At the next Goshen County School Board meeting, the board will be considering whether to implement middle school soccer to begin in the spring of 2026. The proposal is for a middle school soccer program that includes students from Torrington, Lingle, Southeast and Lagrange. The proposal also separates male and female students due to physicality and ability differences in the middle school age group. I’m writing this letter to ask that the Goshen County community support the initiative and encourage the school board to approve the request. 

Currently, middle school students are able to play soccer though GoWyo Soccer. This program has grown exponentially over the past few years. The current GoWyo Soccer president Rod Miller has voiced his full support for a middle school program to be implemented at Torrington. Based on the current number of students signed up for GoWyo Soccer, there is enough interest to support a team through the school district. GoWyo is not currently able to separate the males and females, and separating the two may even further increase participation. 

Several years ago, there was a proposal for middle school soccer to be implemented at TMS. That proposal was ultimately denied due to lack of teams in the area to support a season. Fast forward several years later and that is no longer the case. I have had the opportunity to connect directly with several area schools who expressed great interest in adding Torrington Middle School to their current middle school soccer schedules in the spring of 2026. These schools include Scottsbluff, Gering, Newcastle, Douglas and middle schools in Casper.

My children have been involved in soccer in some capacity since 2010 on local, state, and national teams. My oldest is now playing for the soccer team at Torrington High School. I have seen my children grow both as athletes and as people through soccer. A middle school soccer program would allow for students to learn teamwork, cooperation, problem solving and social skills while also increasing physical fitness and mental health. 6th-8th grade is a crucial developmental period for our youth and participating in a middle school soccer program can allow students to hone those life-long skills. 

It is my expectation that a district soccer team will continue the work of recreational soccer to develop Goshen County athletes and provide our students even more opportunities. I believe that a school team will allow for even greater participation. Please consider reaching out to members of the Goshen County School Board and expressing your support for district-wide middle school soccer team.