Varsity Team Cuts 'Unconscionable'
To the Editor:

No doubt if you have a child in school in St. Ignace, especially if your kid participates in athletic competition at the St. Ignace LaSalle High School, you are aware of the furor caused by the dismissal, or so-called "cutting," of our varsity and veteran players from this year's volleyball team by new coach Gracia May-Marshall. These players were dismissed two weeks before the season began on the second day of practice because they failed a series of agility tests by Coach Marshall and a committee of so-called experts. Never mind that [two of the students] earned league honors last year. It did not matter. To cut senior players who have played four years of volleyball in their final year of high school is unconscionable. To say the least, the parents of these kids are, understandably, upset, and they should be.

Our children go to high school to participate. This is part of their education, to take part in the debate team, music, and athletics.

While attempting to clear the matter and get an explanation, the parents and the kids were given a cold shoulder by the athletic director and administrators at the school. But a recent hearing before the school board may have finally exposed the deception of this new coach and the school officials for what they did to these kids.

I have been out of high school for almost 50 years. I played varsity basketball and baseball. I can't imagine the effect on me and my parents had the varsity coach had told me in my senior year, "You can't play this year." I would have been devastated, as these kids are today. What kind of message does that send to kids who want to take part, but can't? Come on, this is not the NFLor Michigan football. You don't cut players who can play, especially senior players who have played for four or five years.

There are plenty of vacancies this year, and this team needs a lift. These players can do it.

Don Howe

St. Ignace