Athletics

Dear Wynantskill UFSD Families

As you may know, over two years ago, the Wynantskill UFSD (WUFSD) administration began researching and advocating for a rule change within the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) that would allow WUFSD students to participate in modified sports at multiple districts. This initiative stemmed from parent feedback highlighting the need for more athletic opportunities due to our district’s low enrollment. However, in February 2023, NYSPHSAA voted against this proposal, maintaining the rule that districts may merge with only one other district for modified sports. With this in mind, and the recent feedback collected from our middle school students, WUFSD has been actively working to find the best possible solution to support our students’ participation in modified sports.

We are excited to announce an important development that will enhance the athletic opportunities available to our students. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, WUFSD will merge its modified sports teams with Troy City School District (TCSD). While we understand that change can often raise questions and concerns, we believe this partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students and our community.

We would like to take a moment to share the reasons why we are making this change and why we believe it will benefit everyone involved.

1. Expanded Sports Opportunities

Modified– Currently, WUFSD offers a limited number of sports: soccer, basketball, and baseball/softball. With this merger with the TCSD, our students will have access to a wide selection of modified sports as seen below in the chart.

Students who decide to play any of the modified sports will not be subject to the play-up rule. For example, if a child plays on Troy’s modified football team during their 7th and 8th-grade years, they can then choose to attend Averill Park for their 9th-grade year and play on the football team with no consequence, as modified sports are not subject to the play-up rule.

High School- Our WUFSD students have the ability to try out for Troy’s high school sports listed in the chart as well if they so choose. This is nothing new as our district currently has agreements with Troy, Averill Park, Brittonkill, and East Greenbush that allow our students the opportunity to play up if they so choose.

To view AP’s high school sports, click here.

To view EG’s high school sports, click here.

To view Brittonkill’s high school sports, click here.

To be clear, if a student plans to try out for any high school team, the 9th-grade play-up rules apply and if they decide to change schools for their 9th-grade year, they would be subject to NYSPAA eligibility rules at the new district.

Troy City School District’s Modified and High School Sports

2. Consistent Level of Play

Both the WUFSD and TCSD are part of the Colonial Council, which means our students will compete at the same level of play as they currently do. This continuity ensures that our students will not only have more options but also be able to compete at the same competitive level.

3. Convenient Location

The Troy Middle/High School Campus is just a short drive from our school—less than 10 minutes (3.3 miles) away—making it a convenient option for our families. This close proximity means our buses can easily transport our students to Troy for on-time after-school practices and games.

4. High-Quality Facilities and Fields

Troy has recently updated their sports facilities, including new fields, which will provide our students with a superior environment in which to practice and compete. We believe that access to these upgraded facilities will enhance the overall sports experience for our students.

5. Increased Need for Players

Troy is eager to welcome additional players to their teams, and this merger allows our students to be an important part of that growth. The addition of our athletes will
strengthen their teams, and it provides a unique opportunity for our students to contribute to the success of a larger program. The WUFSD faculty and staff will have the opportunity to coach the modified teams at TCSD as well.

We are confident that this collaboration with the Troy City School District will be a positive change for our students, offering them more opportunities, better facilities, and a more competitive experience.

We look forward to seeing our students grow, both as athletes and individuals, in this exciting new chapter. Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Yodis at myodis@wynantskillufsd.org with any questions or concerns.

We appreciate your support as we continue to provide the best possible opportunities for our students.
Sincerely, Dr. Mary Yodis