UPDATED: SCOL in talks to expand into 2 divisions
The South Central Ohio League is in talks of expanding their league from the current eight-team format to 10 to 12 teams, as they stated in a release.
In a statement released by the league (provided by Hillsboro High School), the SCOL is said to want to have two divisions, possibly expanding the league from eight schools to 10-12 schools.
The release states: “The league’s goal is to have two five or six-school divisions based on a competitive balance of athletes, not necessarily enrollment and geography.”
The most recent additions to the league have been Wilmington of Clinton County and Chillicothe of Ross County, as both have been highly competitive within the league since starting competition. They were voted into the league in 2012.
Wilmington and Chillicothe, both charter members of the SCOL, were admitted membership into the storied league, with a Wilmington vote of 6-0 and a Chillicothe vote of 6-0 as CHS joined the league in competition during the 2013-14 school year, and Wilmington followed at the start of the 2014-15 school year.
East Clinton was voted into the SCOL in 2010, and Clinton-Massie first competed in the league during the 2005-06 school year. The SCOL reformed in 2003 following disbanding the league in 1992. Since reforming the league, Madison-Plains and London left the league, and currently the SCOL consists of: Hillsboro, McClain, Washington, Miami Trace, Chillicothe, East Clinton, Clinton-Massie and Wilmington.
Hillsboro Athletic Director Dave Dietrick spoke with The Highland County Press on Friday morning, stating “talk is good” when it comes adding to the league.
“Talk of expansion is good,” Dietrick told The Highland County Press. “When it comes to expansion of a league, you never know how it will work out until after the fact, but it is important the SCOL lets everyone know the doors are open.
“It is important we find likeminded schools who are compatible with the rest of the league … that is key. Talk is beneficial, and the SCOL is a highly respected conference. We have good teams right now and like-minded schools, so like I said, that’s very important when it comes to expansion.”
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The Highland County Press also spoke with McClain Athletic Director Patrick Stevens.
“From a league standpoint, we’ll do anything to keep the league together,” Stevens said. “For us (McClain), it would be a benefit because we are one of the smaller schools in the league. We are willing to do anything to keep the league members happy and keep the league moving in a positive direction.
“I think we’re looking for a competitive balance with bigger and smaller schools and give people the opportunity to compete against schools similar to them."
One school interested in joining the SCOL is Jackson, but the SCOL is said to not be interested in the school, though these reports have not been confirmed by the Press.
Paul Boggs of the Jackson County Times-Journal wrote in a recent article about the possible travel of Jackson to the current schools in the SCOL:
“Clinton-Massie is the furthest away from Jackson at almost 100 miles — an estimated over an hour-and-a-half one-way trip. Only Chillicothe is less than an hour away, and East Clinton — the smallest SCOL member — was rumored to be looking to leave the league. The current longest drive between SCOL schools is 66 miles, between Chillicothe and Clinton-Massie. McClain and Hillsboro have between 60-to-70 miles separating them and Jackson.”
Stevens spoke about not excluding any schools from the application process.
“I don’t think we would exclude anyone from applying to the league,” Stevens said. “We want to explore all options. Anyone interested in the league should apply. We want the best fit for the league and look out for the whole picture.”
As for the current makeup of the SCOL, Dietrick said what he likes about it is how the fans of rival schools within the league interact with each other at events.
“The fans get along well with each other,” he said. “I was at Wilmington to watch (Hillsboro) at a wrestling meet Thursday night, and Chillicothe was there too. All the fans were mingling and talking with each other, and that’s good to see.”
Stevens said that working to keep the league moving forward is “personal” for him, as he is the only representative left from the league’s reformation in 2003.
“It’s personal for me,” Stevens said. “I’m the only person left from when the league was reformed to still be involved. That includes athletic directors, superintendents, principals and commissioners. I love this league and want to do whatever I can to keep it together and keep all league members happy.
“We owe it to all the people who reformed this league to keep it thriving.”
According to the SCOL’s statement, schools interested in applying for membership to the league should contact Jim Winner, SCOL Commissioner, in writing at jwinner222@cinci.rr.com by Jan. 31, 2016.