Youngstown City Schools Resumes Middle School Sports

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Youngstown City School District seventh- and eighth-grade athletics return to East Middle School at the P. Ross Berry Campus and Chaney Middle School at the McGuffey Campus this fall.

“We believe our reconfiguration will better serve the academic needs of our scholars, but our athletics will benefit as well,” school district CEO Justin Jennings said in a statement. “It will help to build those programs, sculpt those players and build those teams starting from a younger age.”

For the last few years, younger district scholar-athletes have competed in intramural sports through the schools. 

This year, both middle schools offer volleyball and football this fall with basketball and other sports planned for later in the school year. 

This is a prospective year for the district middle schools through the Ohio High School Athletic Association with plans to be fully sanctioned by the association the following year.

Nick Sferra, YCSD’s middle school athletic director, looks forward to the program’s success. All coaches are required to hold an active pupil activity permit and other credentials.

“Sanctioning the sports at the middle school level will allow for consistent scheduling with other area schools to continue to promote our scholar-athletes with options for play,” he says. 

Anyone inquiring about YCSD school boundaries can click HERE or contact Sferra HERE. Students who attend Rayen Early College Middle School may play for their home school.

Volleyball and football practices are underway for both middle school teams.

Practice for the Chaney Middle School Cowboys football team is 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday at Volney Rogers Elementary School on 2400 S. Schenley Ave. 

Chaney Middle School volleyball practice is from 3 to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday at Volney. 

Practice for the East Middle School Golden Bears football team is 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday at the P. Ross Berry field, 2724 Mariner Ave. 

The East Middle volleyball team practices from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesdays in the East High gymnasium, 474 Bennington Ave.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.