On March 23, 2018 the Juniata/East Juniata boys tennis team traveled to Central Dauphin East for their first match of the season. In addition to the 7 boys on the team, there are also 3 girls. Neither school offers a girls’ tennis team in the fall, therefore the girls are allowed to play with the boys. However, when the team arrived at CD East, their athletic director had something to say about the co-ed team. Bre Terry, senior at East Juniata High School, was warming up for her doubles match with her partner, George Hazard III, when they were informed that she would not be playing in the match. Why? Because she is female.  

        According to this Athletic Director, any girl who wants to play tennis must register in the fall as an independent player and play other girls in the area. Coach Sheri Landis, of Juniata, immediately expressed her disapproval and tried to explain that Bre had been playing on the boys’ team the last two years. However, Coach and Athletic Director from CD East would not budge. 

        Bre was not allowed to participate in that match, and was set to sit out of approximately six other matches. However, after a few weeks of research done by the East Juniata Athletic Director, Travis Quici, a solution was found. In the PIAA rule book, it states that if a school does not offer a girls’ team in a sport, then any girl who wishes to play can participate on the boys’ team. Bre has been playing in every match since and has not had any more trouble.