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Parents and students press Lampeter-Strasburg board to sanction boys volleyball, seek gym time and PIAA approval
Summary
A group of parents and students urged the Lampeter-Strasburg School Board to grant official status and gym access for a boys volleyball program and to pursue Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) recognition; speakers said coaches and student interest are in place and warned momentum could be lost if the board delays.
Craig Schonauer, a Lampeter-Strasburg parent, told the board the district has an active pipeline of boys playing club volleyball and urged the board to approve an official boys volleyball program, make space available for practice and seek PIAA recognition so students can compete for the district. "We have players, we have coaches, and logistics are in place," Schonauer said, adding the program is "truly turnkey."
Pat DeCourcy, a West Lampeter Township parent whose son plays in the LS club, described local participation numbers and coaching resources and asked the board for two concrete steps: district support to pursue PIAA approval and "equitable access to facilities, gym space." He cited club rosters of 18 youth players and 14 high-school-level players, several of whom played AAU this winter.
Parent Melissa Lafontaine urged the board to act now rather than wait three years before the program could be formally sanctioned; she said boys volleyball is the fastest-growing high school boys sport nationally and warned that students could graduate "without recognition" if sanctioning is delayed.
Students also spoke in favor of a sanctioned program. Freshman Wilson Schonauer told the board that volleyball "instantly felt like home" and repeated the main request succinctly: "All we need is a gym, a ball, and time." Freshman Colt DeCoursey described volleyball as a year-round commitment for many players and said PIAA status would expand competition opportunities.
Board President Mrs. Herr thanked the speakers and asked administrators to continue communication; Dr. Feeney and Dr. Peart were asked to keep the board apprised of progress. The board did not take a formal vote or issue a policy change at the meeting on the volleyball requests.
