KPS adding JH soccer in 24-25
KINGFISHER’S Harper Evans (7) looks to pass during a KHS soccer game earlier this spring. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com] KT&FP
The world’s most popular sport just got a boost in Kingfisher.
Board of education members voted unanimously Monday to add junior high soccer to the roster of sports in 2024-25.
“The high school coaches came to me about it last year,” said Superintendent David Glover in discussing the item during the June regular meeting. “I made some calls and schools our size, a lot of them are playing junior high soccer.”
He said a survey was done of sixth graders at Kingfisher Upper Elementary as well as students at Kingfisher Junior High.
“There’s quite a bit of interest,” Glover said.
Adding the program will cost the district $7,000, which would be the stipend for two head coaches (one for girls, one for boys). He said the need for an assistant coach would depend on participation numbers.
Glover told board members the coaches would come from those already currently on staff.
The only other cost, he said, would be “diesel to get to ballgames.”
The high school teams recently purchased new uniforms, making the older ones available for junior high, Glover said.
He said the teams will play five regular season games and one tournament in the first season.
“We’ll just see how things go,” he said.
“I think it’s great,” said board member Brad Wittrock, who made the motion to approve the agenda item.
Board member Charles Walker made the second as Dana Golbek and Carly Franks joined them in making the move unanimous.
“I think it’s good because a lot of them age out at youth soccer out here and then there’s a gap (before playing high school),” Walker said.
“They may come back and they may not and I think it fills that gap.”
Glover assured that adding the sport serves a real purpose.
“It’s not that we’re adding something just to be adding it,” he said. “We’re adding something that’s going to help our high school.”
Kingfisher’s high school boys team is coached by Isaac Waltman. The Jackets missed the playoffs in 2024, but just the year before made the state quarterfinals for the first time in the program’s history.
The KHS girls are coached by Aniessa Edsall and had a winning record and reached the playoffs for the first time in multiple years in 2024.