HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Several possibilities exist for new leagues

Area and regional schools are looking into ways to form new relationships.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Canton Timken could leave the City Series, Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline could form an all-parochial school league, and Warren Harding is headlining a possible 10-to-12 team league starting in 2003.
Those are just a few of the possibilities involving area leagues.
Timken approached the Stark County-based Principals Athletic Conference last month about membership.
"The only thing I know is that they have looked," City Series commissioner John Tullio said.
The PAC-7 includes Akron Manchester, Navarre Fairless, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley, East Canton, Magnolia Sandy Valley and Massillon Tuslaw. Akron Coventry exited the league a few years ago, leaving six members.
City schools: Timken is looking at other options because Rayen, Wilson and Chaney are expected to combine into two new high schools when the city finishes construction in 2005. The City Series is also considering expansion.
"We're exploring all our options," Tullio said.
Campbell Memorial, one of two area independents along with Warren JFK, would be interested in joining the City Series, but is concerned about the difference in enrollment, Campbell athletic director Ed Rozum said. Campbell sent a letter of interest to the Tri-County League months ago, but the TCL hasn't responded.
Attempts on Monday evening to reach TCL commissioner John Mang and Timken athletic director Jeff Lab were unsuccessful.
Parochial league: Members of the Youngstown Diocese, which includes Mooney, Ursuline, JFK, Canton Central Catholic, Ashtabula Saints John and Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas, met Monday to discuss scheduling.
"No league was formed," Mooney athletic director Don Bucci said. "We just agreed that we would play each other more often."
Bucci didn't rule out the formation of a league, but said it would likely take a mandate from the Diocese for it to happen.
"Some of the schools are in favor of it and some are not," Bucci said.
Super-Conference: Mooney and Ursuline, along with City Series officials, will attend a scheduling meeting in Warren next Monday. At least 10 schools are expected to attend, including Massillon Washington, Cleveland St. Ignatius and Lakewood St. Edward.
The schools have discussed a possible three-tiered "Super-Conference," which would be separated by enrollment size.
"It's sort of a rough draft," Harding football coach Thom McDaniels said. "We don't know how many of the teams will go for it, but when you have a meeting like this, you don't want to start from scratch. We have a proposal and we can work from there."
The idea is for schools of similar size and demographics to play each other. Smaller schools like Mooney would play one or two games against larger schools like Warren Harding. Parochial schools would mainly play other parochial schools and vice-versa.
"This pretty much solves everyone's scheduling problem," McDaniels said. "We'll see what happens."
XVindicator staff writer Bill Sullivan contributed to this report.