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BOARD GRANTS FIRST APPROVAL TO FOOTBALL-ONLY CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT PLANS



STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control approved the first consideration of a pair of football-only conference realignment plans at its May meeting today.



One of the football-only conference realignment proposals involve the current members of the six-school Wisconsin Valley Conference and the 10-school Fox Valley Association. The Board gave initial support of the plan to combine the WVC and FVA and form one, 16-team league containing two separate eight-team divisions, which are to be determined by the schools of the newly formed football conference for the 2011 season.



The second football-only conference realignment plan receiving first approval by the Board affects the members of the CloverWood, Dairyland, Great Northern and Marawood conferences with implementation in 2011. The plan moves McDonell Central from the Marawood to the CloverWood, Augusta from the CloverWood to the Dairyland and Tomahawk from the Great Northern to the Marawood.



The Great Northern Conference released Northland Pines and Tomahawk from its football schedule effective in 2010, making it a five-team league this fall. In 2011, Merrill and Ashland are both scheduled to become members of the Great Northern Conference for football only. Until then, Merrill will compete in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with all sports beginning this fall, and Ashland will play an independent football schedule in 2010.



WIAA membership rules require a 40-day window for schools involved in realignment plans to appeal the first consideration before the Board takes final action. Thus, schools have until June 22 to file for an appeal of the Board s initial vote. The Board is scheduled to take second and final action on the realignment plans at its June 24 summer meeting in Green Lake.



Other topics discussed by the Board and Executive Staff include evaluating the quantity of publications member schools receive, a review of the Annual Meeting and spring tournament preparations.



The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 508 senior high schools and 103 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 25 championship tournament series. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.