WINDSOR — Windsor High boys soccer is facing a significant numbers crunch for the upcoming season.
All fall sports — except for football, which started Monday — began practicing Thursday. Windsor had nine boys for the start of the season.
A member-to-member agreement with Hartford High is in place if the Yellowjackets are unable to add enough players to their roster in time to play as Windsor in 2021.
Windsor head boys soccer coach Steven Mulloy didn’t know when the call would need to be made by. He said he found out Hartford was an option earlier this week.
During Thursday’s Vermont Principals’ Association media day, associate executive director Bob Johnson said Windsor won’t have a team. But Mulloy said it’s too early to say that.
Mulloy said the team would at least have a decision to make if they can pick up just two more players to get to 11. He’d prefer to have at least 12 or 13 athletes so he has substitutes and cover in case of injuries, but they could play with 11. He said the players’ desires will be a big factor in the decision if Windsor reaches the bare minimum.
“The kids who have signed up, I want to make sure that they have, you know, a good season coming up,” Mulloy said. “Whatever option is going to work best for them, that’s what we’ll do.”
Mulloy was unsure if the Yellowjackets will be able to get the necessary roster additions. He said he’s reached out to several prospective players, and his kids have done the same.
Windsor went 1-9 in 2020. The Yellowjackets were the 13th seed in the VPA Division III playoffs, and they bowed out in their first-round playoff game against fourth-seeded Peoples.
Hartford athletic director Jeff Moreno said the Hurricanes are exploring the possibility of adding Windsor’s players, but the talks are in an infant stage.
“It could work this year, as we have a young team — only one senior — and we want to support our neighbors,” Moreno said in an email. “If we aren’t the best fit, we would understand that as well. (We’re) awaiting more info from Windsor, as well as from the VPA, as to how it could (and) would work.”
Seth Tow can be reached at stow@vnews.com.