The days of the North Cascade Conference appear to be numbered.
Athletic directors from seven schools met on Wednesday to continue last week’s discussion of forming a new league. According to Northwest District Secretary Kim Wilson, five schools – Archbishop Murphy and NCC members Granite Falls, Lakewood, South Whidbey and Sultan – have tentatively agreed to form a new league. Cedarcrest and King’s, he said, are leaning toward becoming the final pieces of a seven-team conference that will be known as either the Cascade Conference or the Cascade League.
“My best guess is that we have a seven-team league,” Wilson said. “Worst guess is that we’ve got a six-team league.”
Archbishop Murphy and King’s, currently Class A schools in the Northwest A League and Chinook League, respectively, would opt up to Class 2A. Cedarcrest, which competes in the Kingco 3A Conference, and South Whidbey would give the new league two Class 3A schools. South Whidbey is currently part of the Class 2A North Cascade Conference, but will be a Class 3A school next season. Cedarcrest and South Whidbey will be among the smallest Class 3A schools in the state next season. Conference changes would not take effect until the 2004-05 school year.
Bellevue Christian and Seattle Christian were part of a meeting with the seven schools a week earlier, but are no longer being considered because of the distances from some of the other schools.
The seven schools have until Nov. 12 to submit a letter to the Northwest District board expressing their desire to be a part of the league.
It is still possible, Wilson said, that the agreement could fall apart.
“It’s been a long, interesting trip,” Wilson said. “This ride has not been smooth. Is everybody happy and on the same page? Well, maybe not. This is the page we’re on now – probably about the fourth page.”
The pages began turning when the five Whatcom County schools of the NCC expressed a desire to pull out of the conference, citing cost of travel and time out of school for student-athletes. Blaine, Lynden Christian, Meridian, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley attempted to form a league along with five Class 3A Whatcom County schools. That has fallen apart, Blaine Athletic Director Gary Claussen said, but the five northern NCC schools will likely form their own five-team league which will be known as the Whatcom County League.
The Bellingham Herald reported in Saturday’s editions that Lakewood would join the Whatcom schools. Lakewood changed its league choice when Bellevue Christian and Seattle Christian were eliminated from consideration, Wilson said.
King’s and Cedarcrest, which are not currently part of the Northwest District, must gain approval from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board to change districts. Wilson said he does not anticipate any opposition to the moves. The WIAA would only become involved in the forming of leagues if mediation is necessary between a district and one or more schools.
The leagues must be formed quickly, Wilson said, because schedules – especially for football – are generally completed in October and early November.
“Basically, the league has been formed,” said Wilson, who noted that a committee has been formed to write the league’s constitution. “We need the letters from the seven schools saying that they are indeed going to be in this league.”
Cedarcrest and South Whidbey would compete against 3A teams in the postseason, while the other five schools would stay at the 2A level. Requirements for qualifying for district tournaments will be worked out at a later date.
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