This year, basketball is removing its freshman team and replacing it with a JV B team.  But what is the reason for this change?

Many schools around Ohio are beginning to eliminate freshman teams for a couple of reasons.

“There is a lack of numbers of students participating in athletics and costs need to be cut,” coach Victor Harris said.

Since it is now possible that sophomores and juniors do not have a set spot on JV A or Varsity, some people are upset by the change.

“A lot of schools are going to JV A and JV B teams to get more kids to participate, but some kids and parents don’t like the idea of playing on a B team. But if it gives them a chance to play, I’m all for it.  I am not opposed to this as long as you give kids the same number of opportunities to participate in a sport,” Harris said.

However, freshmen may have a different view on the subject.  They may have a more positive opinion on the removal of the freshman team, because it could positively affect their placement on the three teams.

“I think it was a good thing to do because now freshmen can play up and not get held back because there are enough for the freshmen team,” freshman Jessica Fehr said.