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February 3, 2010

Waseca athletics dealing with budget realities

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

MANKATO — At the risk of offending late author Charles Dickens, you could say these are the best of times and the worst of times for the Waseca High School athletic program.

A few months ago, Waseca sports teams put the finishing touches on perhaps their most successful fall season ever. The Bluejays girls cross country team won a state championship, the girls tennis team finished second in the state, and the football and boys cross country teams also qualified for state.

The Bluejays’ efforts were recognized by the Minnesota State High School League when it was announced in December that Waseca is in first place in the MSHSL Challenge Cup standings. The Challenge Cup is given to one school in Class A and one in Class AA that enjoys the most overall success in athletics and the fine arts for the entire school year.

Waseca compiled 132 points during the fall season. Perham is second with 116 points.

Before the Bluejays even had much of a chance to celebrate their success, however, reality set in. The school has been wrestling with an anticipated budget deficit of more than $2 million for next year. The school district tried to pass a referendum in November but it was voted down.

“The fall season has been a definite source of pride for us,” Waseca athletic director Scott Shafer said. “The student athletes faced a lot of adversity during that time with the death of (one of their classmates) Jacob Gleason (in a car accident) and the defeat of the referendum on Nov. 2.

“But they persevered and had a strong finish. You can’t say enough about how well they did.”

Under a plan recently released by the school district, athletic fees will be doubled and activity fees will be tripled for the 2010-2011 academic year. Those two increases would shave approximately $79,000 off the anticipated shortfall — but only if the number of students participating in extracurricular activities stays the same.

“I’m going to err on the side of optimism and say our hope is that the participation level won’t fall,” Shafer said. “We know $200 per sport is a lot of money but when you compare it to AAU teams and Junior Olympic teams and summer camps, it’s a pretty good deal.”

 Shafer says the booster club has already begun fundraising on its own and is looking at contributing another $27,000 toward the cause. A major booster club fundraiser during the summer is in the works, as well.

“We think the student athletes will find a way to get it done, at least I hope they will,” Shafer said. “They’ll find a way to earn money. A three-sport athlete will have to pay $600 and that’s a lot, but the booster club will be there if somebody needs help.”

Shafer says the budget crunch is the most challenging he’s faced at any of the three schools he’s worked at — Pequot Lakes, Norman County East and Waseca.

“This one’s definitely the toughest.”



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@ mankatofreepress.com

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