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The number of teams participating in 8-Man Football will increase slightly in 2016. The deadline for declaring for the reduced player option was December 1st, and schools have made their intentions known.

In 2015, a total of 22 WIAA member teams were part of 8-Man Football, and that number will increase to at least 24 this year, perhaps 25. 

Heritage Christian was included in the 8-Man count last year, though the school canceled it's season and did not play any games. They are not renewing for this year. 

Kenosha Christian Life, Wisconsin Heights, and the Mercer/Butternut co-op are new programs to 8-Man Football. Wisconsin Heights makes the move to 8-Man out of the Capitol Conference, finishing 0-9 last year. Kenosha Christian Life nearly made the 11-Man playoffs last season, finishing 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the Midwest Classic Conference. They'll have the largest enrollment number of any 8-Man school at 274. Mercer/Butternut is a new co-op, as neither school has had football for several years.

As a reminder, only schools with a three-year enrollment average of 200 or less are eligible for the end-of-the-season jamboree, meaning Wisconsin Heights and Kenosha Christian Life will not be able to participate in the event.

There is one more school that filed an application for 8-Man this year, though it may be unlikely they actually play a reduced player schedule. Parkview, currently a member of the Rock Valley-South, is in the process of moving to the Trailways Conference. That move received first consideration approval at last week's WIAA Board of Control meeting. If it receives final passage next month, Parkview will stay in 11-Man and compete in the Trailways.

If the realignment does not receive final approval, they have indicated they will make the switch to 8-Man football rather than compete in the Rock Valley Conference. The school, with an enrollment of 252 this year, has just one postseason appearance in program history, back in 2002. Their move to the Trailways is very likely to pass however, meaning there would be 24 WIAA teams in 8-Man.

There are also two non-WIAA teams in 8-Man football: Maranatha Baptist and North Shore Country Day (IL). That brings the total number of 8-Man teams overall to 26.

Below is the full list of teams that have declared for 8-Man Football in 2016:

Abundant Life/Madison Country Day/St. Ambrose
Birchwood
Bowler/Gresham Community
Bruce
Elkhart Lake/Glenbeaulah
Gibraltar
Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran
Kenosha Christian Life #
Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Luck
Mellen
Menomonee Indian
Mercer/Butternut #
New Auburn
Northwood/Solon Springs
Oakfield
Oneida Nation
Parkview * #
Prairie Farm
Sevastopol
Siren
Valley Christian
Wayland Academy
Winter
Wisconsin Heights #

* - will play 11-man if approved to move to Trailways
# - New for 2016

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.