HOLLAND, Mich. — Dutch varsity football is ending its regular season on September 16.
Holland Public Schools will play two more varsity football games before ending the season early, which the athletic director says came as a difficult decision. The team will play against Mona Shores on Friday, September 9 and have its last home game against Zeeland West on Friday, September 16.
In a Tuesday night meeting, Holland High Athletic Director Blake Muller talked with athletes and parents about the tough choice.
The junior varsity team will play out the rest of the 2022 season as normal.
The head football coach says this decision will allow coaching staff to focus their efforts on the future of the program and invest in training the younger players.
Multiple seniors won't be able to play JV for the rest of the season: Mateo Clawson, Nolan Currier, Paul Klomparens, Mario Lee, Donal Morin and Santiago Solano.
"It was tough," Muller explained to FOX 17. "It goes beyond the scoreboard for sure. It's not about wins and losses. You can still grow as a player and as a program even if you're getting beat and even if it's by a large margin. There's just such a physical and developmental different between seniors who are going on 18-years-old and sophomores who are 15-years-old and still growing into their bodies."
The seniors will still be able to practice with the team and are invited to assist sideline coaches during upcoming JV games.
The seniors are going to be honored for their commitment to the Dutch Football program, the school says.
"I don't want to take away anything from their effort and what they've done because I think this is a season we will remember and we'll remember their efforts for a long time," Muller added.
The school says Holland High School administrators currently are working on adjusting plans for Homecoming Week.
