The ‘60s cheap gasoline, new highways and fewer students resulted in small travel budgets. Over the years, more sports, more players, increased fuel costs and longer distances created travel budgets unacceptable to taxpayers.

Travel expenses can be reduced dramatically by challenging the basic premises. If the objective is to allow the most students to play, have the most parents participate and keep expenses low, we must restructure.

Schools could have population "pies" that place about 500 students into each slice. If a school has 2,000 students, four slices (teams) would result. If each slice has teams in every sport, there would be many teams to play. Students from a specific geographical area would be required to play in that slice to insure that teams are equally matched. Black Hills teams would never have overnight stays and more parents could attend all games.

Top teams could play in an annual Black Hills Tournament. Outstanding players could be selected to form the "pro team" to play a once a year pro bowl with distant teams like Sioux Falls.

RAY ELLIOTT

Rapid City