WIAA sets tentative 2024 football conferences
Planning underway for Loyal/Greenwood co-op
The WIAA Conference Realignment Task Force convened last Thursday to receive feedback from schools impacted by the modified football-only realignment plans and met Friday to finalize recommendations to advance to the Board of Control.
As a result of the information gathered from the hearings, the Conference Realignment Task Force amended a number of the modified plans. The Board of Control will vote on the recommendations at its meeting March 7. The board has the options to approve, reject or remand realignment recommendations back to the task force. If approved, the modifications will be implemented for the 2024 football season.
The Loyal/Greenwood varsity football team is expected to be in the Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC)-Large. Other teams in the conference include Amherst, Colby, Marathon, Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Stratford, Weyauwega-Fremont and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. That change will take effect in 2024.
The Greenwood and Loyal school boards both already voted separately to co-op with each other for football. The two middle school teams will merge into a cooperative team this fall. However, the junior varsity and varsity programs will not combine until 2024.
The Greenwood School Board has planned a meeting next Wednesday, Jan. 25 to start discussing specifics for the coop. Agenda items include “co-op colors and mascot discussion” and “posting for co-op football head, middle school baseball and middle school football coaches.” That meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the board room in the high school.
More information on conferences A listing of the configurations of football conferences statewide – including the modified, football-only conference realignment recommendations for 11-player and eight-player football – is available on the “Conference Realignment” page of the WIAA website at wiaawi.org/Schools/ Conferences/Conference-Realignment.
A win for homecoming
The Granton girls junior varsity basketball team played their homecoming game against Cadott Jan. 13, winning the game 32-14. On left, Granton junior Faustina Thomas goes for a layup after making a fast break on the opposition. She was the top scorer of the night, scoring 13 of the Bulldogs’ points, followed by junior Maya McConkey (not pictured), who sank three 3-pointers during the game. On the right, senior Alexis Pongratz snatches up a rebound before Cadott could retrieve it. Pongratz scored four points for Granton.
CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTOS
