WELLINGTON, Ohio — The Friday night lights will stay off at Oberlin High School this fall after district leaders canceled the football season because of low participation.
Oberlin athletic director Julian Acosta-Gorman said school leaders made the decision after only eight players showed up for a mandatory practice.
“We tried all we could, but we didn’t make it happen,” Acosta-Gorman said. “Our numbers took a big hit. I think we peaked at around nine. So we knew we were in trouble.”
Still, some Oberlin students will not lose their chance to take the field this season.
Under the Student Athlete Mobility Act, which Ohio passed in July, six Oberlin students will get to play football for the Wellington Dukes this fall.
Wellington head coach Rob Howells said his team was glad to welcome players from a rival school.
“To see some guys kind of left out without a team and especially a senior,” Howells said. “For a lot of these kids, this is their last opportunity to ever play the game of football and get the rewards and benefits that come with playing it. We’re excited to open our arms and bring Oberlin on.”
Among those players is Oberlin senior Jaden Brown, who said the move gives him a chance to continue working toward his goal of playing college football.
“I want to go and play at the next level. I want to play in college,” Brown said. “So playing here for Wellington is giving me that opportunity to be able to be better than what I am. They just opened up their arms for us and allowed us to come play.”
Senior Brian Boone says he’s grateful to have the unique chance to play for a team that was once a rival.
“Wellington has a really strong community,” Boone said. “Going from facing them to playing for them was kind of strange but also nice because they’ve really welcomed us.”
Acosta-Gorman said Oberlin cheerleaders and marching band members also will still have opportunities to participate this fall.
“It’s about finding ways to still have things, still have opportunities on Friday, to still have our band play,” Acosta-Gorman said. “We’ve had an out-pour of our neighboring schools who have offered our band to play there. Our cheerleaders have decided that they’re going to do our soccer games here. It’s a big loss. We just have to continue to work through it.”
While Oberlin’s football season will look different this year, school leaders said students will still have chances to play, perform and take part in the traditions that come with the fall season.
The six former Oberlin players are set to make their debuts for Wellington on Friday in the team’s season opener against Collins Western Reserve.