Dakota County conference moving forward
Posted on January 28th, 2009 – 5:13 PMBy John Millea
The idea of a conference for schools in Dakota County is not new, but inroads are now being made in the formation of such a conference.
It makes nothing but sense, especially when you consider the costs of travel for teams from the varsity level all the way down to ninth grade. Plus, parents and families would have their travel time cut significantly if they never had to leave the county for conference games.
Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview, Rosemount, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Burnsville, Farmington and Hastings are all in Dakota County. Most of them are in the Lake Conference; Farmington is in the Missota and Hastings in the Suburban East.
John Currie is superintendent of School District 196, which encompasses Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview and Rosemount high schools. He told me today that discussions are being held about forming a new conference.
“District 196 principals and athletic directors are developing a list of things to look into as we think seriously about starting a Dakota County conference,” Currie said. “There seems to be lots of support for this idea and we’re seriously examining that concept. Part of it is we’re looking down the road to see what we think makes sense in the years ahead. We want to look at all programs and the expenses of those programs, and decide what the best thing is for our kids.
“We’re going to invite some of our neighbors to sit down with us and see if they’re interested in joining us.”
It’s fair to say that those neighbors include Farmington and Hastings, and possibly others.
This is a major step toward fixing the problems of metro conference alignment. The Classic Lake schools (Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Wayzata) are looking for new homes, and here’s a thought to consider: Those four schools join with Eden Prairie and one, two or three schools from the Northwest Suburban to form a powerhouse football-only conference. The Northwest Suburban schools could use a rotating schedule, with teams taking turns playing the Classic Lake/Eden Prairie teams.
Football is the elephant in the room whenever conference alignment is discussed. So taking football out of the equation somewhat might make change easier to accept.
Let’s hear your thoughts…
16 Responses to "Dakota County conference moving forward"
Not only the size of schools need to be considered but travel. The price of gas is not going to stay this way forever. Districts should also consider combining athletic programs. Richfield, Fridley, St.Louis Park, Columbia Heights are districts that come to mind.
So the central portion of the county wants to have their own conference, and there’s some mumbles about Hastings and Farmington. What about the northern portion of the county, last I checked the cities of West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Inver Grove Heights (and Lillydale, Sunfish Lake, and Mendota) have not been given to Ramsey County. What about the private schools in these cities? If we want to talk “county”, then lets talk county.
Why not add Randolph to the mix too? They’re in Dakota County…
Seriously, I can’t believe Simley or South St. Paul would want anything to do with the other schools in this conference. The size difference is just too big. Sibley would be borderline enrollment wise, but I don’t think they’d be competitive in most sports.
John,
Who would you propose go with those Classic/EP? I like the thought though. I personally would like to see a conference that included Maple Grove, Osseo, Armstrong, Wayzata, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie. I think this would be a tough, tough conference.
MG, I talked to someone from the NW Suburban today, and that person was excited about the idea of having a few NW Suburban teams compete with EP and the Classic Lake schools in a new football league. I guess it would be up to the NW Suburban to decide who those teams might be.
Shakopee, Prior Lake and Farmington can not compete with the schools you mentioned from the Lake Conference. Nor do they want to at this time. Additionally, they don’t have the range of fine arts activities the Lake has. Not a good fit. Skip the Dakota County model and simply call it the South Metro Conference. It would be made up of the 4 District 196 schools, the 2 Lakeville schools, Burnsville and Jefferson and Kennedy. There are 9 schools that presently play together very well. Chaska and Chan got to the Missota, EP goes with the 4 Classic Lake schools plus 1 or 2 from the NWSC - Champlin Park and Maple Grove are both between 2500 and 3000 students. When a Farmington or Shakopee are ready in a few years, then they join the 9 others in the strong South Metro Conference.
John- Why a “football only” conference? Why not have them compete in a single conference in ALL sports/activities? Sure, football is “king” and the prospect of the schools you mentioned battling eachother on the gridiron is enticing, but what is the rationale behond having a “football only” conference? If the main criteria for establishing such a conference are similar enrollments and geographic proximity, don’t those same criteria apply to other sports, too? If not, why not? If not, what do the surviving Classic Lake schools do for their other sports/activities- hockey, basketball, baseball, track, x-c, etc.?
ccrider, I think some teams/conferences don’t want to battle the football powerhouses. Look at the past five 5A state champs: Wayzata, EP, EP, Wayzata, Minnetonka. I’m told the discussions about leagues accepting the Classic Lake schools as members might go more easily if football wasn’t a stumbling block. I don’t know how all this might shake out in regards to other sports, but it’s something to bat around.
