Michigan High Schools Getting Opportunity To Merge Sports Teams

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan High School Athletic Association is making it easier to build some teams with students from two or more schools.

The goal is to help kids compete if there's a history of low participation at a school. The sports are baseball, bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and wrestling.

Schools forming a team must be in the same district. There will be no limits on the size of the schools that want to create a team.

The proposal was approved earlier this month during a meeting of the MHSAA's 19-member legislative body.

Alvin Ward, athletic director at Detroit Public Schools, says he'll recommend that some schools form a single team. In Lansing, athletic director Chris Henderson says combining players can bring a community together.