Sports editor
After five years in the Mid-Central Activities Association, Marion High School will be moving to the Heart of America League.
The change will not take place until the 2010-11 season, making it a six-year run for MHS in the MCAA.
“The HOA is a perfect fit for us,” said MHS Activities Director Tod Gordon.
It became official at a Feb. 25 Marion/Florence USD 408 board of education special meeting with a 7-0 vote to accept an invitation from the HOA.
Gordon said the biggest reasons behind the move were competition and mileage.
Currently, Marion drives an average of 64 miles to each MCAA school. In the HOA, the driving distance would be approximately 52.
Although the Heart of America name is familiar to most in Marion County, it could have a different look than in the past.
County schools Peabody-Burns and Goessel, voted Monday to leave the HOA. Little River could do the same at its board meeting tonight (Wednesday).
The three schools could join teams from the former Eisenhower League to form a new league.
Those changes make the HOA a 10-team league including, MHS, Bennington, Berean Academy, Canton-Galva, Ell-Saline, Inman, Moundridge, Remington, Sedgwick, and Hutchinson Trinity.
The HOA offered Solomon High School an invitation, but the school has not yet made a decision.
The change will somewhat affect athletics and activities, Gordon said.
Canton-Galva plays eight-man football, and Berean Academy does not field a football program.
However, that still would leave eight teams in the league that play 11-man football.
The subject of softball was discussed at Monday’s board of education meeting. Board member Jan Helmer wondered if there were enough schools in the league to still have a team.
Gordon said “yes” at the meeting, and later confirmed seven league schools field softball and baseball teams.
Every school in the league fields basketball teams, while MHS volleyball and golf will not be affected.
The Marion track and field team is part of a separate, 20-team league called the Central Kansas Track League, and will not be affected.
There still will be a wrestling program, but Gordon said the team would be wrestling mostly on Saturday compared to the current Thursday/Saturday format.
MCAA disbanded
In a separate league meeting March 4, eight schools voted to leave the MCAA following the 2009-10 school year.
Along with Marion, Halstead, Haven, Hesston, Hillsboro, Lyons, Nickerson, and Smoky Valley opted out of the league.
That leaves Ellinwood, Hoisington, Sterling, and Wichita Collegiate as current members of the MCAA.
Ellinwood and Sterling have applied to the HOA but still are waiting to hear from the league.
Larned and Pratt high schools applied for the MCAA in January, but were denied by the league.
The schools currently are waiting to see where KSHSAA places them.