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Photo by Sam Goldman<br />
Beyond wins and losses,<br />
<strong>MPH</strong> athletes reap benefits off the field<br />
that’s fine,” said Don Ridall, who was <strong>MPH</strong>’s<br />
Director of Athletics for 40 years.<br />
One obstacle <strong>MPH</strong> faces is enrollment,<br />
and the numbers show its impact. In 2000 and<br />
2001, the boys soccer team won<br />
consecutive state championships.<br />
In 2002, they made it to the final<br />
four. Then, in 2003, they lost in the<br />
finals. Enrollment was around 600<br />
students then, Ridall said.<br />
<strong>MPH</strong>’s current enrollment is<br />
314. Enrollment decreased in the<br />
last few years due to the financial<br />
crisis the school suffered in<br />
December 2014. Since then, the<br />
school lost 98 students, which impacted<br />
the sports program.<br />
“I think everyone can name a<br />
few people who were key athletes<br />
on their team who left,” said junior<br />
tennis player Hannah Ebner.<br />
As a result of the crisis, girls<br />
Photo courtesy of <strong>MPH</strong><br />
junior varsity tennis was eliminated and girls<br />
lacrosse combined with Onondaga Central<br />
School because there weren’t enough players<br />
to field a team. Several <strong>MPH</strong> teams have combined<br />
with other schools over the years due to<br />
low numbers. Ridall said sports are a lot about<br />
numbers and how many students participate.<br />
“I think the more students you have, the<br />
better chance you have to have better teams,<br />
because it creates a little bit more of a competitive<br />
atmosphere,” Ridall said.<br />
<strong>MPH</strong>’s low enrollment forces the athletic<br />
program to have no cuts or tryouts. Yet, even<br />
when enrollment is high, the school has kept<br />
the no-cut policy because it is unique, according<br />
to Ridall.<br />
Some students and coaches agree that this<br />
no-cut policy can make <strong>MPH</strong> athletics less<br />
competitive since students can play having<br />
no experience. However, it can push students<br />
out of their comfort zone and provide them a<br />
chance to play. It also gives them an opportunity<br />
to learn about sports and possibly discover<br />
a passion they otherwise wouldn’t.<br />
Pat Bentley Hoke, girls varsity soccer<br />
coach, said she loves having no cuts. Bentley<br />
Hoke admires student-athletes’ work ethic<br />
while they understand they may not get<br />
enough playing time to develop due to lack of<br />
JV teams.<br />
“That’s a great learning experience too,<br />
to have a challenge that’s maybe a little bit<br />
beyond your reach,” Bentley Hoke said.<br />
(continued on p. 30)<br />
winter 2017 | 21<br />
The <strong>MPH</strong> girls soccer team in action earlier this fall. The team<br />
finished the season at 10-5, losing in the second round of sectionals to<br />
Cincinnatus.