About 70 students and parents protested Visalia Unified School District’s decision to cancel high school football and water polo at the district’s office this week.

VUSD canceled the two sports’ seasons for the 2020-21 school year, saying it was prioritizing spring athletics since those sports were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re all passionate about this,” said Phil Walker, whose son is a senior at Redwood High School. “A lot of us are hurt about what’s going on.”

Mt. Whitney junior quarterback Dane Sullivan echoed the sentiments of many student in attendance.

“We want to have that high school experience,” Sullivan said. “We want to play with our friends and play against people that we either don’t like or we like. It kind of ruins everyone’s experience and it ruins high school for a lot of people.”

Organizers are hoping the rally will convince district administrators to reinstate the sports.

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