LV Rams conference

[Red and Black]

Ligonier was AA on the 2008-09 football cycle with 197 PIAA enrollment. When the PIAA first published the 2010-11 football enrollment numbers, they mistakenly reused both Ligonier and Laurel Valley's old numbers, making Ligonier alone appear to be AA again in the upcoming cycle.

I know 231 is the correct, combined LV total for the upcoming cycle. With the proper number, Ligonier alone was going to be A in 2010-11 and third biggest in the Heritage, after United and Marion Center, a little more than Blairsville. Laurel Valley was going to be the smallest school in the conference for football. I seem to remember 76 as the Laurel Valley number so that leaves 155 for Ligonier. I know the proper numbers were in the 150's for Ligonier and 70's for Laurel Valley.

[tubmill]

Chestnut Ridge needs a partner to join the Laurel Highlands. I think that it will be LV. There won't be any WPIAL for the Rams. West Shamokin will end up in the Heritage and who knows maybe the Heritage can convince Apollo Ridge to join. I'm cool with the move to the Laurel Highlands other than lost rivalries.

[cleaverstuart]

Article in todays Indiana Gazette that the Armstrong School District board voted to approve the West Shamokin entery into the Heritage for football, cheerleading and the acedemic compititions only. This could be as early as next year upon approval from the WPIAL to leave in the middle of a cycle and the other Heritage conference members approval. The Armstrong board would re-evaluate after one year. The Plus for football is another school that would closer that what most schools where able to find, this could be a negative too since football is a co-op at West Shamokin will the program always be as week as now with those numbers. With this being for football (PIAA Sport) only and as early as next year this could be interesting to see how this plays out.

[CRBL Baseball]

Chestnut Ridge voted at tonights board meeting to submit an official application to join the Laurel Highlands and it appears for Chestnut Ridge to be accepted into the Laurel Highlands they need a partner to do so. WIll be interesting to see what Ligonier does moving forward - stay in the Heritage or move to the Laurel Highlands to determine Chestnut Ridge's fate and conference woes.

[youngbuck]

Why not just throw out the private schools like the Appalachian conference did with BC. Let them make there own conference.

[tubmill]

I'm thinking that the old LV Ram fans would opt for the Heritage just for rivalry sakes. I think that the Ligonier fans and the school board will opt for the Laurel Highlands.

[Red and Black]

What is interesting is that it looks like LV might have its choice of either the HC or the LHAC since they appear to be welcome in either. It is a very close call with positives and negatives both ways, but if I got to make the decision, I would lean to the LHAC - somewhat closer travel overall and I feel it would be better for the program to play more AA schools.

Tubmill - I think your assessment of people's preferences is correct except for one major thing. I think when all is said and done by the end of this school year (or next at the latest), the coaches, administration, and school board will decide to stay in the Heritage (assuming they will continue to have us.)

And I am certainly OK with that if that is how it turns out. The HC is a tough, smaller school conference with many old Laurel Valley rivalries that have also become Ligonier rivalries over the past decade. Blairsville is a long time Ligonier rival so it would be nice to keep that going.

The other thing is that I predict that LV will shrink, enrollment-wise, faster than most other HC schools. So though we may be the biggest school for a while (unless Saltsburg-Blairsville combine all sports), we will get pretty close to the pack, maybe even going back single-A in a few years.

[tubmill]

Red and Black,
I don't necessarily agree with your assesment on travel. With trips to altoona, Cresson, Carrolltown, Fishertown and Bedford on the slate I think we would be traveling more in the LHAC. As far as declining enrollment everybody is suffering. I still believe the board will enter the Rams in the LH just because of the prestige factor.

[cleaverstuart]

Hate to disagree with you Tubmill but the Ligonier staff is doing and trying more to stay in the H.C., a community vote would lean toward's WPIAL for the prestige, the least likely but please do not say dead issue, but where Ligonier Valley ends up next or two years from now I think will have a few more twist and turns

[Red and Black]

There is an article in the Altoona Mirror today about LHAC expansion. Chestnut Ridge wants in, but needs a partner. The LHAC would welcome both CR and LV. LV has to decide.

Then there is the possible West Shamokin addition to the Heritage, at least for football.

It looks like LV will indeed be able to choose either the HC or the LHAC. I predict they will stay in the HC, which leaves CR looking for a partner.