CASPER, WY — At a Monday meeting of the Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees, four members of the Kelly Walsh High School girls swim and dive team voiced strong opposition to the district’s decision to cancel an upcoming three‑team home meet. The swimmers said the cancellation was made to free up parking for the Oct. 16 football rivalry known as the Oil Bowl between Kelly Walsh and Natrona County High School.
Swimmers argue the decision shows bias toward football
Reese Mosley, Sadie Lebsock, Jaden MacRae and Danica Lamb addressed the board, contending that the meet should have been scheduled without the need for a protest. “Even if we got this meet back, we shouldn’t have had to fight to have it in the first place,” MacRae said. “It should have just been given to us. Knowing that they canceled it for an event that would take about as long as ours, just at a different time, makes our swim team feel like they prioritized the boys team over the swim team overall.”
The athletes noted that district athletic directors were reportedly aware of the scheduling conflict before finalizing the calendar, yet later cited parking constraints surrounding the Oil Bowl as the reason for the cancellation. Mosley added that the loss of the meet jeopardizes the team’s chances to qualify for the state meet, and that the event was slated to serve as a senior night for a senior swimmer.
Parking concerns disputed
MacRae and Lamb challenged the parking rationale, pointing out that Kelly Walsh High School has more parking capacity than Natrona County High School, which has previously hosted a football game and a swim meet simultaneously. “We’ve hosted state track at Kelly Walsh before, which is probably twice as many people as what would be showing up for the Oil Bowl and a three‑team meet,” MacRae explained. Lamb added that the swimmers’ vehicles would be parked at the school for the football game regardless, making the impact on parking negligible.
Board members respond
Several trustees expressed surprise at the issue and pledged to look into a possible remedy. Trustee Mary Schmidt called the cancellation “an injustice,” and offered to volunteer as a meet timer, urging other trustees to do the same. “My daughter swam the same day all four years as the Oil Bowl, and it was never a problem,” Schmidt said. “This is not a problem to host two events at the biggest high school in the state.”
The board has not yet announced a definitive course of action, but the swimmers’ testimony has placed the scheduling dispute firmly on the agenda for upcoming meetings.
Community reaction
Local parents and community members have begun to voice support for the swimmers on social media, emphasizing the importance of equitable treatment for all student athletes. The debate highlights a broader conversation about how schools allocate resources and space for different sports programs.
As the Oil Bowl approaches, district officials will need to balance the logistical demands of a major football event with the competitive needs of the swim team, ensuring that all student athletes receive fair opportunities to compete and showcase their talents.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
