Board approves co-op agreements to add swim/dive and girls lacrosse

The Vicksburg Board of Education approved cooperative agreements that will allow students to participate in men's and women's swim and dive and revive girls lacrosse by joining programs hosted by nearby Matawan.

Athletic Director Michael Roy told trustees the arrangements mirror other district co-ops (hockey through Gull Lake, ski with Hackett Prep) and would expand opportunities without significantly drawing athletes from existing teams. "Vicksburg now offers swim, dive, and girls lacrosse," Roy said, explaining that the programs would be run as Matawan teams and would follow MHSA rules. He added that families would be responsible for transportation to practices and meets, and that roster spots would be earned by top athletes in tryouts or selection processes.

Board members asked whether the host school’s students would get priority for roster spots and whether any games would be hosted at Vicksburg facilities; Roy said selections would be competitive ("the best swimmers, the best divers would earn those spots") and that hosting would be determined later in coordination with Matawan and scheduling needs.

The board approved the MHSA cooperative items (girls lacrosse and boys/girls swim and dive) as action item 4.e by voice vote.

What happens next: district athletic staff will finalize agreements with Matawan, schedule details and eligibility rules, and notify families about tryouts and transportation expectations.