Potential realignment
North Division: Greenville*, Piqua, Sidney, Trotwood-Madison, Troy, Vandalia Butler
Central Division: Beavercreek, Centerville, Fairmont, Northmont, Springfield, Wayne
South Division: Fairborn, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Springboro, West Carrollton*, Xenia
*Must be approved by vote
West Carrollton and Greenville are among three school districts that have applied to join the Greater Western Ohio Conference, and conference members are expected to vote on possible expansion in early November.
Eric Spahr, the GWOC commissioner, said the possible expansion would increase membership in the North and South divisions from five to six schools each. The Central Division would remain at six members.
“It would be a great thing for the community as a whole,” said Susie Riegle, the Greenville superintendent. “We’ve been out of it for awhile, so the community would really be thrilled with the opportunity to get back into the membership of a league.”
That sentiment was the same at West Carrollton.
“It has always been our objective to get into a league,” said Rusty Clifford, the West Carrollton superintendent. “We believe that the GWOC is the premier league for sure in southwest Ohio if not in the state of Ohio. We would be ecstatic if we ever had an opportunity to be part of that conference.”
The conference had discussed changing its alignment to form two eight-team divisions, but that idea fizzled, Spahr said. To form a more desirable three equal divisions, the 16-member conference must add two teams.
“We are a solid conference,” Spahr said. “Our members’ needs are important from the biggest to the smallest members, and a possible expansion can improve our operations and competition as a conference.”
Spahr declined to name the third district that has applied.
West Carrollton and Greenville currently are not members of a conference. Such independent status often causes scheduling difficulties without guaranteed league games. Independents also aren’t eligible for all-league honors and other similar recognition.
The GWOC, both in number and size of its membership, is the only big-school conference in the Miami Valley. It offers 21 sports as well as competitions in academics and cheerleading.
Spahr said that, if approved, the new schools would be fully included no later than the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year. Middle schools would likely be added by next season, he said.
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