GATEWAY, Fla. — Adding a new sport in high school is a difficult process that usually takes years of planning. Adding five new teams in one school year is unheard of. However, that is exactly what Gateway High School has done in 2023. The Eagles just began varsity programs in girls lacrosse, baseball, beach volleyball, and boys and girls tennis.
“If they want it, we’ll offer it,” Gateway Athletic Director Michael Dubbelde said.
That has been the mentality of the Eagles. Gateway High School is brand new. It opened its doors last year and only had a select number of sports.
“We didn’t have the numbers, and we didn’t have the coaching,” Dubbelde said.
Both of those issues have resolved themselves with time. As more students have entered the Gateway High School doors, the athletic department has expanded. The Eagles made sure to select their new sports strategically. They chose teams with low startup costs and asked teachers to be coaches.
“I don’t wanna get things going way too fast that we can’t sustain,” Dubbelde said. “I want to make sure we do it the right way.”
Another important rule the Eagles had to make sure they were adhering to was Title IX, which ensures equality in high school and collegiate sports.
“We have to be able to make sure we’re providing enough opportunities, or as many opportunities, for females as we are for males,” Dubbelde said.
One of the new teams is girls lacrosse. Florida is not known as a lacrosse state, but senior Olivia Quade really wanted to play. She just moved to Southwest Florida from Maryland, where lacrosse is one of the most popular youth and high school sports. Now in a new area, Quade wanted to bring the sport she loves to Gateway. So, she emailed Dubbelde and recruited some friends to play.
“I emailed Mr. Dubbelde, and I was like, ‘hey, is there anything going on about girls lacrosse?’” Quade said.
That simple email resulted in an entirely new team. That is how Gateway’s athletic department has expanded — basic supply and demand. The results have been very positive.
“I feel like everybody just likes the idea of new sports,” Gateway freshman and girls lacrosse player Amadis Bocalandro said. “They’re grateful for it.”
This year, the Eagles added girls lacrosse, baseball, beach volleyball, and boys and girls tennis. However, Gateway High School isn’t done growing. There is a good chance the Eagles will add even more teams in the coming years.
“They’re all coming to me and saying ‘when are we going to add this,’” Dubbelde said.
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