43
ITCL to realign to three divisions
Photo
Dohar
Conference realignment is one new trend everybody can’t seem to get enough of.
On Monday, the Inter-Tri County League joined the movement when its member schools’ superintendents unanimously approved a new format that will divide the 16-team league into three divisions.
Beginning in the Fall of 2015, the ITCL will transition to Red, White and Blue divisions based mostly on geographic location. The current format has two eight-team tiers divided by size.
Damon Dohar, acting league president and Mineral Ridge superintendent, has been part of the research and investigation process from its conception a couple of years ago. He said the new alignment system began to pick up steam early last fall.
“It’s been a pretty long process,” Dohar said. “But I think it keeps our natural rivalries and border schools together, which was obviously very important to us.”
The Red Division will be made up of Crestview, East Palestine, South Range, Springfield and United.
Those five teams are in Tier One under the league’s current alignment, along with Columbiana, Lisbon and Southern. Those remaining three will be joined by Leetonia and Wellsville to make up the White Division.
Jackson-Milton, Lowellville, McDonald, Mineral Ridge, Sebring and Western Reserve will make up the six-team Blue Division.
Last year, Andy Hake led the Western Reserve football team to the Division VII state semifinals. His feelings should come as no surprise.
“I like the structure the way it was, but I understand the geographic and economic reasons for the change,” Hake said. “I will say that we’re excited about it, though.”
The scheduling will create opportunity for some crossover outside of playing every team in your division. For example, Hake still will be able to schedule South Range and Columbiana as his two other league games if he so chooses.
He hopes this way will allow for more creative scheduling for the first three non-league games.
“I like the idea of playing new teams,” Hake said. “We went to places all over and have done our fair share of traveling, which is something we enjoy.”
Dohar cites cutting down on travel as one of the main reasons behind the realignment. Perhaps with less travel during league play, teams will follow Western Reserve and stretch their non-conference schedule.
Dohar said the member school’s superintendents, principals and athletic directors ultimately looked at their fan bases, and the amount of people going to games, and decided this was the best route for everyone.
The sports it will take into effect for are football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball, and softball.
“Everything that I’ve heard so far has been very, very positive,” Dohar said. “I think it also gives us the ultimate ability to expand down the road as well.
“Way down the road.”