Falcon lacrosse to include Buckfield

 DIXFIELD -- In what could be a first since the formation of regional school units (RSU), RSU 10 is going to allow studentsfrom Buckfield High School to play the boys' and girls' lacrosse teams at Mountain Valley High School next spring.

That action was voted by members of the Western Foothills School District board at its regularly meeting on Nov. 22.

Supt. Tom Ward said the action was needed to meet a deadline set by the Maine School Principals Association, which will make a final decision on the matter in January.

"This was the right situation to try this," he noted. Last spring, a signup took place at Buckfield for students interested in the offering. Some 12 to 13 boys and girls signed up, although the actual number participating figures to be much lower.

Ward noted that when the RSU was formed, it was agreed that they were all one unit and would look at offering at sharing as much as they can, although not all at once.

He said the lacrosse opportunity was made for several reasons, including the fact that the relatively new sports could use more participants. Further, Buckfield only offers two spring sports, compared to Dirigo, which offers three.

Allowing Buckfield students to play lacrosse on the Mountain Valley team would not change Mountain Valley's Class B standing, but if Dirigo joined in, the team would have a Class A standing.

Ward said the cost to include the Buckfield students would be minimal because buses already travel to the Buckfield region and Mountain Valley has enough uniforms and equipment.

If this effort proves successful, he said lacrosse could become a future sports at Dirigo.

This is actually the second such cooperative venture in sports for Buckfield. Prior to the RSU, Buckfield had several boys playing with Dirigo for a couple of years when that football program was being revived.

The town of Buckfield continues to offer football for youngsters in a regional league.