Kevin Messier: Future of HS football for Franklin, Belmont & Winnisquam

To The Daily Sun,

This letter is in regard to high school football. In recent days, news has hit that the newly-formed Winnisquam/Franklin co-op football team would be cancelling their first season. This unfortunate situation is the result of low participation numbers which in turn creates a lack of substitution options leading to potential safety concerns. This is a shame for those kids, coaches, and student bodies. Winnisquam has fielded a team for several decades and Franklin much longer than that. There’s no reason for this to have happened.

Meanwhile, Belmont has a number of kids participating in football through both Gilford and Laconia’s youth teams. Yet we were removed from Gilford’s co-op team several years ago. So, as it stands, Belmont kids have no high school program to call home. These players could help fill out the numbers needed for the aforementioned co-op in Winnisquam.

I’m proposing a three-school co-op football team between Belmont, Winnisquam, and Franklin. Geographically, it makes a ton of sense. With Winnisquam being central, and in possession of the necessary facilities, there’s the host school.

I do understand that this would have implications on which division this team played in but I’m sure as a fledgling club, NHIAA would handle it appropriately. I also believe it would be a golden opportunity to build a viable youth feeder program between the three communities. Right now Franklin and Winnisquam’s youth teams have had rough times and Belmont is sent to a hodgepodge of programs.

I urge any football parent in these communities who are interested to speak out. Contact the school, SAU, athletic directors, superintendents. Whatever it takes. Let’s get together as a community and keep our kids on the field.

Kevin Messier

Belmont