Lyle Pacelli cancels varsity football for two seasons

(ABC 6 News) – Lyle Pacelli Athletics will not have a varsity football team for the next two seasons.

The Lyle Pacelli Athletic Cooperative made the difficult decision to not participate in varsity-level football for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In a letter to parents Thursday, school officials said they have reviewed its enrollment and participation numbers and feel they will not have enough players to safely and competitively place a varsity level team on the field.

Junior varsity and junior high level teams will continue with the hope that the teams will develop into a varsity team in the fall of 2025.

“This is a very difficult decision that has far reaching consequences for our older students. We understand the absolute heart break of our older students who will no longer be able to participate on Friday nights.”