In Sunday 2/5/2012 Daily record.....Dorksen said this.
PARTING SHOTS -- Orrville athletic director Kent Smith confirmed this week that the Red Riders' are exploring options outside of the Ohio Cardinal Conference, which has had the same eight schools since 2004.
Along with a couple other OCC schools that Smith didn't want to name, he said Orrville will have a fact-finding meeting Feb. 9 with a group of schools that include Dover, New Philadelphia and Claymont.
Some of the OCC's western members also have had talks with some outside schools, Smith said.
"My guess is the OCC will keep the same eight schools, but everyone is exploring options," said Smith, who expressed concerns with some of the road-trip distances in the OCC. "There are a lot of dominos falling in Northwest Ohio, with leagues making changes.
"It's not like any of the OCC teams are mad about anything, but people want to protect their positions. Schools don't want to be left without a seat when the music stops. No one wants to be an independent school without a league,"
And I also found this....
updated 1-31-12
The “OCC” to Fold?
Story courtesy of
www.swankonsports.com
Like a ten-point lead against Mansfield Senior on the basketball floor, the Ohio Cardinal Conference may cease to exist if the rumors are true anyway.
The word is out that the Mansfield area schools (Mansfield Senior, Mansfield Madison, Lexington, Clear Fork and Ashland) are looking to perhaps sever their relationship with Orrville and West Holmes, and maybe Wooster. The group would then join with a combination to possibly include Ontario, Shelby, Galion or Willard. Ontario and Galion are currently members of the North Central Conference that will suspend operations after the 2013 and Willard and Shelby are with the Northern Ohio League.
An administrator within the Ohio Cardinal Conference told
www.swankonsports.com that Orrville was seeking to form a league toward Stark County to reduce travel expenses. “If that happens I wouldn’t mind cutting lose Wooster and West Holmes and picking up Galion, Ontario and Shelby,” said that administrator. He said he looks for Orrville to leave the league within two years.
Meanwhile, a coach in the “OCC” told Swankonsports.com that he understood that “OCC” was considering expansion with the addition of Ontario and Galion, but if that were the case the schools in the eastern part of the league, especially Orrville and West Holmes, would strongly consider dropping out due to the increased travel associated with adding two schools west of Mansfield. This source says the Mansfield area schools want to keep Wooster and the practicality of any new group may hinge on Wooster staying as part of the mix.
Sources within the Northern Ohio League, currently with only six members, but adding Vermillion, say they have not been invited to any meeting to discuss any future affiliation outside of the “NOL.” Willard, last fall, held a press conference to announce its intension to stay as part of the “NOL” long term and Shelby has consistently said they want to keep the “NOL” going.
Upper Sandusky, also out once the “NCC” closes shop, has been accepted by the Mid-Ohio Athletic conference and still another source has told
www.swankonsports.com that Ontario and Galion are considering entering that league, which would take it to 16 teams.
Depending on who you talk to a meeting may, or may not, be held this week to discuss options regarding the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
