Fairless and Tuslaw leaving the PAC is one thing, but do you really think Smithville, Dalton and Chippewa would dare bolt from the WCAL? Haven't all those Wayne schools been in the same league together for an entire century, or very close to it? Why, the very fabric of Wayne County interscholastic athletics would be torn beyond all repair by such a betrayal! In a world in which conferences are constantly being made and remade, the WCAL has been a beacon of consistency. I shudder to think of a future without it.
The big school division of the IVC stands at six (Indian Valley, Tusky Valley, Ridgewood, Garraway, Sandy Valley and Claymont) so adding Tuslaw and Fairless would make for a solid 8 team league. The EBC is also at six, and makes sense geographically but Fairless and Tuslaw would be the two smallest schools there.
If the Falcons and Mustangs do depart, that does open a new world of possibilities for PACtion. With two open spots, there will no doubt be a plethora of hopeful schools chomping at the bit to join the storied realm that is the PAC. But who will they be? Coventry? Mogadore? Minerva? Bishop Sycamore? My suggestion is that all PAC supporters make preemptive efforts to explore the restaurants and golf courses that potential new members have to offer. Schools may come and go, but PACtion must live on!
No offense but.....
Tuslaw joining a league with Salem, West Branch, Minerva, Carrollton, and Marlington.....
Tuslaw joining a league with Indian Valley, Tusky Valley, Ridgewood, Garaway, Sandy Valley and Claymont
The geography is not ideal, travel costs not ideal, attendance would be a decrease, and it will not result in any significant upgrade in wins in the sports that "matter" to the district residents.
Everyone knows Tuslaw has wanted in the Wayne County Athletic League since the Nixon administration and it won't happen. It's funny how historically Tuslaw wants in the WCAL so badly and
if that happened....I guess by default DALTON would become their main rival and what would the adults who pushed to deemphasize and/or eliminate that game do about that?
If Fairless wants to dodge buggies and go into the deep woods of Tuscarawas County, they can have at it. It's a great part of Ohio but not my ideal sports league location for The Slaw. I highly doubt the Mustang Mini Van Moms of Sippo Reserves or Kenyon Creek will want to send their softball stars down to West Lafayette Ridgewood on a Tuesday night.
The IVC's only worry should be some of their schools becoming
SO small they go to 8-man football (Strasburg, TCC). But even then they'd only need 1-2 schools to add and I believe they'll add someone like Coshocton or River View first. They tend to go "south" in their geography.
If Wildcat 71 can come on here with another comment pushing for Mogadore in the PAC and/or a new league of former Portage County League schools with Manchester and then Stizo floats another Doylestown to the PAC rumor, my internet commenting tenure will be complete.
I wouldn't have been so quick to shove out CVCA, but alas, the PAC is fine at 7 schools.
#PACtion
