April 9, 1975 Athletes don’t want co-ed football at DHS During the last three weeks the PIA A has changed the ruling concerning girls playing boys sports. To familiarize myself with the ruling, I talked to Donegal’s head Basketball Coach, Mr. Emil V. Swift. He told me that the new ruling allows girls to try out for boys sports, however, boys may not try out for girls sports. Another source who did not want to be identified, explained to me that the part of the ruling which states that boys may not go out for girls sports is dis- crimination against boys. The source said “If a boy takes his case to court, he most probably will win it.” On the basis of this in- formation, I interviewed seven girls and five boys on their views of the new rul- ing. I also asked some of them how they felt about boys playing girls sports. Sharon Grissinger SHARON GRISSINGER Sharon is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernerd Griss- inger, Mount Joy. Enroll- ed in the academic program, she has participated in hoc- key and tennis. [I asked Sharon about boys playing girls’ tennis and vice versa. Sharon feels that girls shouldn’t play on boys’ teams because ‘‘guys will always be physically super- ior to girls.” She says that the best guy will always beat out the best girl. “I personally would not try out for a boys’ team. If I had to play a tennis match against-a guy on the high- school level, I would try just as hard.” Sharon said that she doesn’t think such participation would affect her mentally. *‘I would not go into a tennis match and think that I would lose just because I was playing aguy.” ANDREA McCUE Andi is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George McCue, Mount Joy. She has been playing hockey since 8th grade and has two varsity letters. She said, “the phy- sical capabilities | of girls limit them from playing full contact sports. Most girls are too small to even con- too small to even consider playing football.” She also ~ Andrea McCue said, “If would make a girl unfeminine if she went out for guys’ sports.” Andi thinks that schools should create girls’ football, soccer and baseball teams, etc., if there is a demand for them. ANN HOUSEAL Ann is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hou- seal, Mount Joy and is a sen- ior in the academic course. During her four years in high school, she has quite an athletic record. Four years in hockey, three years in tennis and one year in gym- nastics. She said she would not personally go out for guys’ sports and doesn’t feel other girls should go out either. I think a sport like tennis or rifle might be okay where most everything is equal, but even in tennis the guy will dominate.” #0 Ann Houseal JANET SAUDER Janet is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sauder, Maytown. ‘I don’t think it is right. The only thing that will be accomplished is the phasing out of girls’ sports.” Janet said nothing will hap- pen at first, but later the Janet Sauder Photos and story by Jim Gerberich impact will hit, and the guys will dominate. “When girls are younger, they are not as interested in sports when most young boys are out playing in the fields, a game of football or basketball. Guys start their conditioning when they are younger, girls don’t.” Personally, she said she would not go out for guys’ sports, however, | would admire a girl who would. She would have to be physically superior to most girls. “John Weidm an JOHN WEIDMAN John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Weidman, Mount Joy. A senior in the academic course, he has participated in soccer, bas- ketball and tennis during his four years at Donegal. John feels that he would play against other girls on opposite teams but not try so hard as before. He said, however, he would not want a girl to score any points against him because he would be the laughing stock of the school. John said he would not go out for girls’ sports if he could not make the boys’ teams. “I really think co-educational sports will hurt the girls’ sports program. | know at first the idea will draw more spectators, but later on the fad will wear off. Really, I don’t think the games would be so rough as before. The boys will want to pro- tect the girls. I hope the PIAA changes its mind.” Phil Houseal PHIL HOUSEAL Phil is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Houseal, May- town. Phil has participated in varsity basketball and baseball. Currently he is one of the pitchers for the Donegal Indians’ baseball team. | talked with him about how he would feel if girls were playing base- ball. Phil said, “If 1 were on the mound pitching, and a girl would come up to bat, I wouldn’t throw so hard; but if she hit a home run from me, I think [I would walk off the field. On the other hand, I think if girls are good enough to beat out some of the guys for the team, then they should be able to play. I don’t be- lieve, however, that there are too many girls around that are going to be pitching varsity baseball. Their arms just aren’t strong enough to last a full game. Unless they are great, the girls won’t draw more people but only detract from the game. I think co-education- al games will hurt not only baseball but both girls’ and guys’ sports on the whole.” Bob Barto BOB BARTO Bob is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Barto, Mount Joy. He is a junior in the business course and is more at home on the basketball court than anywhere else. When I asked him how he felt about the new PIAA ruling, he said, “At the pre- sent, the new ruling might not make an impact on girls’ sports, but in the next five years it will probably wipe them out.” He said guys will have a chance tc learn the rules and funda- mentals of girls’ sports and become good enough to make the teams- Bob doesn’t think too many guys will go out for girls’ sports, because “guys feel superior to girls in sports.” DAVID MARTIN Dave is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David W. Martin, Mount Joy. He is a senior and has participated in track for four years. Dave dis- likes the new ruling. “They made a wrong move, girls sports were just becoming better and more competi- tive.”” He said, however, “There are some girls who could make a guys’ high school track team and not be beat.” He said that not all girls could make it, but some could. “They may not come in first a lot but some David Martin of them could place in our events.” Dave feels they should change the rule and continue to upgrade the girls sports program. Kerry Coover KERRY COOVER Kerry is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Coover, Mount Joy. A junior in the business course, she has par- ticipated in hockey for three years. ‘“‘A girl would have to have a lot of nerve to go out for a guy’s sport - she would have to take a lot of teasing.” She said that there probably won’t be a lot of girls going out for guys’ sports. “If there are a lot of girls going out for guys’ sports, then girls’ foot- ball, baseball and soccer teams should be formed.” Kerry said she would like to see the PIAA change the rules before next hockey season. KEVIN MILLER Kevin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Miller, Mount Joy. A junior, he has play- ed football two years, bas ketball three years and ran in track for two years. He doesn’t like the new ruling but feels if a girl wants tc come out for a guy’s sport SUSQUEHANNA BULLETIN — Page 3 she should. He said, “al though it would have to be an excellent girl to make it.” Kevin said that if she were good enough he would look up to her, but not because she was a girl. “1 wonld not think the same of a gir. playing football or any othe: guys’ sport as of a girl play: ing her own sport.” Fur thermore, he said, “If guys’ sports are to stay as rough as they are, girls will have to be treated as guys.” Kathy Beach KATHY BEACH Kathy is the daughter of Mrs. Jane Beach, Mount Joy and is a junior in the aca- demic course. She has play- ed three years of hockey and one year of tennis. “Guys are naturally more agressive than girls. They should not have the oppor- tunity to go out for girls’ sports,” she said. More over, she said that guys have been playing sports all their lives - girls haven’t. When | asked her about girls going out for guys’ teams she said, “If a girl is good enough to try out for a guys’ team, she would be an asset to a girls’ team. It would be stupid for her to do that.” Pat Brown PAT BROWN Pat is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Brown, Mount Joy. During her four years in High School, she has participated in hockey and track. She said that if guys would come out for girls’ sports, they would eventually win. “1 think, in most cases, girls will lose respect if they go out for guys’ sports. There is really no sense to it at all; guys are physically superior to girls in most sports.” She hopes they change the rule back to the original word- ing.