Millbrook High School cancels football season

MILLBROOK — Most people know what it’s like to have had their dreams deferred, probably this year more than ever before thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Weddings have been postponed or canceled, graduation plans have been altered, vacations nixed, and in high schools across the country, sports seasons axed. 

That means not only no games, but no breaking records, no victory parties, no trophies, no team pictures, no high fives, no chances of being scouted by colleges, no memories.

The Millbrook High School Blazers will not have a football season this year; it was supposed to begin in March. Because of the pandemic, the winter season was changed to follow the spring season, but it wasn’t because of COVID-19 directly, according to administrators, it was because of low school enrollment numbers and the low enrollment of qualified players needed to make up the eight-man team.

Jason Moore, the parent of a student who played football last year, shared his concerns over the canceled season with The Millerton News earlier this month. He called it “absurd” when he felt the team had played under similar conditions in past years. He shared a notice that had been sent out by High School Principal Eric Seipp via email.

“Due to low participation and the inexperience of some of the players on the roster, we can’t guarantee their safety as many players would be playing on both sides of the ball, some out of position, and others for the entire game,” stated the communication.

Seipp, though, said he was offended by the accusation that the Millbrook Central School District (MCSD) “stole” the season from the young athletes, as Moore charged. 

When contacted, he said Athletic Director Al Hammell was in touch with the football coach about the low numbers and was also in touch with the players and their families. The deadline was extended, but when no other players registered, the e-mail was sent out about the decision.

The season was originally canceled last fall by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The altered seasons were created  with the support from the MCSD Board of Education (BOE); the plan was to start the  abbreviated football season on March 1. 

“We were unable to start our season as scheduled due to our positive COVID-19 cases,” said Seipp, who added the recent COVID outbreak in the district was not a factor in the decision. He noted the BOE supported a request to allow the Fall II season to begin on the Monday when the students returned to school.

Moore said that a letter was sent to the BOE on Sunday, March 14, along with other e-mails and calls, signed by as many as 18 parents, but no reply was forthcoming. He had hoped that enough signatures would cause a reversal of what he calls “a terrible” decision. 

Superintendent Laura Mitchell, who did not return calls for an interview, reportedly said the decision was not made by the BOE. 

Moore said his son, James, is now a senior at Millbrook High School. James has been playing football since his early Pop Warner days. He said James is a valuable player, and had hoped to end his high school playing career on a high note, and possibly play in college. 

Other school personnel did not comment, including Hammell, who said all queries regarding the issue were to be directed to Seipp.

Moore asked if the coaches are willing to coach, why can’t the students at least practice and get ready for next year? He wondered if taking away football removes the incentive for athletes to study and get good grades.

In defending the decision to cancel the season, Seipp said, “For a perspective and comparison to our eight-man football team last fall, we had 28 student athletes registered and we were unable to complete our final crossover game due to the injuries and concussions… while it was reported that 18 players registered to play, however, this does not mean that 18 players are available for reasons I will not disclose due to privacy. So in fact, that number is not accurate.”

Last year the district also lacked a full roster. Moore’s son, James, commented after a game on Sept. 13, that “at the beginning of the year, when we got the news, it was a little discouraging.” 

Moore said the players were disappointed to learn the team would join Section IX’s reduced-player football league, as eight other small-town programs in the section had done the previous year. 

“But once we started practicing, I started to realize it’s not that different. It’s still football,” said James. 

After that September game, which was a memorable victory, senior Michael Tipping said of the atmosphere, “It’s unbelievable… I love this school. The culture, especially around football, is amazing. This is a football town, for sure. I’m glad Millbrook football is back.”

It doesn’t seem that anyone is happy with the decision, not the students, not the parents, and not even Seipp.

“Student safety always comes first, and in this case, this applies. I am devastated for our kids. It is unfortunate for our football players, especially our seniors.” 

He added, per lower enrollment figures and eligible players, “We look forward to our efforts of merging with another school in the fall in the hope to have our kids back on the football field playing the game that they love.”

That other school could be Webutuck High School in Amenia, as there have been discussions between the two districts to merge the football programs.

For now, however, there will be no Friday night lights at the Millbrook football field in the immediate future.

Here are group photos taken of the 2019-20 Millbrook High School Blazers football team, showing players excited to be on the field. This season, players say their dreams have been canceled, along with the 2020-21 football season. Photo courtesy Jason Moore

Photo courtesy Jason Moore

Here are group photos taken of the 2019-20 Millbrook High School Blazers football team, showing players excited to be on the field. This season, players say their dreams have been canceled, along with the 2020-21 football season. Photo courtesy Jason Moore