County schools renew gymnastics co-op

Three county schools will continue their co-op gymnastics program for at least another year.

Arcadia, Independence and Whitehall high schools will continue their gymnastics co-op for the 2023-24 school year after unanimous approvals at the Arcadia school board meeting on March 20 and the Whitehall meeting on March 27. Independence approved the agreement earlier in the month. 

The school boards are required to renew the co-op agreement every year.

The team had just three gymnasts this season, none of whom were from Arcadia. 

The school kept the co-op for the 2022-23 year because the Independence and Whitehall athletes would’ve been deemed ineligible by the WIAA since Arcadia is the host school, Arcadia superintendent Lance Bagstad told the school board.

Costs for running the sport including bussing, coaching, officials, meet entry fees and others are divided between the number of athletes from each school. Independence and Whitehall will split the fees from this season.

Numbers are expected to grow slightly for the 2023-24 season, as will Arcadia’s involvement.

Arcadia is set to have “a couple” gymnasts on next year’s team, Bagstad said, and Independence is expected to have at least one gymnast as well.

As of last week, Whitehall did not know if it would have any gymnasts, but elected to remain in the co-op just in case. 

“I’m not aware of having any kids for next year,” Whitehall superintendent Mike Beighley said. “But why would we not have an opportunity for our kids?”