SHS sports participation bucking state trend

SANDPOINT — Bucking a state trend of declining high school sports participation in Idaho, Sandpoint High School athletics are thriving and boasting solid numbers.

National high school participation numbers continued their upward climb for the 23rd consecutive season, but Idaho’s numbers dropped for a third straight year.

Idaho’s numbers fell from 45,768 in 2010-11 to 44,919. The sport to experience the largest drop was boys track and field, which had 244 fewer athletes compete. This drop can most likely be attributed to the increase in popularity of lacrosse, a club sport offered in the spring that siphons off numbers from the other sports.

The Sandpoint fall sports numbers are healthy, thanks to a big increase in football participation after the hiring of new head coach Satini Puailoa. A total of 148 kids turned out for the 2012 football season, up dramatically from past years.

A wealth of community support certainly helps the vitality of all the programs.

“Our athletic programs are very healthy right now and our numbers are up, especially football,” said Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles. “We have over 50 frosh out, double the number of at least one 5A school I know of.”

Other Sandpoint fall sports numbers are girls soccer (55), cross country (48), boys soccer (37), volleyball (36) and swimming (15). Counting the dance (19) and cheerleading (19) teams, the total is 358 students participating sports.

Only three Idaho sports increased in participation, with the greatest jump coming in girls volleyball at plus 227. The numbers in boys and girls cross country also rose.

Nationally, football (1,095,993 boys) and track and field (468,747 girls) held the top spot as the most popular sports. In Idaho, football (7,812) and volleyball (3,743) remained the preferred sports.

While girls participation continued to climb nationally, boys participation figures dropped for the first time since the 1992-93 school year.