Springdale, Riverview may team up in softball, wrestling, golf
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Bitter rivals in Lower Valley high school athletics scene may be teaming up in three sports.
Allegheny Valley school directors are considering a cooperative sponsorship agreement with the Riverview School District for its softball, wrestling and golf programs.
“We believe that creating positive, meaningful relationships with our neighbors such as Riverview will not only strengthen but help advance the mission and vision of the Allegheny Valley School District,” Superintendent Pat Graczyk said. “We are grateful for their teamwork and creating these cooperatives. … We are looking forward to more meaningful relationships with Riverview as we progress, as well as our neighboring school districts.”
The Allegheny Valley School Board will consider approving the agreements when it meets next week. Riverview already approved them. The WPIAL must approve the move before students can begin competing.
“These cooperative partnerships allow students from both schools to participate in sports that would not have enough athletes to compete without them,” Riverview Superintendent Neil English said. “For instance, last year we did not have enough young women to field our softball team, and the few that wanted to play could not compete. The goal is to create as many opportunities for students as possible and continue to develop them both on and off the field.
“We appreciate the relationship we have fostered with Allegheny Valley and hope to continue to work collaboratively in order to serve the students and communities of both school districts faithfully.”
Springdale fields a girls varsity softball team.
Under the agreement, the schools would petition the WPIAL for approval for Riverview students to play on Springdale’s softball team and for Springdale students to compete on Riverview’s wrestling and golf teams.
Riverview students must meet all eligibility and academic criteria to compete on Springdale’s softball team. Riverview athletes and families would be responsible for their transportation to team practices. Springdale would be required to schedule and provide transportation for the softball team to away games from Springdale High School.
Springdale would run the softball program and select the coaches. The Dynamos also would be responsible for all costs to operate the program.
Wrestling
In wrestling, Springdale wrestlers would need to be eligible to compete on Riverview’s wrestling team, and Springdale parents would be responsible for getting their wrestlers to Riverview for team practices. Riverview would provide transportation for away games.
Springdale’s wrestlers have had an agreement to compete with Riverview for some years.
The Raiders would continue to operate the wrestling program and select the coach. They also would be responsible for all costs associated with running the program.
Each district would be responsible for its own general liability and public officials’ liability insurance coverage.
Golf
In a separate agreement, Springdale golfers would participate on Riverview’s golf team, because Springdale is unable to field a team. Springdale students would need to meet eligibility and athletic criteria to play with Riverview and would be responsible for driving to practices. Riverview would provide transportation for away matches, and the Oakmont school would operate the program.
Riverview would be responsible for paying for the program, which includes coaches’ salaries, uniforms, tournament fees and transportation to matches. Springdale will reimburse Riverview a pro rata share of the cost based on the number of athletes rostered on the team. For example, if there are 20 golfers on the team and one is a Springdale student, Springdale is responsible for 5% of the program costs.
Springdale softball competes in the WPIAL’s Class A, and the Riverview golf and wrestling teams play in Class 2A.
The agreements would automatically renew for each school year, unless either district would choose to cancel it before Aug. 15 preceding that school year.