I heard rumor that St. Patrick new Principal was not going to let 7th & 8th graders play varsity. This means the Douglas girl won't be playing. Won't that hurt ST. Patrick if it is true?

I heard rumor that St. Patrick new Principal was not going to let 7th & 8th graders play varsity. This means the Douglas girl won't be playing. Won't that hurt ST. Patrick if it is true?

 

I believe what you heard is true, unless something has changed recently and to answer the question on whether this will hurt the Lady Saints, I believe it will.

What grade is the Douglas girl in, I was thinking she was a freshman.

The high school teams at St. Patrick have enough girls without bringing up jr. high, from what I understand. I do think they might bring up eigth grade for the freshman team although they may not need to since they have quite a few freshman this year. The Douglas girl is a freshman this year so she will be playing. Since she played Freshman, JV and Varsity last year, I assume she will be playing on all three teams this year, again.

The high school teams at St. Patrick have enough girls without bringing up jr. high, from what I understand. I do think they might bring up eigth grade for the freshman team although they may not need to since they have quite a few freshman this year. The Douglas girl is a freshman this year so she will be playing. Since she played Freshman, JV and Varsity last year, I assume she will be playing on all three teams this year, again.

 

 

If your building the program for many years down the road, then if your middle school student/athletes are advanced enough to play at the next level, then they don't need to be held back. St. Patrick might have enough upperclass girls right now, but what does it look like 2 or 3 years from now? I am just asking the question, not disputing what you said. I know the 7th grade numbers were low this year.

The 7th grade numbers were low this year but each year the high school gains students. This year there are 8 or 9 freshman girls playing ball this year (from what I'm told) when there were only four eigth graders last year (a gain of four). It is hard for a small school to have enough to field a team for each grade, but in high school you are looking at two teams for four grades, five grades if you bring up 8th graders. The numbers in jr. high are low now, but who knows what the high school years will bring for these grades? Only time will tell.

If your building the program for many years down the road, then if your middle school student/athletes are advanced enough to play at the next level, then they don't need to be held back. St. Patrick might have enough upperclass girls right now, but what does it look like 2 or 3 years from now? I am just asking the question, not disputing what you said. I know the 7th grade numbers were low this year.

 

I agree. Put the best players on floor regardless of age or grade. I never agreed with the "number" reasoning. Didn't the former wildcat star and Clay County standout Richie Farmer start on the high school team since he was in 6th grade?

Apples and oranges, but I think a big deal was made during the Ryder Cup about J.B. Holmes playing varsity golf since the third grade.

This is not an exact science to be sure, just peoples opinions. I know for certain that some of these teams, players, and coaches are NEVER seen by some of these writers!