Football-only conference realignment would affect several area teams

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Conference Realignment Task Force voted Dec. 6 on 35 football-only requests in the first meeting of the membership’s realignment review process for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Twenty-seven plans either requested placement in a conference or requested relief from their current conference affiliation in 11-player football. Although none of the plans advanced were as specified in the respective proposals, information provided in 14 of the plans were modified and advanced for further review by the task force.

In addition, eight of the plans submitted for 8-player football conference realignment were referenced to modify conference alignment throughout the entire state in an all-encompassing plan advanced by the task force for further consideration.

The extensive football conference realignment plans are outlined with links to the detailed proposed conference affiliations on the “Requests and Proposals” option on the WIAA’s Conference Realignment webpage at www.wiaawi.org/Schools/Conferences/Conference-Realignment.

The proposal would cause several changes to area football programs.

Menominee Indian will move from 11-player to 8-player, joining the Across the Bay Conference that includes Algoma, Green Bay NEW Lutheran co-op, Gibraltar, Gillett, Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, Marion/Tigerton and Sevastopol.

Pulaski would play in the Fox Valley Area 3 Conference, going up against Ashwaubenon, Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay West, Menasha, Notre Dame, Oshkosh North and West De Pere.

Suring would move to the Northeast Conference in 8-player ball. Elcho/White Lake, Florence, Niagara, Pembine/Goodman, Three Lakes/Phelps, Wabeno/Laona and Wausaukee would fill out the conference.

Bowler/Gresham would move to the Mideast Conference at the 8-player level. Almond-Bancroft, Faith Christian, Newman Catholic, Port Edwards, Tri-County and Wild Rose would fill up the conference.

Shawano would remain in the Bay Conference, with Fox Valley Lutheran, New London, Seymour, Waupaca, Winneconne and Xavier filling out the conference. Bonduel would still be in the Packerland, with conference opponents of Kewaunee, Marinette, Mishicot, Oconto, Peshtigo, Southern Door and Sturgeon Bay.

Oconto Falls would remain in the Northwoods, with Clintonville, Coleman, Crandon, Crivitz, Manawa, Northland Pines and Shiocton filling up the conference. Wittenberg-Birnamwood would still be in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large, with opponents of Amherst, Colby, Loyal/Greenwood, Marathon, Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Stratford and Weyauwega-Fremont.

Newly affected schools with the modified solutions are invited to appear and provide feedback during a virtual meeting scheduled for Jan. 5.

All schools impacted by the modified realignment plan may provide feedback prior to and during the task force meeting on Jan. 12. In addition, schools that submitted requests, which were not advanced at the Dec. 6 meeting may appeal the decision at the Jan. 12 meeting before the task force finalizes the modified solutions.

Plans that are advanced from the January meeting will be reviewed by the Board of Control to make a final determination on each of the proposals at its March 7 meeting.

Appeals, if successful, will be communicated with the membership and re-evaluated by the task force. If the revised solutions are approved on appeal, they will be submitted to the Board of Control for consideration in March with any modifications and solutions communicated to the membership.

If the appeal is not approved by the task force, schools may make a final appeal to the Board of Control at its meeting on Feb. 1. Based on the appeals, the board may remand realignment plans back to the task force to reconsider at a Feb. 9 meeting, if necessary.