Activities Realignment

We have been reporting to the community for some time that there is a strong possibility of a realignment for activities The current SWC configuration of only six teams, combined with the closing off of Iowa, and further compounded by many Wisconsin conferences that are closing their football schedules are making scheduling of games almost impossible for football and more difficult for other sports.

I thank all the people who came last night to the community meeting to see and hear the straight facts about all the various options. I believe all questions were answered. The plans being floated out are solid and we hope that one of these can be put in place for fall of 2104 or 2015.

We need to continue to work with WIAA and the other schools across the whole region, as if there is no solution, PdC does not have a home. In a complete blow-up scenario, the SWAL does not want us so we need to go north. The MVC is the only conference that has shown a desire to take us under the blow-up scenario.

Two other options that were brought up last night by community members are probably not doable, but will be explored if needed. One, a suggestion was that PdC ask to join the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Two, to go independent status. These are good ideas and we encourage all suggestions. However, neither of these ideas have been researched, and at first blush neither idea is practical. My guess is that crossing the river for activities would create a whole host of issues that probably cannot even be imagined of at this time. In addition, going independent status would most likely entail traveling all over the midwest to play games.

Click here to view the powerpoint slides from the meeting last evening. Options 1,2,5 are the options being sent forth to the conferences for discussion and voting.

Below is the content of an e-mail from Deb Hauser at WIAA on the subject confirming what was discussed at the community meeting:

Good Morning ...

Attached please find an excel spreadsheet which depicts 3 different
realignment ideas for the Mississippi Valley, Coulee and SWC conferences.

I am actively working to find a solution for the 6-team SWC. In a meeting
held at West Salem on Wednesday, these plans were discussed. I promised to
provide them ... so here they are. Please discuss with your administrative
team.

I've asked each conference to discuss at their next conference meeting and
report back with what the choice of the conference might be.

Thanks ... if you have questions let me know. I will be looking for a time
frame at the upcoming WADA convention where we might be able to get together
to discuss this further.

Deb Hauser

OPTION 1			OPTION 2
Mississippi Valley (8)	Enrollment		Mississippi Valley (6)	Enrollment
La Crosse Central	1173		La Crosse Central	1173
Holmen	1060		Holmen	1060
Tomah	975		Tomah	975
La Crosse Logan	922		La Crosse Logan	922
Onalaska	857		Onalaska	857
Sparta	770		Sparta	770
West Salem	547
Aquinas	351		Coulee (6)
			West Salem	547
Northern XXX (6)			Black River Falls	539
Black River Falls	539		Gale-Ettrick-Tremp	416
Gale-Ettrick-Tremp	416		Aquinas	351
Viroqua	384		Arcadia	340
Arcadia	340		Luther	267
Westby	327
Luther	267		SWC (8)
			Platteville	463
Southern XXX (6)			River Valley	460
Platteville	463		Dodgeville	420
River Valley	460		Richland Center	420
Dodgeville	420		Viroqua	384
Richland Center	420		Prairie du Chien	368
Prairie du Chien	368		Westby	327
Lancaster	283		Lancaster	283
OPTION 3
Blended Conference (12)	Enrollment		SWC (8)	Enrollment
La Crosse Central	1173		Platteville	463
Holmen	1060		River Valley	460
Tomah	975		Dodgeville	420
La Crosse Logan	922		Richland Center	420
Onalaska	857		Viroqua	384
Sparta	770		Prairie du Chien	368
West Salem	547		Westby	327
Black River Falls	539		Lancaster	283
Gale-Ettrick-Tremp	416
Aquinas	351
Arcadia	340
Luther	267		** 2011-12 Enrollments