At the first WIAA Conference Realignment Task Force meeting for the 2022-23 cycle, the group gave support to advancing several proposals, all of which were modifications from the initial plans submitted by the schools themselves.
In all, 18 schools had initially requested realignment, and several late submissions were also considered. All requests and proposals would be implemented beginning in the 2022 season, if approved.
Requests that were not selected for advancement included those from Ashland, Hayward, Marinette, Oshkosh North and Oshkosh West, and West Allis Central and West Allis Hale. Those schools may appeal the decision at the January 6 Task Force meeting.
Submitted plans, which were modified from their original proposals, that were advanced included Horicon/Hustisford, Pardeeville, River Falls, West Salem, Sun Prairie East, Sun Prairie West, De Soto, Lake Holcombe, Niagara, and Goodman/Pembine.
However, because those proposals include adjustments in multiple conferences, the potential changes could impact a much larger swath of the WIAA membership due to the domino effect. All told, 21 conferences in 11-Player football saw some kind of adjustment.
All of the plans selected for advancement will be reviewed at the January 6 meeting, where impacted schools can provide feedback. If support at that meeting, they would go to the WIAA Board of Control for final approval at its January 27 meeting.
Below is a full list of proposed changes, including those teams that did not request realignment but are moved to accommodate other changes.
Impact of 8-Player Requests on 11-Player Conferences
Impact of De Soto move to 8-Player
Impact of Pardeeville and Horicon/Hustisford moves
Impact of Sun Prairie East and West moves
Impact of West Salem and River Falls moves
In addition to the four schools that requested to move by the original deadline, several other programs put in requests to change to 8-Player football beginning in 2022. The list of teams requesting to go to 8-Player are:
Athens
Almond-Bancroft
Cornell
De Soto
Goodman/Pembine
Lake Holcombe
Niagara
Owen-Withee
Thorp
Valley Christian School (Osceola)
As a result of these changes, the Task Force reviewed all 8-Player conferences. To view the new, proposed 8-Player Conference assignments (beginning in 2022), please click here.
Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.
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