East, West ask out of Little Ten

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Sept. 19, 2013

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor

OCONOMOWOC — First Wisconsin Lutheran, now West Bend East and West Bend West have decided its time for a change.
East Athletic Director Jeff Rondorf and West Athletic Director Scott Stier made a request to the WIAA on Wednesday to withdraw from the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference and join the North Shore Conference. The request was made during the fourth of seven area meetings throughout the state. The meeting was at Oconomowoc High School.
The move comes a week after Wisconsin Lutheran also requested to leave the Little Ten, citing geographic location as the biggest problem.
What might work in East's and West's favor is the schools play North Shore summer baseball, and both play schools from the conference in nonconference play in the other sports.
"The reality is that this has been talked about for the last few years," Stier said. "Transportation always seemed to make sense with the North Shore.
"Then last year it came back on the plate as far as conversation when our boys swim co-op was denied by the Little Ten."
Stier and Rondorf said they've enjoyed the relationship they've had with each of the Little Ten schools.
Milwaukee Lutheran, a member of the Little Ten in spring baseball and the North Shore in other sports, requested to leave the North Shore as well Wednesday. In addition, the Rock Valley Conference requested realignment, as did Johnson Creek High School. Milwaukee Lutheran would like to move to the Woodland Conference, which is believed to be a possible destination for Wisconsin Lutheran.
Milwaukee Lutheran principal Matt Pankow made the request. According to the 2013-14 enrollment figures provided by the WIAA, Milwaukee Lutheran has 606 students, the lowest in the North Shore.
"It's been difficult for us to be competitive," Pankow said.
With Milwaukee Lutheran potentially leaving the North Shore, at least two teams want into the North Shore.
More of these requests could be on the way with three more area meetings yet to be held, including one Wednesday at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton. After that meeting, the WIAA will meet with more than 80 schools from nine conferences about a massive realignment, which includes Kewaskum and Kettle Moraine Lutheran and almost all schools from Green Bay to Milwaukee. That plan is called the Green Bay Realignment.
The WIAA's Associate Director Deb Hauser said there are at least six other requests from schools and/or conferences requesting realignment. On Friday, the WIAA's Board of Control approved the realignment of four conferences, including giving the OK for Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam to move from the Midwest Classic Conference, which has Living Word Lutheran, to the Trailways Conference, and move St. Francis from the Woodland to the Midwest Classic.
Per WIAA rule, membership schools have a 40-day window to file an appeal. Final action will be made Oct. 23.
With changes on the horizon, Hauser said she couldn't say if and when East's and West's request will be granted.
The request leaves the Little Ten with five teams still committed to the conference. WLT commissioner Becky Blank declined comment.
After Wednesday's meeting, Slinger Athletic Director Dan Karius said he and the administrative staff will look at possible options as a precaution, but have no plans to do anything right now.
Hartford Activities Coordinator Jill Stobber was not available for comment.
The WIAA oversees more than 500 senior high schools. If all these proposals go through, more than 100 schools would be affected, or at least one-fifth of the schools in the state, if not more.
"It's so much up in the air who knows what's going to happen," Karius said. "It's just a request right now. Probably in a year or two, (the WIAA) will look at realigning the southeastern (Wisconsin) area.”