Heritage Christian Academy will likely be without a varsity soccer team this fall as low participation numbers continue to challenge one of the region’s smallest athletic programs.
Athletic Director Stephanie Stallins said the school currently does not have enough student-athletes to field either a varsity or junior varsity team, though she hopes interest could increase before the season begins.
“As of right now, we do not have a team,” Stallins said. “We do not anticipate having a varsity team.”
The announcement comes one year after Heritage Christian assembled a soccer roster just before the season, allowing seniors to compete during their final year of eligibility.
While soccer participation has declined, Stallins said the school remains committed to keeping the program alive.
“We would like to see where the interest is,” she said. “We want to keep the program going. It’s honestly a program I would like to see thriving here.”
She said she is working with the coaching staff to explore ways to maintain the program and provide opportunities for interested players.
“I’m working closely with the coaches that we have currently on ways to keep soccer active,” Stallins said. “We’ll just have to look at whatever the possibilities are moving more into the fall.”
If participation increases, Stallins said Heritage Christian could potentially schedule junior varsity matches later in the season.
“But if that changes, then we hope to at least be able to play some JV games if possible,” she said.
As one of the smallest schools competing in the Second Region, Heritage Christian often relies on multi-sport athletes to fill rosters throughout the school year. Stallins said cooperation among coaches has been essential in allowing students to compete in multiple sports, even when seasons overlap.
“I think it’s a total team effort among our coaching staff right now,” Stallins said. “Our coaches work together really well to share athletes, and our athletes have responded well to the raised level of competition.”
Heritage Christian Academy has been the only co-ed soccer team in the region in recent years due to not having a girls’ program. HCA fielded a girls’ program on an experimental basis a decade ago but was unable to sustain the numbers needed to continue it.
While soccer’s future remains uncertain, Stallins said Heritage Christian’s other fall sports are progressing as planned.
Volleyball has begun preparations for the upcoming season, while the golf program includes several junior varsity golfers along with returning varsity players. The cross-country team has also started practice ahead of meets that begin in August.
