The Wareham High School boys and girls track teams and boys tennis team could get a boost in membership in their upcoming seasons, as Wareham Middle School 8th graders will now be allowed to join those teams.

"We want to improve our numbers," Athletic Director Marc Loranger told the School Committee at its Wednesday, December 7 meeting.

Loranger recently received Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) approval for the change. The School Committee unanimously approved the change.

In a letter to the MIAA, Loranger noted that it has been "very difficult to field a team" for those sports due to lack of participation. He said he hopes that opening up the roster to 8th grade students will alleviate that problem.

Loranger said he also asked the MIAA to allow 8th graders on the high school's girls tennis team, but the association did not approve that proposal, citing the fact that the girls team had a good number of participants last year.

Eighth-graders will have to meet academic requirements and pay sports "user fees" in order to participate on the high school teams.