The Tuscola School board will be asked at their meeting Monday night (September 24) for the second time in a decade to consider adding soccer to the sports offering at the high school level.

Organizers Mark Kemp and Joe Kramer, working with over a dozen parents and students, have been gathering signatures on petitions since late August, but the planning for the effort has gone on for close to a year according to the pair.

Kemp has served as the president-director of the Tuscola Soccer League for the past five years, and as the assistant director for the previous two years. The duo both have children entering high school soon.

“We want the kids to play as Warriors,” Kramer said. “There’s a lot of pride associated with being a Warrior in Tuscola. We really feel there’s a need for this.” The league has existed as a recreational function until now Kemp said.

High school freshman Austin Shelby shares Kemp’s enthusiasm for making soccer a varsity sport. “I got 109 signatures at the school,” Shelby said. “The kids I talked to are behind there being a team.”

“The letter I received indicates they want to address the school board about adding soccer, but I haven’t spoken with any of the organizers,” Superintendent Joe Burgess. “Like any proposal, the school board will consider the request.”

The junior high and high school players have been playing against other area teams for most of The Tuscola Soccer League’s 15 years in existence, such as Arcola and Tolono. “We’ve started traveling more the last couple of years,” Kemp said. “We’ve added Charleston, Mount Zion, and Farmer City teams to the schedule, and we’ll be playing in the tournament in Monticello this fall.”