Silhouette

Issue date: 5/9/02 Section: Sports

Perryman

Ballantyne

Despite projections that Garden City Community College would have a men's and women's soccer program in place by 2003, prospective soccer athletes are going to have to wait until at least 2004 to wear the Broncbuster brown and gold.

College President Carol Ballantyne said the soccer program will more than likely be put on hold because of budget limitations.

"We probably won't make it by 2003 because of the state budget crunch," Ballantyne said.

Dennis Perryman, athletic director, said the soccer program will eventually become part of GCCC athletics, however, just not as soon as some would have liked.

"Dr. Ballantyne is hoping to have the soccer program in place by 2004, but I think it will probably be 2005 before we are able to get the program in place," Perryman said.

According to Perryman the soccer program will cost the college approximately $20,000 each year.

"I have done a cost analysis on getting men's and women's soccer programs here at the college," Perryman said. "I have turned that over to Dr. Ballantyne and she is looking at how to get it into next year's budget."

According to Perryman the $20,000 will cover the cost of clinics, equipment, officials, recruiting, field maintenance and repair, lodging and transportation for the student athletes.

The college began preparation for the soccer program with the purchase of two mini-buses and an activity bus during the 2001-2002 school year.

"In 2001-2002 we purchased two mini-buses and an activity bus which are used for all college-sponsored activities and will also be used to transport the soccer athletes," Perryman said. "In 2002-2003 we are hoping to get the soccer fields put in, but that may be put off for a year."

According to Ballantyne, other aspects of the soccer program are also being taken into consideration.

"We have purchased a bus," Ballantyne said. "We are building dorms. We will seed the practice field this year and we are discussing raising more money for scholarships – all to aid in a soccer program. Right now we lack coaches salaries, equipment, locker room and weight room space, offices and travel money. We are still working on it though."

In the current plan for the soccer program the college hopes to have two practice fields constructed.

"There will be essentially two fields for practice, arranged end to end. Then for games one end of each field will be used so that we preserve some of the grass and cut down on maintenance."

Long-term plans for the soccer program include hiring a coach in the spring of 2004 and up to four coaches before the program is fully instituted.

"Initially we are hoping to hire a coach in the spring of 2004 to recruit for both the men's and women's programs," Perryman said. "Eventually there will be 2-4 coaches for the program."

According to Adam Hunter, Dodge City Community College soccer head coach, out of the 21 community colleges in Kansas there are 8 men's soccer programs and 7 women's programs.

Perryman said he feels the college will benefit from having a soccer program.

"Soccer will provide a competitive, recreational outlet for a different group of student athletes," Perryman said. "Not all students want to play football or basketball or some of the other sports offered here. We're missing an element of the student population by not having this program."

Hunter said he looks forward to competing with GCCC when the soccer program is instituted. The DCCC soccer program is relatively new to the Kansas conference with both men's and women's team starting only last year.

"It will be good to have another school in the conference to play," Hunter said. "Recruiting players will be tough though especially in the women's soccer programs."

Hunter said he thinks soccer programs at community colleges are beneficial to the students.

"It [soccer] gives students an opportunity to play, who otherwise might not," Hunter said. "It also allows the students to have an affordable education."

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