News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.comGehlen Catholic, Spalding Catholic Will Share Football

Gehlen Catholic, Spalding Catholic Will Share Football

By Tim Seaman:
tseaman@kcautv.com

The Gehlen and Spalding Catholic Boards of Education have approved a two-year football agreement for grades 7-12 for the 2012 and 2013 football seasons. The schools have submitted their approved agreement by the January 1, 2012 deadline extension granted to Spalding Catholic by the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Due to enrollment, Gehlen and Spalding Catholic will move up to Class 1A and will play 11-man football.

To ensure the success of the two-year agreement, Spalding Catholic has agreed to bus their 7-12 football players to Gehlen Catholic.  All practices for the newly formed joint football team will be at Gehlen Catholic.  The joint Junior High Football team will play their home games at Gehlen Catholic. The joint High School Football teams will be under the direction of Coach Tony Gunter and his assistants. They will continue to play at Jim Lorenzen Field. The teams will wear the Gehlen Catholic School colors and will be called the Gehlen Catholic Jays.  Athletes will be recognized in the program as to their respective school.  The 7-12 football players from Spalding Catholic will be recognized, the exact manner has yet to be determined.   The Spalding Catholic football players will follow the year-round strength and conditioning program used by Gehlen Catholic's football team.

Gehlen Catholic Football Coach, Tony Gunter, said, "The agreement allows student athletes from both schools to achieve success on the football field now and hopefully into the future."

Spalding Catholic Principal and Gehlen Catholic parent, Lisa Hamerlinck stated, "I am excited to have Spalding and Gehlen Catholic sharing resources and talent while maintaining our values and traditions.  Working with Gehlen Catholic has been very positive."

While the two-year agreement has been provided to the State, there are several questions the two Boards of Education still need to address before the start of the 2012-2013 school year. This includes activity passes, cheerleaders, concessions, Homecoming, and pep band.  Gehlen Catholic President and Spalding Catholic graduate, Rev. Kevin Richter, stated, the Boards are committed to addressing these questions in a Christian way that reflects the values of the two schools.

The two-year football agreement articulates to parents, donors, and the community alike the cooperation between the two Catholic Schools to provide students every opportunity to participate in a state-quality football program.