Wyatt Robb
Staff Writer
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than seven million students participate in high school sports each year. As this number continues to rise, so do questions about the safety of student-athletes.
Peninsula High School administrators and principal Mitzi Cress reached a decision on Oct. 20 to forfeit the remainder of their varsity football season. The move came after Peninsula’s loss to Mira Costa on Oct. 16 and in a response to a number of recent injuries that left the team with only 21 healthy players. Cress released a statement explaining her reasoning for the cancellation.
“We began the season with 27 Varsity players, but with numerous injuries, we believe that we can no longer safely field a Varsity Team without putting the health of our remaining student athletes in jeopardy,” Cress said.
Community and student backlash came soon after the announcement. An online petition with around 2,000 supporters aims to reinstate the team. However, the school is steadfast in its decision and Cress released a second statement addressing reinstatement.
“The decision to cancel our remaining games has elicited an outpouring of reaction within our community, on both sides of the issue,” Cress said. “While some of this is healthy and to be expected, student safety is ultimately not a subject for debate.”
Without their last three games, many of Peninsula’s seniors will not get another chance to play on a football team. A 13-54 loss to Mira Costa served as these players final varsity game.
“The decision was terrible due to the effect on our football players, especially the seniors,” Peninsula senior receiver and captain Jack Grimes said. “They have worked all summer and put in blood, sweat, and tears to achieve their goals, and this has all been rendered a waste due to failure of the administration.”
Peninsula High School was once a football powerhouse in the South Bay and produced former and current NFL players including Erik Lorig, Clark Haggans, and John Welbourn. Despite boasting losing records their last few seasons, the Panthers won back to back Bay League titles in 2004 and 2005.
“Peninsula is usually a pretty good team,” Costa quarterback David Arredondo said. “A couple years back they had a really great program.”
For Peninsula students, sporting events have become outlets for school pride; especially in the case of football. A Friday night football game serves a popular social event and a chance to observe other students showcase their athletic talent.
“Football games really helped the whole school come together, ” Peninsula junior Jen Burr said. “We have always supported our players, win or lose.”
The decision comes amid a countrywide debate about the safety of sports involving repeated head trauma; especially those played by teenagers. There is no evidence to suggest that the move was made specifically regarding concussions and head to head contact. However, it is noted that Peninsula’s administrators believed playing with only 21 players would put the student athletes more at risk of all injuries, including those to the head.
“All sports have an inherent risk,” Mira Costa football coach Don Morrow said. “It’s all about managing that risk and keeping the players as safe as you possibly can.”
Due to Mira Costa’s abnormally large athletic participation, events like the Peninsula football cancellation are unlikely. However, the decision could set a precedent for other schools. When deciding between the success of a team and the safety of athletes, administrators may be more inclined to choose the latter.
“School sports mean so much to me,” Costa sophomore and basketball player Tommy Waller said. “We dedicate so much time and if it was all for nothing, I think that would be really horrible.”
Leave a Reply