[westwoodeagle]

Everyone had the same opportunities

I agree with you 100%.  Rushing kids on to college and out into the real world is foolish, particularly with the craziness in the world these days.  Even if holdbacks are done “for sports”, so what?  Good for them and their parents for having the sense to give them an extra year of being at home, not having real responsibilities, and having these games to look forward to.

As for transfers, I feel the same way.  If it’s better at Raceland or any other school, then parents should be able to send their kids there.  

The only problem I have with transfers are pots calling kettles black all the time.  If a person’s own school gets transfers, then they’ll knowingly smile and tell you how good their team is going to be.  If it’s a rival school, though, then they’ll make signs and shirts saying they are cheaters.

As far as I know, all schools in the region have been on both sides of the aisle at one time or another.

I'm on the outside looking in on this game so I don't know the specific details with transfers and hold backs. In general I'm pretty much in agreement on transfers, it's going to happen and usually the only time people complain is when the said school is winning. I also understand hold backs to some extent, if a kid is academically or physically behind grade level and the parents, child, and administration are in agreement then I think it is perfectly fine. Heck, I would trade my new truck for an opportunity to watch one more of my kids games, but that would be true for the next 30 years.  I also understand that during Covid things were different which could cause a greater number of students to hold back.
Now back to the this specific game, in terms of the "hold backs" are we talking a couple of students, two or three from each grade, or a tidal wave of students?  If it's just a few I say stop crying and move on, if it's an extreme case where all or most of the players in a certain grade held back then that's a different story. A concerted effort to hold back goes beyond "it's my business".  A decision like that places all of the players in the grades behind them with a tough decision, which I'm guessing could ultimately cause a tidal wave of hold backs from seniors back through middle school. If this is the "tidal wave" then I disagree, I don't know of any school in the region ever doing anything like that. But I could be wrong.  Again, I'm speaking from the outside looking in and haven't talked to any students or parents from either school so I have no idea the extent of the hold backs in this situation.  Either way at this point it's a done deal. I think Raceland cruises in this one 35-10.



Tidal wave is a great description! Raceland promotes hold-backs for sports! Primarily football! This years senior class (several holdbacks and transfers) and next years senior class (several holdbacks and transfers) is a prime example of a "Tidal-Wave". For "SPORTS" not "ACADEMICS"! Yes it is a parents right to choose however the "immaturity card" is a cop out especially when majority of the holdbacks are honor students or excel within their class. We tend to forget how this affects all of the kids that are not held back! For some it removes their opportunity for academic scholarships, affects academic financial aid, etc. and affects class ranking for example. Kids that have worked hard all their lives are told to "work harder" as additional highly academic kids are held back within their class primarily for sports!!! Their is an umentioned affect on students who choose not to hold back that maybe more impactful than the reward of winning a high school sporting event! Raceland also has embodied "transfers" or "replacement players"!! There are many "logical' reasons parents choose to transfer their children to other school districts however again when this is primarily "sports related" it affects many more than just that one "transfer". What about kids that have spent their entire career at their school? Kids that have worn their school jersey since youth league and dream of the day to be on the field representing their school? Only to have a transfer come in their junior or senior year and take their spot or take significant time away from them?? Very odd that Raceland gets above average ,athletic transfers that play Football?? Racelands answer to homegrown players.... "get better"! Racelands administration and staff within the program are who promotes both "holdback" and "transfers" for sports and sports alone! Curious how one of them would feel if their kid was replaced by a transfer or a holdback!! Probably wouldn't care as long as they won! Take a look at Raceland roster this season, especially their starting lineups in football and see how many kids came from different programs their junior or senior year. FAMILY?? The only family represented at Raceland is the coaches and administration that are only looking to win!!! The laws within the KHSAA need to change or KHSAA needs to investigate the way that this particular school continues to have the ability to holdback kids annually by the dozen and seem to get some of the best local talent from the other schools without any penalty! It wasn't too long ago that another local school was investigated for its seemingly lucrative windfall of talent!! Hard to compete with any school that's afforded the leniency that Raceland has been given. I'm sure though that it doesn't hurt to have your superintendent on the KHSAA Board!!! I am proud that my kid attends a school that puts ACADEMICS, HONESTY and INTEGRITY before sports!