By BHAVIN BALGOBIND
The Jericho Jayhawk Football program has decided to part ways with the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy Hawks to form its own program for the fall 2023 season.
In 2018, due to a lack of enrollment, Jericho had to cancel its varsity football program. On Long Island, the rule is that a minimum of 19 players is required to field a varsity program. Jericho could not meet that requirement so they could not have a season.
In 2018, Jericho merged with Oyster Bay and became the Jericho-Oyster Bay Baymen. In 2019, Jericho had 7 seniors play with Plainview, but still had JV and middle school football squads.
By the close of the 2022 season, Jericho had over 50 athletes on their side of the program. Head varsity coach Brendan Lahti knew that with those numbers a 2023 team looked likely. He said, “We decided not to merge with Plainview because we had enough players to field our own varsity team and should be able to field a JV team as well.”
Coach Lahti explained that the decision to break away from Plainview was one that Jericho was going to make as soon as its varsity program had enough members. He said, “We have enough players, we fielded our own team, so we’re happy we can do that and that Jericho is excited about football again.”
Head JV Coach Gregory Berry is hoping to have 50-60 players for the upcoming 2023 season. He said, “Based on the meeting we had at the beginning of November, around 45 kids came to show that they would be interested in playing. We’re hoping to increase that number.”
Coach Berry will miss certain aspects of the merger with Plainview. “I think it was a unique situation with those athletes that I would never have had the opportunity to coach and build those relationships. That was very important to me,” he said.
Now that Jericho has its own football program, they won’t be competing in Conference 1 anymore, they will be competing in Conference 2.
Coach Berry feels confident that the Jericho players will adapt to switching to Conference 2 smoothly. “We’re in a good position to succeed in Conference 2 football. In Conference 2, we’re going to play teams closer to our talent and ability levels, and I think it’s going to be something that will put us in a position to succeed,” he said.
Despite the two schools parting ways, the relationships made between the Jericho and Plainview players will surely not be forgotten. Jericho junior Dhruv M. said, “My favorite part about merging with Plainview was making new friends and having our two communities come together as one family.”
Plainview players feel similarly. Plainview sophomore Logan T. added, “I’m definitely going to miss my teammates the most. Getting to play the sport you love is one thing, but playing with a bunch of guys you love is even better.”
Any students interested in playing football next year are encouraged to speak with Mr. Lahti or Mr. Berry.