'Sad and wrong decision': Shorewood School District says football co-op will end after 2027-28 school year
SHOREWOOD, Wis. (CBS 58) — A football partnership that's lasted more than two decades is coming to an end.
Shorewood School District leaders said they will not renew their football co-op with Messmer and Dominican high schools after the 2027-28 school year.
The district said declining participation and player safety drove the decision, with numbers so low it's become harder to safely field a varsity team, according to a news release sent out Tuesday, Sept. 29.
For parents like Alexa Safer, who has a seventh-grade son playing, the news was "shocking."
"We had no warning that this was happening. The parents, we weren't a part of this decision," Safer told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. "When I got the email, I just had this feeling of dread because my son has been looking forward to playing football his whole entire little life."
Safer said her son's favorite parts are the team camaraderie and his coaches.
"I feel super proud to have him participate in a sport that all my relatives have for generations," Safer said. "I know a lot of kids depend on football for scholarships and other opportunities, and I think it's a lost opportunity."
When asked about the player safety aspect, Safer said there are already certain precautions taken when it comes to who is able to hold the ball and equipment like helmets.
"There is some concern, obviously, about how safe the game is to play, and I think those concerns are valid, but I also think there are other ways those dangers can be mitigated without canceling the entire game," Safer said. "Football has been all around a really healthy thing for our family, and I would hate to see it not be a possibility for my son."
Shorewood and Messmer first teamed up in 2001, creating what the district calls the first public-private football co-op in the state. The district said several projects, including a documentary and book, were made about the "Messwood" team.
In 2025, the teams welcomed Dominican to the co-op.
John Curran, who has volunteered as an assistant coach for the middle school program since 2013, said the announcement is "a very sad and wrong decision."
"I think that the idea of getting together different communities and pursuing glory together is a very noble and rare aspiration," Curran said. "What I always tell my players is that football is worth doing and Messwood is worth fighting for."
The Shorewood School District superintendent was not available for an interview Wednesday.
District officials said they are still assessing whether there will be a football season next year.