With the varsity and middle school teams in tow, the Norwin Inline Hockey Club urged the Norwin School board, again, to give them recognition and the ability to letter as a legitimate athletic team.

Ryan McCandless, varsity head coach, said the club is only for acknowledgement.

"We do all our fundraising ourselves," McCandless said. "What we're looking for is club status, which will give us yearbook and online recognition and a chance for our kids to get letterman's jackets."

Board President Robert Perkins said the district has to be consistent on recognizing clubs and the athletic council is in the process of creating a district-wide policy.

McCandless said several area districts have recognized the sport with club recognition, including Penn-Trafford, Bethel Park, Central Catholic, North Allegheny and Seneca Valley school districts.

He said many Division I colleges have an inline team.

"The players we have here may possibly be overlooked by colleges," McCandless said. "

Bill Stickland, a senior at Norwin High School, said if a soccer player can letter after two years of playing, the inline hockey players should also be able to do so.

"I believe this lack of recognition is a supreme injustice that the players are not able to letter," said Strickland from a prepared statement. "What scout for a prestigious college hockey club would honestly consider a player who has absolutely no support from the school district?"

McCandless said the team has many talents, including T.C. Javor, who tried out for the U.S. Olympic Team, and Joe Mikula earned silver in the Junior Olympics last year.

"We wear the jerseys with the Norwin symbol on it," said Justin Fitz "We just ask for your support, as we support our school."

The more than 50 players range from elementary to high school players and play in the Pennsylvania Inter-scholastic Roller Hockey League. The club was created three years ago.