a head coach, which would be MacKerchar.
Within Clearview’s $37,267,129 budget appropriations, athletics is afforded 3 percent.
Horchak said the board is exploring the idea, conducting further research and looking into the factors Dickinson mentioned, in addition to others that were not made public.
In other news:
- The high school’s Ms. Clearview event raised over $5,000 for a local family.
- Student council members participated in Clearview’s day of service on April 25.
- The board thanked Harrison Township’s committee for purchasing a bus for the district.
- A talent show will be held on May 9 by the high school’s Key Club, benefiting local families.
- Sophomore Leadership Academy is on May 11 for incoming juniors.
- The Bennett Awards, hosted by Students in Action, will be on June 3 to honor people who’ve helped their communities.
- June 7 is the district’s Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.
- Students earned high ranks at the TSA competition in April.
- Karen Vick of Mantua was appointed to the board seat that was vacated by Debbie Lundberg in March. The seat will be up for election in Mantua this year.
The next board meeting is scheduled for May 23, beginning at 7 p.m.
