Hutchinson soccer fans will be able to cheer on their favorite players in a new District 423 program opening this fall. Junior varsity and middle school boys and girls soccer will be offered for the 2008-2009 school year.

“We had talked about this going on two years now,” said School Board member Mike McGraw.

The costs to start up a new sports program were estimated to be around $30,000, McGraw said. But thanks to some financial help from the Hutchinson United Soccer Association, those costs have been reduced to around $20,000.

“The soccer program was a part of the overall budget, so we (the School Board) adopted that at the last meeting,” McGraw said. “It doesn’t change the bottom line, so to speak, to add soccer to the program.”

District Activities Director Paul Syzmanski said the plan is to try out the new sport at the middle school and junior varsity level and if interest grows as projected, add a varsity team in about two to three years.

So where will the soccer games take place?

“That’s a good question,” Syzmanski said. “One of the possibilities is moving our middle school stuff to Linden Park, but nothing’s finalized yet.”

He hopes to have at least six to 10 games scheduled for next year for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. The first practice is slated for Aug. 11 at a location to be announced.

“Right now, we’re in the process of hiring coaches,” Syzmanski said.

Interested applicants should call Syzmanski at the high school at (320) 234-2698.

For the full story, check out the Tuesday, June 17 print edition of the Leader.

(Lesley Christianson is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader.)
christianson@hutchinsonleader.com [2]