Coaches feel the heat as feeder squads face cuts

Junior varsity programs feed directly into the varsity teams, allowing coaches to see their future talent react in game-time situations. Some JV programs travel with the varsity teams, such as volleyball and basketball, while other sports have a same-night, different-site approach — such baseball and softball — increasing travel demands.
With area gas prices inching near $4 a gallon over the summer before falling slightly at the end of July, the development high school programs have found themselves in the cost-saving crosshairs.
Programs that have their JV teams travel to games on the same bus as their varsity counterparts thus far have stayed out of the cost-cutters line of fire.
“Our JV kids travel with us,” said Wilson Memorial volleyball coach Kim Claytor. “I don’t know how it would affect us.”
If Augusta County does cut some or all of its JV sports, the future of the programs’ success may be in jeopardy.
“Being able to have that experience has a huge impact on the program,” said Wilson varsity softball coach and JV volleyball coach Maura Stout. “It’s not just JV and varsity, it’s a program.”
In the spring 2008 season, schools began feeling the fuel crunch on a day-to-day basis. Augusta County didn’t change it’s travel plans drastically, but other school systems did.
“We had to share a bus,” Stout said. “Other schools would cancel a makeup day because they couldn’t get a bus. Augusta County was good to us.”
The Fort Defiance cross country team took measures into its own hands, scaling back on some of its meets. The Virginia High School League allows cross country teams to compete in 10 meets a year. Most schools run the maximum, but Fort scaled its schedule down to eight, with most being close to home.
“We took 500 miles off what we did last year,” said Indians cross country coach Ron Witherow.
Stated in documents provided to The News Virginian by Witherow, Fort Defiance cross country cut 520.51 miles from its budget — a near 50-percent decrease from the 2007 season. The cuts will save the school and county nearly $2,000 dollars if gas prices remain the same.
“If we kept two big invitationals and cut the rest, I think the superintendent will see what we are doing and appreciate it,” Witherow said.