PHS ready to take in Ohio football players

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PRINCETON — Ohio High School football is on the goal line for the first time in a decade.

The North Central lllinois Conference has given its stamp of approval of a two-year co-op agreement between Ohio and its neighboring Princeton, and now it’s simply a matter of formality for each school board to give its blessing.

The Princeton board looked over the co-op agreement at Wednesday’s meeting and will vote on it July 18. The Ohio school board is expected to act on it at Monday’s board meeting.

In the meantime, five Ohio students, two juniors and three incoming freshman will continue to participate in the summer weightlifting and football camp at PHS, according to PHS athletic director/football coach Dave Smith.

Ohio previously co-oped with LaMoille and DePue, in the early ‘90s, and last fielded its own program in 1981.

Sharon Flesher, incoming Ohio superintendent, is out of the office until next week and could not be reached for comment.

PHS board member Gary Hanna would like to take the co-op a step further. As a board member and past president of the Princeton Youth Football League, Hanna said PYFL is going to extend an invitation to Ohio youths entering Grades 5-8 this fall to play with us and attend the summer PHS youth camp.

He said it’s a win-win situation for the PHS program and the kids from both schools.

“I think this will be a great partnership, and the best way to make the high school football program better is to start out with the kids,” Hanna said. “Our youth program incorporates as much as possible in the goals, philosophies and fundamentals of the high school football program. Our coaching staffs work closely with Dave Smith and the PHS coaches and players.”

Hanna said PYFL tries to prepare its players for the expectations of the sport in a safe, supervised, disciplined and structured manner.

“One of our objectives is to have our players continue playing through high school,” he said.

As a school board member, Hanna believes the co-op is just the beginning for a long-lasting relationship of the two neighbors. He said they are offering more than a co-op.

“We are offering an opportunity to all PHS and OHS students and families to come together and meet other people and make new friends. The co-op is about being a good neighbor and doing what’s right for the kids. ... We are offering an opportunity that will go well beyond the football field.”

While its football co-op is moving forward, the Ohio board’s consensus was to keep the boys’ basketball in house. Only three boys were interested in a co-op with LaMoille, but 8-10 would play if Ohio stayed on its own, according to a survey taken at school.

Dwindling numbers forced Ohio to field only a JV team last year.

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