Parents/Guardians/Benson Tech Supporters

 

In conjunction with District officials it was decided today that the Benson Tech Football Game vs Milwaukie High scheduled for Friday September 1^st will be cancelled.  Benson Tech coaches have been working diligently in getting our football numbers up over the last week since our football parent meeting and as of Tuesday (August 29^th) we have 30 athletes who are on the roster.  The major concern is that within these 30 athletes only 12 of them as of today (Tuesday August 29^th) have met the minimum number of 9 practices as mandated by the OSAA in order to be eligible to play in the football game this coming Friday.  Any student that comes out for football has to have at least 9 days of practice before he/she can suit up in an actual football game.  There is hope that between now and end of Thursday’s practice we would potentially be able to get another 6 kids completing the minimum number of 9 practices and thus be able to bring our numbers to 18 students cleared to play in Friday’s football game.  The concern of pinning our hopes on having 12-18 students cleared and available for a varsity football game by this coming Friday is something that I believe is not prudent in regards to our students safety and well-being as it pertains to the sport of football.  In meeting with district officials today the concern for the safety of our students, coupled with the potential low number of students actually available for this first football game made the decision paramount that we cannot move forward with playing a varsity football game at Milwaukie High this coming Friday.

 

The hope is that this will give the Benson Tech football program another week to get more students out for the sport of football as students return to school on Wednesday and hopefully allow the other students on the roster that make up the total number of 30 kids a chance to complete their required number of 9 practices as we look forward to week 2 playing against Parkrose High.  I know that this is something that parents, coaches, students and football athletes did not want to hear but it’s vital for the safety of our football athletes that we have more than 12-18 kids suited up for a varsity football game.

 

I wholeheartedly support our coaches and football players and I am hopeful that we will have a higher number of football players cleared along with the required number of practices completed in time for the Parkrose football game on Friday Sept. 8^th.

 

Thank You

 

Curtis Wilson Jr., Principal
Benson Polytechnic High School