LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
A controversial decision to end junior high athletic competitions between Mayo Middle School and Crestwood Junior High has drawn multiple mixed reactions from parents, students and athletic fans across Paris in the past week. The choice also drew a large audience to the Monday, Feb. 9, Paris-Union 95 board meeting.
The meeting opened with a statement from the Paris-Union 95 superintendent, Mary Morgan Ryan, who reiterated and detailed the district’s decision not to enter a contest agreement for the 2026-27 school year with CUSD #4.
Morgan Ryan expressed the shift gives the district and its athletes more opportunities to coordinate athletic schedules more effectively, prioritize opponents that will help junior high students prepare for regional and state tournament play, help unite the Paris community behind athletes who will all soon compete together as Paris Tigers and allow students to attend games as spectators to enthusiastically cheer on friends and neighbors. The district’s full statement is attached at the close of this article.
Following the superintendent’s address, members of the school board opened the floor to any individual in attendance to share their concerns.
While the room was packed with several dozen attendees, only three members of the public elected to speak.
Chip Keys, a former collegiate athlete and local coach, chose to speak and show his support for the district’s decision, thanking them for making the “difficult decision.”
“I think that it showed a true sign of leadership what we did,” Keys said. “I’m sure that decision is not easy. I appreciate it, and I think in the long term, our community will grow to appreciate it too.”
While expressing his support, Keys drew on his time as a junior high football coach and his experience handling students’ many emotions, both during and after games.
“I feel very strongly about the time I’ve spent coaching the sports of football, youth basketball, softball and girls’ softball. Coaching has been the highlight of my life,” Keys shared. “I wanted to come here tonight and let whoever made the decision know that I am behind you 100 percent with the decision that was made for Crestwood Mayo to no longer be rivals in these court events.”
“I know when you’re sitting in the stands, you may think it’s a friendly rivalry, but what you don’t see is what I see at practice the following week, some of the talk that goes on and these kids, anymore, they can’t get away from it,” he said. “There’s Snapchat, there’s text messaging, there’s things that happen long after that game is over with … I’ve seen it tear our team apart on football fields, and there’s several people in the room that have coached right alongside me that know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Keys also shared his belief that the decision to disband competition will create additional opportunities to expand youth sports programs and “give our kids several more opportunities down the road.”
The next resident to address the board also supported the district’s choice. City Council member and coach Andy Brinkerhoff praised the district’s selection, calling it an opportunity to “build relationships and trust in an industry before it truly matters.”
“I grew up out in the country, attended Crestwood and had the opportunity to play sports there. Like many people, I moved back after being away. This is a special place to me. Paris is home,” Brinkerhoff shared. “My kids attend District 95, and I coach teams that include kids from both districts, basketball, football and baseball, which gives me a unique vantage point, I’d say, and not just as a former student, but someone that’s working in the field.”
From his own coaching experience, Brinkerhoff acknowledged the effects of competition on students, noting that when students from both districts are on the same team, the competitive “lines disappear quickly.”
“The (kids) are not worried about where someone goes to school, it’s all about making the next pass, playing defense and supporting each other. I think that’s a powerful thing,” he said. “I think the simple truth is that all these kids eventually merge into the same high school, and at that point they stopped being opponents and become teammates. By bringing them together earlier, we allow them to work toward a common goal, instead of competing against their future teammates.”
“At the younger levels, especially, we see those games as rivalry games that have unintended effects on kids. I think what starts is the competition completely turns into the necessary pressure and attention that the kids don’t fully understand or need,” Brinkerhoff added. “These students are still developing and I think we have a responsibility to create an environment that supports them.”
Brinkerhoff also asked the public to remember competitive aspects of sports, sharing that when teams come together, they can assemble the “most competitive team possible.”
“I think pulling talent gives the kids better competition, better development and just better experiences, especially when facing larger programs,” Brinkerhoff said. “I think we also need to talk honestly about the changing demographics and enrolled (students). We’re not the same size that we once were, and our enrollment is lower than it was years ago. We simply don’t have the same number of kids that we did when the rivalry tradition was formed. I don’t think that this is a failure; it’s just reality. Times change, communities change. It’s okay for our programs to evolve with them … It’s about adapting responsibly so our kids can continue to have strong programs, positive experiences and meaningful opportunities.”
“I also want to acknowledge the nostalgia type of rivalry games. Those memories matter. Many people in this room grew up with them, and they’re part of our community history. This decision isn’t about erasing that history; it recognizes that past work doesn’t always serve today’s students in the same way,” Brinkerhoff added. “Now we have the opportunity to create new traditions centered on unity, growth and shared success … The decision to end rivalry games and move toward co-oping is about what’s best for our kids. It promotes unity, competitiveness and development, while acknowledging the realities of our community today. This isn’t about taking away, it’s giving our kids the best chance to succeed together.”
Don Lee, a coach at the high school also took a moment to share his thoughts.
“I do see some utility and a crosstown rival,” he said, sharing a story of his childhood friend and next door neighbor who went to a different middle school. “We were sworn enemies when we’re on the football field, then when we got to high school, everybody else was our sworn enemy, and we were tight.”
Lee also expressed concerns that all interested children get the opportunity to play, and his personal perturbations that students who may not fit certain athletic profiles while in middle school may not get game time before they reach high school.
“Is that really what we want to do, instead of giving 30 kids a chance to only give it to 15?” he asked. “It would be different if we had more developed intramural-type stuff for recreational stuff, but we don’t, right now. Until we get a program like that started, we’re going to hurt the kids. And do the kids get a vote next? Or is it all us, just us gray-haired folks that get to make a decision for the kids? I think that’s something that has to be talked about.”
“There’s validity on both sides,” Lee added. “But, I think there are a lot more benefits by these kids competing against each other. Competition is competition. It is for basketball players. You don’t get better in practice. You get better by playing. The more you play, the better you get, period.”
No other individuals elected to speak at the meeting.
District 95’s statement:
“After careful consideration, we have decided not to enter into 26-27 contest agreements for certain Mayo vs. Crestwood athletic contests.
“This decision impacts softball, baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball and volleyball. We fully recognize the history associated with these matchups, and this was not a choice made lightly. As our community continues to grow and change, we took a thoughtful look at how we can best serve our students and the community.
“This shift gives us the opportunity to coordinate athletic schedules more effectively. Crestwood and District 95 are in different IESA athletic classes. Because of this, we are prioritizing opponents that help us prepare for regional and state tournament play. While the Crestwood Eagles are always a worthy opponent, we need to ensure that District schedules are aligned with the teams we will face in the post-season.
“District 95 will play conference schedules and going forward will build schedules against like-sized regional opponents and teams we are likely to face in the post-season. This strategic scheduling will ultimately bolster our programs, strengthen our case for post-season rankings, and provide our student-athletes with the most advantageous regular-season experience possible.
“Another outcome is to unite the Paris community behind athletes who will all soon compete together as Paris Tigers. It is our intent to start a new tradition: our coaches, athletes, and students will begin to attend games as spectators to enthusiastically cheer on our friends and neighbors, the Crestwood Eagles. We are intentionally stepping toward building a cohesive spirit of unity, cooperation, and sportsmanship across the entire community, reflecting our mission: “Every student, every opportunity, every day.”
“We are always willing to collaborate around alternatives to officially scheduled games. We have already made suggestions about having our teams attend each other’s games to cheer, and also about holding contests as fundraisers rather than scheduled games. We would be happy to discuss alternatives that positively impact ALL Paris students and athletes.”