John- I get your point, but the four surviving CL schools and EP have demonstrated a consistently high level of performaance in all sports. Looking at how EP and the 4 CL survivors have fared just in fall sports: girls tennis- Edina has dominated how many years?; Boys soccer- AA champs from CL or EP 5 times since ‘99; Girls soccer- 4 times since 2000; Boys’ CC- 3 times since 200; Girls CC- 4 x since 2000; Girls Swimming and Diving- 9 x since ‘96. I suspect you’d find similar results if you looked at winter and spring sports. Those are just championships and do not factor in 2d place, third place, etc. I suspect the CL survivors and EP would be well represented in those ranks, too. The bottom line is the CL schools and EP are pretty competitive in most sports/activities. Whichever conference accepts the CL schools (or is forced to accept them)will get solid competition in all sports. Isn’t that what we want as athletes and spectators? Maybe football is the sport that gets the most attention…
Let’s face it, no matter what criteria are used, EP and the CL schools belong together. Some may not like each other, but they have more in common than they do in difference. Disturbing the makeup of the conferences as little as possible, also has financial advantages in that there would be little or no start up costs for incorporation, policy revision and web site creation. Starting a totally new conference is a major job.
Thanks for all the comments, folks. I’m talking to many people on a daily basis to try to stay on top of this issue, and I appreciate hearing from you. ccrider makes a great point about competition. I’m hearing, however, that rather than embrace the opportunity to be in a power-packed league with the CLC/EPs of the world, the trend is heading in the opposite direction. It appears that the CLC schools are, in effect, being penalized for their success, because no conference wants them as members.
They will end up in leagues, of course, one way or another. But I have a feeling this process is not going to go smoothly.
This is a very heated debate over conference realignment, but here is my two cents worth on the ten major conferences in the metro area that could be affected by realignment. I realize there will be some debate over my suggestions, but overall I think each new conference would be competitive and make some geographical sense. Dakota (Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Eastview, Farmington, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Rosemount), Lake (Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Jefferson, Kennedy, Minnetonka, Wayzata), Classic Lake (Armstrong, Benilde-St. Margarets, Cooper, Fridley, Orono, Park Center, Richfield, St. Louis Park), Northwest Suburban (Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Centennial, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Osseo), North Suburban (Cambridge-Isanti, Chisago Lakes, Columbia Heights, Irondale, North Branch, Spring Lake Park, St. Francis, Totino Grace), Mississippi Eight (Big Lake, Buffalo, Elk River, Monticello, Princeton, Rogers, St. Michael-Albertville, Zimmerman), Suburban East (East Ridge, Mahtomedi, Mounds View, Roseville, Stillwater, Tartan, White Bear Lake, Woodbury), Classic Suburban (Cretin-Derham Hall, Hastings, Henry Sibley, Hill-Murry, North St. Paul, Simley, South St. Paul, St. Thomas Academy), Wright County (Annandale, Dassel-Cokato, Delano, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Hutchinson, Mound-Westonka, Waconia, Watertown-Mayer), Missota (Chanhassen, Holy Angels, New Prague, Northfield, Prior Lake, Red Wing, Shakopee). Only the Missota needs another member to make eight. Just my thoughts on realignment. I know there will be some that disagree, but overall I think each one of these conferences would have their competitive match-ups.
Brent,
Can honestly say that I don’t mind that set up. Good work.
How about:
Lake Conference
Apple Valley High School
Burnsville Senior High School
Eagan High School
Eastview High School
Eden Prairie High School
Rosemount High School
Edina High School
Hopkins High School
Minnetonka High School
Wayzata High School
Missota Conference
Farmington High School
Prior Lake High School
Shakopee High School
Lakeville North High School
Lakeville South High School
Chanhassen High School
Chaska High School
Bloomington Jefferson High School
Bloomington Kennedy High School
Richfield High School
Big Nine A
Albert Lea High School
Austin High School
Faribault High School
Winona High School
Red Wing High School
New Prague High School
Big Nine B
Century High School
John Marshall High School
Mankato East High School
Mankato West High School
Mayo High School
Owatonna High School
Northfield High School
Classic Suburban
Henry Sibley High School
Hill-Murray High School
Mahtomedi High School
North High School
Simley High School
South St. Paul High School
St. Thomas Academy
Tartan High School
Academy of Holy Angels
I also think Holy Angels in the Classic Suburban makes sense. The school’s location fits in well with the conference and the size is pretty comparable. Athletically, AHA would be competetive without dominating. Then again, Snoop substituting in Richfield really does not help transportation, since it is located in the same city as AHA.
How about a Catholic Conference/Section finally? Want to recruit? Go ahead, but you’re competing against each other for one ticket to state. The idea that St. Thomas is a class A school is a joke.
