Over the decades, many teams have graced Strath Haven’s halls, including Women’s Ice Hockey, Women’s Rowing, and Gymnastics teams.
These teams have been discontinued, and their conceptions and eventual deaths span from the 1980s to the early 2020s. Teams usually lose relevance due to either lack of funding, accessibility, or participation.
The former Gymnastics team won multiple state championships and had been an institution at the school since the merger in 1984. According to athleticbusiness.com, there has been a 75% fall in the amount of female gymnasts in the entire United States since 1977, revealing that this was not necessarily a shift in Strath Haven’s culture but a nationwide trend.
The Strath Haven women’s hockey team had a similar fate, even though it did not have as illustrious a history at Haven.
“The girls ice hockey team, from what I understand, went away because they didn’t have enough players to form the team. I think the last time we had it was PennHaven, so it was a team of both Penncrest and Strath Haven kids,” Athletic director Ms. Lynelle Mosley said.
PennHaven was a competitive team, winning a league championship in 2021. Since the team dissipated, most female hockey players have opted to focus on the Philadelphia Little Flyers Under 19 team instead.
On the other hand, teams have started out small but have grown into institutions at the school. When volleyball was first played at the school in Strath Haven’s charter year, it was a relatively unpopular and unknown sport, but it has grown into a prominent institution at the school, notably as the 2024 District One runners-up.
Funding or lack of availability is another common reason for a sport’s demise. This is a common problem in club sports and was a part of why the former girls Rowing Club was discontinued.
“There’s just more schools that support [Varsity] sports,” Mosley started. “Which is why they’re sanctioned by the PIAA. So they just have more chances to play against other people. Every school doesn’t have that club. And especially in our area, certain schools have a rowing team, certain have ultimate frisbee teams, not everybody has it.”
The Rowing Club also notably struggled due to losing their boathouse, leaving them without a major practice resource.
Despite club sports’ many disadvantages, one club has managed to thrive. The Ultimate Frisbee team has grown over the years, now having Boys and Girls Varsity and JV teams and a girls team that is nationally ranked.
“I think (their success) is the community. I think we have very, very, good coaches here that pushed the sport, and they’ve been able to get a lot of the participation out of it, and I think it’s definitely a growing sport that’s starting to grow in this area,” Mosley added.
“I think the biggest difference is just access to [resources] and the area you’re in,” Mosley said.
