Mifflin County SD approves junior high girls wrestling club amid team cancellations for low participation
November 21, 2025 | Mifflin County SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Mifflin County School District board voted to create a school‑sanctioned junior high girls wrestling club effective Nov. 21, 2025, after staff reported unexpectedly strong interest.
Miss McClay, who briefed the board, said, “Since the email is sent out, we now have 17 girls sign up for junior [high], which is just incredible,” and described plans to use existing coaching staff and split practice space so girls can train alongside the boys program this season. She said the district has arranged dual matches and three standalone tournaments and noted the program helps the district’s Title IX participation balance.
At the same meeting, the board voted to cancel the 2025–26 seventh‑grade girls basketball season and the swim team because participation numbers were too low. The chair said assistant coach Rob Knowlton will have his coaching salary suspended for the season and will not earn coaching experience credit for 2025–26. Staff explained the district will place eligible players on junior high and freshman schedules so those students still have playing opportunities.
Why it matters: the approvals and cancellations reflect changing participation realities. The new girls wrestling club increases opportunities for female athletes and supports compliance with Title IX participation goals; the cancellations reflect roster realities and budget/staffing trade‑offs for smaller programs.
What’s next: athletics staff said they will submit required PIAA eligibility paperwork, stagger practice schedules where necessary and monitor participation as the program develops. The board approved the club and the cancellations by roll call.
Miss McClay, who briefed the board, said, “Since the email is sent out, we now have 17 girls sign up for junior [high], which is just incredible,” and described plans to use existing coaching staff and split practice space so girls can train alongside the boys program this season. She said the district has arranged dual matches and three standalone tournaments and noted the program helps the district’s Title IX participation balance.
At the same meeting, the board voted to cancel the 2025–26 seventh‑grade girls basketball season and the swim team because participation numbers were too low. The chair said assistant coach Rob Knowlton will have his coaching salary suspended for the season and will not earn coaching experience credit for 2025–26. Staff explained the district will place eligible players on junior high and freshman schedules so those students still have playing opportunities.
Why it matters: the approvals and cancellations reflect changing participation realities. The new girls wrestling club increases opportunities for female athletes and supports compliance with Title IX participation goals; the cancellations reflect roster realities and budget/staffing trade‑offs for smaller programs.
What’s next: athletics staff said they will submit required PIAA eligibility paperwork, stagger practice schedules where necessary and monitor participation as the program develops. The board approved the club and the cancellations by roll call.
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