OMAHA, Neb. — The Benson High School football team has faced an early end to their season, with the school announcing the cancellation of the last two games. The decision was driven by low participation numbers, leading to discussions in the community about why this is happening.
Officials indicate that one reason for these low numbers is the trend of students transferring out of Benson. Recently, several players switched to schools like Central High School, raising questions about how school enrollment options affect local sports.
Brandon and Stacy Fiscus, who serve as Co-presidents of the Benson Bunnies Booster Club, expressed their love for the school and its faculty, yet felt concerned about their team’s situation. Stacy highlighted the challenge of competing against teams that can draw top talent away from Benson. “We struggle to play those teams that have the high talent when they pulled them from us,” she said.
In Nebraska, public high school students can opt to attend schools in different districts through a program known as option enrollment. This program allows families more choices but has ramifications on local sports teams. Nate Neuhaus, a representative from the Nebraska School Activities Association, noted that participation in sports is decreasing. “Participation numbers aren’t what they used to be. It could be a cultural issue. It could be something within the community,” Neuhaus added.
The Fiscus family remains optimistic, believing that Benson High can recover from this setback. “And then move forward together, not opposing each other,” Brandon said when discussing future plans for the school spirit and community involvement.
As conversations about option enrollment continue, both the Nebraska School Activities Association and local school districts are working to find solutions to these pressing issues. The hope is to foster a more engaged community and improve school loyalty moving forward.
