In front of a room packed with parents, athletes and coaches, the school board made the decision on Monday, Oct. 10 to create a bowling team at both high schools but suspended discussions about a swim team for the two schools.

Board member Angela Handy voted in favor of swimming and bowling for the De Soto district.

Via email, Handy explained why board members didn’t pass swimming.

“Some thought we were rushing into something and that the plan was not organized,” Handy said. “I had a different view; we knew about the possibility of adding this team since August.”

Although many people were disappointed by the decision to not include swimming for this school year, so far, adding a bowling team has been received positively.

District resident Brenna June, who spoke in front of the board, urged the seven members to pass a bowling team, which (in a survey given to students last year) 42 percent of students expressed interest in being a part of, compared to the 36 percent interested in a swim team.

“[A bowling team would] bring a collection of students together of any size, shape or economic status,” June said.

Senior Olivia Cain spoke about her previous experiences on the St. James Academy bowling team at the school board meeting.

“I learned how to be social and use logic,” Cain said. “I went to state my sophomore year, but I don’t have plans to continue [bowling] after high school.”

On the other hand, the nine individuals who spoke at the meeting on behalf of a swim team are discouraged by the decision.

“I’m really disappointed because there is a lot of talent and dedication at Mill Valley,” sophomore swimmer Krista Brewer said. “Because there’s not a swim team, we’re not able to compete at a state level.”

Junior Aaron Akin, who won first place in breaststroke at All-City over the summer, shares Brewer’s opinion on the issue.

“[We are upset] because now we don’t have the opportunity to represent our school the only way we know how,” Akin said.

Shawnee Tiger Sharks swim coach Rebecca England shared with the board the benefits a swim team could offer.

“Swimming not only provides discipline, but gives endurance, strength, and flexibility,” England said. “There are also 25 schools around here that provide scholarships for swimming.”

The board members’ discussion, which included some foul language and contradictory budget numbers, included re-evaluating the issue of adding swim teams next year, meaning that some students would miss out on being a part of the team.

Senior Zach Zarnstorff, who plans to swim next year in college, is disappointed in the decision.

“This is my senior year,” Zarnstorff said. “It’s my only chance. I’m missing out on an opportunity that I thought I would have.”

Akin also thought that the decision should have been made earlier.

“It’s been pushed back for several years,” Akin said. “We would have been willing to fundraise for equipment costs and buy our own suits, goggles and swim bags.”

His hope is that a swim team will be approved in the future.

“I believe that we just clear up some of the misconceptions and confusion that was at the board meeting and try to move forward to create a swim program for next season,” Akin said. “This should have been a priority of the district. The costs of this investment are greatly outweighed by the benefits this program would bring to the schools and the community.”