Realignment Task Force conducts reviews and appeals for potential football changes

New 8-player conferences are one step closer

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Conference Realignment Task Force Committee reviewed plans on Jan. 6 that were initially advanced for further consideration and to conduct appeals of realignment requests that were denied last month.

The 11-player realignment proposals that were advanced for further review –– including a combination of those submitted by De Soto, Horicon-Hustisford and Pardeeville, River Falls and West Salem, and Sun Prairie East and Sun Prairie West –– will be advanced to the Board of Control for final approval at its March 5 meeting, with the exception of the conferences included in a modified Marinette realignment proposal that requires another review on Feb. 11.

In addition, the modified 8-player plan that originated with requests from De Soto, Lake Holcombe, Niagara and Pembine- Goodman and forms nine 8-player football conferences will advance to the board for final consideration on March 5.

In this plan, the Gilman Pirates would move from their current Central Wisconsin West Conference to the Central Wisconsin East in the fall of 2022, where they would join former Cloverbelt and Clover-Wood rivals Athens, Greenwood, Owen-Withee and Thorp as well as current Central Wisconsin West opponent Alma Center Lincoln. Gilman and Greenwood competed in eight-player football for the first time in 2020. Athens, Owen-Withee and Thorp are looking to make the move in 2022.

The current Central Wisconsin West alignment includes Gilman, Lincoln, Phillips, McDonell Central, New Auburn and Bruce. The end of the Lake Holcombe- Cornell 11-player co-op after 2021 is likely to lead to a revamped Central Wisconsin West that includes McDonell, Cornell, Lake Holcombe, Bruce, New Auburn and Prairie Farm.

The Task Force Committee denied the appeals from Ashland, Hayward, Oshkosh North and Oshkosh West, West Allis Central and West Allis Hale, and an original plan submitted by Marinette. The schools that had their appeals denied are granted the opportunity to appeal directly to the Board of Control at its meeting on Jan. 27.

Ashland and Hayward are requesting to leave the Great Northern Conference and join the Heart O’North Conference. The GNC also includes Medford, Lakeland, Rhinelander, Merrill, Mosinee and Antigo for football.

The 11-player realignment plans to be reviewed by the Board of Control move 20 programs from their existing conference affiliation. An additional three programs will change conference affiliation if the Marinette proposal is advanced from the February committee meeting and approved by the Board at its March 5 meeting. If approved, the football-only realignment plans become effective in 2022. The list of 11-player programs changing conferences in plans being advanced to the Board of Control are:

_ Baraboo of the Badger-Small Conference to the Mississippi Valley.

_ Beloit Memorial of the Big Eight Conference to the Southern Lakes.

_ DeForest of the Badger-Large Conference to the Badger-Small.

_ Delavan-Darien of the Southern Lakes Conference to the Rock Valley.

_ Edgewood of the Rock Valley Conference to the Capitol Conference.

_ Horicon-Hustisford of the Capitol Conference to the Eastern Suburban.

_ Iowa-Grant of the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League to the Ridge and Valley Conference.

_ Janesville Craig of the Badger Conference-Large to the Big Eight.

_ Janesville Parker of the Badger Conference-Large to the Big Eight.

_ Lancaster of the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League to the Southwest Wisconsin Conference.

_ New Glarus/Monticello of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference to the Capitol Conference.

_ Pardeeville of the Eastern Suburban Conference to the Trailways.

_ Pittsville of the Central Wisconsin- Small Conference to the Marawood.

_ Reedsburg of the Badger-Small Conference to the Mississippi Valley.

_ Rice Lake of the Big Rivers Conference to the Middle Border Conference.

_ River Falls of the Mississippi Valley Conference to the Big Rivers.

_ Sun Prairie East of the Big Eight Conference to the Badger-Large.

_ Sun Prairie West (New School) to the Badger-Large Conference.

_ Watertown Luther Prep from the Capitol Conference to the Midwest Classic Conference.

_ West Salem of the Mississippi Valley Conference to the Coulee.

Marinette presented a modified proposal that was advanced to the Task Force Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11. All schools affected by Marinette’s modified realignment proposal may appear in person, virtually or by submitting a written statement at the meeting on Feb. 11.

The three 11-player programs that would alter their conference affiliation with the modified Marinette proposal advancing to the Task Force Committee meeting on Feb. 11 for further review are:

_ Clintonville of the Packerland Conference to the Northwoods Conference.

_ Fox Valley Lutheran of the Bay Conference to the North Eastern Conference.

_ Marinette of the North Eastern Conference to the Packerland.