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WIAA presents two options for Southeast Wisconsin realignment, eyeing 2016 implementation **UPDATED**

05/04/2015, 2:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

UPDATE 5/4

UPDATE: WSN has learned that the WIAA has received and reviewed feedback and votes from the schools regarding the two realignment plans outlined below. Option A received 23 yes votes and 22 against; Option B received 35 votes in support and 10 against.

WIAA Associate Director Deb Hauser indicated that based on the feedback, she is "tempted" to advance Option B to the June Board of Control meeting for first consideration. Schools could address the Board at that time either in support of the proposal or against it. If the Board approves it, schools would have 40 days to appeal the decision before it would be given final consideration.

Option B, as outlined below, would split teams into three large conferences, with two divisions of 7 schools within each conference. The conferences would then vote on whether to count crossover games between divisions in the league standings, particularly football.

Option B, like Option A, calls for Beaver Dam and Watertown to move to the Badger Conference. Indications are that, if passed, the WIAA would like the plan to be implemented beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

WIAA advances two southeast Wisconsin realignment proposals

Conference realignment in general can be a "hurry up and wait" process, but the realignment in Southeast Wisconsin now appears to be in the "hurry up" period.

WSN has learned that WIAA Associate Director Deb Hauser sent an email to impacted schools this week asking for their feedback on two conference realignment proposals. The plans were developed by member schools after months of discussions between all parties involved.

Hauser asked for each school to provide a preference on one of the plans by May 1st, indicating that if one of the proposals has significant support, she is aiming for implementation for the 2016-17 school year.

Both proposals impact five existing conferences in Southeast Wisconsin: Classic Eight, Greater Metro, North Shore, Wisconsin Little Ten, and Woodland. In addition, both plans call for Beaver Dam and Watertown to move to the Badger Conference, moves we reported were all but done several months ago.

It is important to note that both plans are for all sports, including football. There are some sports, such as summer baseball or hockey, where conference placement may stay as it has previously with blended leagues.

It is not certain that either plan will receive enough support to move forward to the WIAA's Board of Control for approval, but we're inching closer to resolution on realignment in Southeast Wisconsin.

Option A

This option is very similar to "Proposal #4" we reported in December, with the notable difference that Wisconsin Lutheran would be in "Conference D", with would likely remain called the Woodland. West Allis Hale would instead be in "Conference B", which may remain called the Greater Metro. It would be likely that "Conference D", which may remain the Woodland Conference, would have two, 8-team divisions.

Classic Eight:
Remain intact

Conference B (Greater Metro):
Brookfield Central
Brookfield East
Germantown
Marquette/DSHA
Menomonee Falls
Oconomowoc
Sussex Hamilton
West Allis Hale

Conference C:
Cedarburg
Grafton
Hartford
Homestead
Nicolet
Port Washington
Slinger
West Bend East
West Bend West
Whitefish Bay

Conference D:
Brown Deer
Cudahy
Greendale
Greenfield
Milwaukee Lutheran
New Berlin Eisenhower
New Berlin West
Pewaukee
Pius XI
Shorewood
South Milwaukee
Wauwatosa East
Wauwatosa West
West Allis Central
Whitnall
Wisconsin Lutheran

Badger Conference:
Add Beaver Dam and Watertown

Option B

Option B is a bit more radical, calling for the five impacted leagues to merge into three conferences, each with two divisions. Hauser has indicated it would be up to the schools on whether to count crossover games between divisions as conference games in the standings, especially football.

Conference A
Division A:
Grafton
Nicolet
Port Washington
Slinger
West Bend East
West Bend West
Whitefish Bay

Division B:
Brookfield Central
Brookfield East
Cedarburg
Germantown
Hartford
Homestead
Menomonee Falls

Conference B
Division A:
Catholic Memorial
Waukesha North
Waukesha South
Waukesha West
West Allis Central
West Allis Hale
Wisconsin Lutheran

Division B:
Arrowhead
DSHA/Marquette
Kettle Moraine
Mukwonago
Muskego
Oconomowoc
Sussex Hamilton

Conference C
Division A:
Brown Deer
Cudahy
Milwaukee Lutheran
New Berlin Eisenhower
New Berlin West
Shorewood
Whitnall

Division B:
Greendale
Greenfield
Pewaukee
Pius XI
South Milwaukee
Wauwatosa East
Wauwatosa West

Badger Conference
Add Beaver Dam and Watertown

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