Herkimer, Ilion, Mohawk School Merger and Athletics: Loss of Identity
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: July 27, 2012
It may be the last season for the Mohawk Mohicans, the Herkimer
Magicians and the Ilion Golden Bombers. The 3-school merger has been a
hot topic for months, but those involved say there are more issues than
meet the eye.
Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky visits with coaches, athletes and parents who say there's good and bad here.
If the three districts merge, each school's individual team and mascot will be gone. The second of four merger meetings took place Wednesday and most agree that there are pros and cons, but the loss of identity is a major concern.
"For somebody like me who grew up in Ilion, and has played sports here and has come back and taught here. There's gonna be emotion. You can't help not have emotion if you grew up in a community, if you love your community," says Robert McCann, Ilion Central School Athletic Director.
Some have emotional ties, while some aren't ready to let go of their school identity.
"I'm worried about switching to a new school because I've been a golden bomber," says Teigha Ward, Ilion athlete.
Others disagree.
"We need to rethink our identities because in order to keep our identity, we're putting our students at a disadvantage," says Gary Tutty, Herkimer Central School District Superintendent.
Now if the 3 districts merge, each school's individual team will be gone. And some athletes don't like the idea of their rivals becoming their teammates
"like how can you look at your rival and be like oh let's be friends. It's just hard to get used to i guess," says Ward.
Parents and students worry that a larger school will also mean more competition for making teams.
"Some people won't get to play the sports that they really like to, even though they put all they have into it, they just won't be good enough to make the team," says Mclane Tyoe, Herkimer athlete.
"From 40 kids on Ilion, 40 Herkimer, 40 Mohawk, you can't keep 120, so there's gonna be kids that are left out," says Jon Cole, Ilion Central School Football Coach.
But the Herkimer Superintendent says this may not be the case.
"We talked about the fact we can offer more sports and sports we had to cut in the last few years, we can put back in," says Tutty.
And a new merged school will rank as class a making the district more competitive and making the students stand out.
"When you raise the level of competition you raise the attention," says Tutty.
"I think whats gonna happen because level of competition will be so hard to be on the team, our kids will only get better," says Cole.
"And you get more interest from colleges. More coaches will pay attention when you've had that competition," says Tutty.
The third merger meeting is scheduled for August 9th at Ilion High School. Residents of all 3 districts are encouraged to attend.
Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky visits with coaches, athletes and parents who say there's good and bad here.
If the three districts merge, each school's individual team and mascot will be gone. The second of four merger meetings took place Wednesday and most agree that there are pros and cons, but the loss of identity is a major concern.
"For somebody like me who grew up in Ilion, and has played sports here and has come back and taught here. There's gonna be emotion. You can't help not have emotion if you grew up in a community, if you love your community," says Robert McCann, Ilion Central School Athletic Director.
Some have emotional ties, while some aren't ready to let go of their school identity.
"I'm worried about switching to a new school because I've been a golden bomber," says Teigha Ward, Ilion athlete.
Others disagree.
"We need to rethink our identities because in order to keep our identity, we're putting our students at a disadvantage," says Gary Tutty, Herkimer Central School District Superintendent.
Now if the 3 districts merge, each school's individual team will be gone. And some athletes don't like the idea of their rivals becoming their teammates
"like how can you look at your rival and be like oh let's be friends. It's just hard to get used to i guess," says Ward.
Parents and students worry that a larger school will also mean more competition for making teams.
"Some people won't get to play the sports that they really like to, even though they put all they have into it, they just won't be good enough to make the team," says Mclane Tyoe, Herkimer athlete.
"From 40 kids on Ilion, 40 Herkimer, 40 Mohawk, you can't keep 120, so there's gonna be kids that are left out," says Jon Cole, Ilion Central School Football Coach.
But the Herkimer Superintendent says this may not be the case.
"We talked about the fact we can offer more sports and sports we had to cut in the last few years, we can put back in," says Tutty.
And a new merged school will rank as class a making the district more competitive and making the students stand out.
"When you raise the level of competition you raise the attention," says Tutty.
"I think whats gonna happen because level of competition will be so hard to be on the team, our kids will only get better," says Cole.
"And you get more interest from colleges. More coaches will pay attention when you've had that competition," says Tutty.
The third merger meeting is scheduled for August 9th at Ilion High School. Residents of all 3 districts are encouraged to attend.
