CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – Two local high school sports programs will merge this year.

On August 12, the Homer Central School District (HCSD) and Cortland Enlarged City School District (CECSD) announced a partnership that will combine girls’ field hockey programs for the upcoming fall season.

Each district’s board of education approved the move, and the agreement has been finalized.

“Combining programs allows us to preserve and grow the sport of field hockey in our surrounding communities,” said Homer Athletic Director Todd Lisi. “By bringing these two student-athlete communities together, we are ensuring our female athletes continue to have fantastic athletic opportunities to compete, build lifelong skills, and enjoy playing the game they love.”

In a statement, CECSD officials say the partnership will help build a sustainable future for the sport across Cortland County.

“We at Cortland are excited about the opportunity to merge with Homer and provide our student-athletes with a field hockey season,” said Cortland Athletic Director Nolan Sinclair. We have a tremendous group of student-athletes that are looking forward to a successful year. The coaching staff for both schools are outstanding teachers and role models. I would like to thank both coaches, the administration at both districts, and both boards of education. In the end, the most important thing is providing the student- athletes the chance to have a season and reach all of their respective goals.”

A name for the team has not been officially announced, but CECSD did say “Go Home-Cort Field Hockey!” in a Facebook post.