PREP SPORTS SVC considers teams, options

If it goes to two divisions, more schools would be interested.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Steel Valley Conference commissioner Mike Butch expects several schools to show interest in joining the league.
Just not right now.
"It's a bad time because everyone is thinking about football," Butch said. "But we think once some schools get a chance to talk about it, they'll be interested."
Cardinal Mooney athletic director Don Bucci agreed.
"We haven't had any solid inquires," Bucci said. "But I think once we get past football season and schools start focusing on next fall, we'll have more interest."
Boardman and Austintown Fitch will leave the SVC for the Federal League next fall. The remaining members, Warren Harding, Ursuline and Mooney, voted last month to keep the league together.
Schools contacted
Since then, Butch has called several schools, including Warren Kennedy, Campbell Memorial, Steubenville and East Liverpool to talk about expansion. All have been interested in at least discussing the topic.
"The big thing is compatibility," Butch said. "We want schools to know they can join for whichever sports they want. It's not an all or nothing thing."
Last year, Kennedy applied to the SVC for all sports except football, but was turned down.
The City Series schools (Rayen, Chaney and Wilson) applied a couple years ago, but were turned down due to the schools' instability.
Butch said he expects Chaney and the new Youngstown consolidated school to eventually join the SVC.
Butch said the league could break into two divisions -- large and small -- to make expansion more attractive.
Beaver Local is also a candidate, but athletic director Tom Greenwood said the school has lukewarm interest, at best.
"In all honesty, we probably wouldn't be interested," Greenwood said. "Right now, we're sort of at the top of our game and we're pretty successful. But those things come and go and, if you look over the long haul, [joining the SVC] would be a little much."
But a two-tiered league could make joining more attractive.
"If that happened, we'd probably take a look at it," he said.
scalzo@vindy.com