Soccer program at NUHS a 'possibility'

NEW ULM -- On Monday morning, members of the New Ulm Youth Soccer Association met with the Acitvities Committee at New Ulm High School about the possibility of starting both boys and girls soccer at New Ulm High School.

"The committee listened to Charlie Bornhoft and Dave Wright of the Soccer Association," said New Ulm High School Activities Director Mark Woodbury. "They asked for the school to sponsor both boys and girls high school soccer team. We are going to asked them to survey students in grades 7-12 to see how many students are interested and start to explore that possibility. No major decision was made about the program."

Woodbury indicated that the start-up cost of a boys soccer program "would be around $15,000 with that same amount to start up a girls program. So to start up both boy's and girl's programs it would cost around $30,000."

'That $15,000 start-up for each program includes coaching salaries, transportation., supplies, uniform costs, equipment -- that is about what the start-up cost would be," he said. "To operate a high school soccer program each year would depend on how many coaches we have, how many games we play. Initially, if we would get the programs started it would cost around $11,000 - $12,000 each year to fund a boys soccer program. That would double with a girls program."

One of the concerns that the Activities Committee had was that cuts in activities that have been made in the past have not been re-instated yet "and that was discussed," said Woodbury.

"Some positive things were that it is an activity that the kids can be involved in, but some of the concerns of the committee were costs and declining enrollment. That is why we are only at an exploratory area now. We will see how many kids would be interested."

Woodbury did say that the Soccer Association would "try to help subsidize the initial start-up costs. So we will keep talking about it."

Woodbury added that the potential soccer program would be a fall sport.

"It would affect football, cross country, volleyball and girls tennis," he said.

"I do think that coaches (of the fall sports) have concerns about adding this program," commented Woodbury. "That goes back to the declining enrollment issue and how it would affect these sports."

He said that there will be another meeting "sometime before November. It was a good meeting. it was nice to get the soccer people there and express their interests."

Woodbury said that there is some concern that the activities that have been cut should be re-instated before new programs are added."

There is also concern by people about how would the school fund soccer each year with the cost of each program being an additional $11,000-$12,000 each year to the activities budget.

"This was a positive meeting with the soccer people," said Woodbury. "Right now, it is non-committal by anyone."

HOFFMANN SCORES GOAL: New Ulm's Jamie Hoffmann scored a goal Saturday night in Des Moines' 5-3 loss to Cedar Rapids in the United States Junior Hockey League game. Hoffmann now has a goal and an assist in two games for the Buccaneers.

SENSKE NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR: New Ulm High School baseball coach Jim Senske has been named the Class 3-A High School Baseball Coach of the Year.

Assistant coach Dave Curry said that there are some ads that are available for purchase if you want to congratulate him.

You can contact Curry at 354-5041

CATHEDRAL THIRD IN POINT STANDINGS:The New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds' football team has 425 points - third right now - in Section 2A football.

Sleepy Eye St. Mary's is first with 525 points followed by Mankato Loyola (500), Cathedral, McLeod West (325), St., Clair (300), JWP (200), GHECML (150), BLH (125), Sleepy Eye Public (100) and Cedar Mountain-Comfrey (0).