ROSEMONT, Pa. — The Lower Merion and Harriton football teams will merge next season after the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association approved the district’s request to form a cooperative, according to the district.
The PIAA approved the request at its Oct. 7 meeting. The combined team will compete in Class 6A rather than Class 5A and will be ineligible for postseason play, according to the PIAA.
“I know that current and future players, coaches, families, students and community members have questions about the practicalities of how this merger will work,” Superintendent Frank Ranelli said.
Ranelli also said he will meet with coaches and administrators from both schools to work out the merger details.
The board announced the cooperative request in May after months of advocacy by parents and players. This reversed a decision from last November, when Dr. Ranelli said the teams would not merge.
In August, the district announced that the Harriton football team would not play a varsity schedule because of concerns about player safety, low participation and the sustainability of maintaining a competitive program on a 10-week schedule.
Lower Merion football is 1-8 this season, with its only win coming from Harriton’s forfeit. The team has not had a winning season since 2023.
“While thoughtfully implementing this change to our high school football programs will require a lot of work, the goal is to create a sustainable program that prioritizes the safety of our student athletes while preserving their opportunities to participate,” Dr. Ranelli said.