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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.

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