HOULTON, Maine — After several years as a club sport, track and field is now a full varsity sport for Houlton Middle-High School.
The RSU 29 board approved the addition during a Dec. 3 meeting. The measure passed 8-1 with board member Jim Quirk as the lone vote in opposition.
In his letter of request, coach Chris Rines stated, “track and field is a wonderful sport that fills a void not only in our own athletics program, but in our greater community all together.”
The cost for the sports is about $3,780, to cover expenses for registrations and transportation at the various away meets in which the team participates. In addition, each meet costs $250 to participate and the district normally competes in eight meets per season. The district has been paying the meet fees for the club, but has not budgeted money for transportation expenses in the past.
Uniforms and equipment are already owned by the club team, which eliminates the need for any startup costs.
Rines has served as the coach for the club team since 2014. In its first year, only two students participated, but that number grew to 19 Houlton students the following year. In 2016, that number grew to 25 students (a club high), while in 2017, 22 students participated.
This past spring, 19 Shires were on the squad, with 13 of those students qualifying for the state competition.
The team also has students from Greater Houlton Christian Academy and Hodgdon Middle-High School who train and attend meets with the Shires, but compete for their own schools as individuals. Those athletes would continue to represent their respective schools under the program.
“As the athletic director, I am in full support of granting this status,” RSU 29 Athletic Director Bruce Nason stated in a letter of support. “They have proven this is a sustainable sport at Houlton High School.”
RSU 29 Superintendent Ellen Halliday also expressed her support for the elevation to varsity status during the board meeting.
“It’s not completely in the budget for this year, but I am comfortable that we will be able to manage the additional costs,” she said.
