Like many schools, GMU has seen a steady decline in athletic participation over the last few years. Fortunately, other area schools have offered our students opportunities to continue playing by joining their teams.
GMU students were asked to sign up for fall sports this past spring, but our numbers for varsity boys soccer were again too low to form a team. Our Board of Education discussed this and decided the best way to fulfill the athletic needs of our students was to continue working with Unadilla Valley.
Our Board agreed that we would be good neighbors in helping UV to provide opportunities for all students and offered GMU’s gymnasium and fields for practices and games. Our Board also accepted UV’s offer to allow our students to join any UV athletic team whenever possible. This gives GMU student-athletes a tremendous opportunity to play sports that we do not offer.
In the immediate future, GMU will merge with UV for all levels of boys soccer as there will be varsity, junior varsity and modified teams this fall. Having teams at three levels means players will not have to face cuts and will be more accurately placed at the proper level based on ability and age.
Projections show the pattern of reduced participation in sports will continue, so GMU plans to keep working with UV to provide opportunities for student-athletes at both schools. This will extend to the winter and spring sports seasons during the 2024-2025 school year, too, giving GMU student-athletes a chance to sign up for additional UV sports.
Specifics on locations, times and transportation for fall sports practices and games will be coming soon. Please note that our girls soccer teams will remain at GMU for the fall season as participation numbers are high at both districts.
Thank you for supporting this neighborly relationship, which allows GMU and UV to lean on each other in times of need. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Annette Hammond
GMU Superintendent
Posted 8/2/2024