Will District 6 eventually welcome Leechburg and Apollo Ridge?

[odoyelrules]

As far as C Ridge being in the Sideling Hill, I was referring to their prior application to the Mountain Conference and well discussed search for a football conference.

Bedford might not want to go to D6, but could LHAC/D6 give an ultimatum- ie if you want to play in a D6 league then you have to be in D6 playoffs? Didn't D6 kick around districtwide scheduling a few years ago?

imo schools should play districts based on where they are geographically located, league play based upon locations, similar enrollments, similar competition, etc. Those 2 often dovetail, but sometimes do not. Unfortunately D7 forces both to be together.

Straying off topic more, imo when districts were being setup Somerset/Bedford/Fulton counties should have been matched up with Cambria/Blair/Huntingdon counties to the north. Clinton and the rest of Clearfield to the north, Indiana, Centre, and Mifflin County tbd. Ds 5/6/9 should have just been 2 districts.

[Head Roadie]

I respect your opinion but feel that each school's uniqueness be taken into account.  There are countless examples of schools who should be in other districts based on lines on a map.
You've got an interesting concept that maybe should be considered if PIAA ever goes from 12 to 8 districts.  Disintegrate D6 which doesn't border other states and send them various directions.  Huntingdon, Blair, Cambria to 5, Indiana to 7, Most of the Northern counties to 9 with the exception of the eastern border counties who could go to 3 or 4.     Although I'll mention that a buddy of mine has a better idea if redistricting ever comes up.  Go from 12 to 16 if they are looking for an even number and move the East West boundary further east to get a more equal East/West representation.  Split 1, 3 and 7 into "two districts" each and add this side of the susquehanna to the west somehow possibly dovetailing it with some current D6 counties.
BTW, history lesson....when PIAA was formed District 5 was Somerset, Bedford, Fulton AND Franklin Counties!  Roaring Spring High School even played in the District 5 playoffs in basketball way back I believe in the '30's one time.

[odoyelrules]

neat info Franklin County/Roaring Spring High School.

So D5 history of schools changing districts:
Roaring Spring HS leaving
Franklin County schools leaving
Somerset HS leaving
Fannett Metal HS joining
Somerset HS joining
Plus a few formal and informal attempts from D6 schools to join?


RE: district shakeups, probably won't happen until after consolidation occurs, which could be 30 years though given Harrisburg's issues.

[Sykotyk]

https://pafbhistory.wordpress.com/2016/ ... nrollment/

If you haven't seen this map yet, it's eye-opening just how skewed the schools are around the state. Ohio has a similar issue with their divisions divided into four regions when Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati dominate in number of schools in the bigger divisions.

But, in PA, it's really showing proof why eliminating district lines on a classification by classification basis make sense.

22 schools are east of Lewiston in 1A. The other 70+ are west of there. Though districts have always had an inequality when it comes to number of teams in various classifications, with the advent of 6 classifications, it becomes much more stark.

Ohio does have districts. Six of them, actually. But, for football, the state sets aside those district boundaries and slots all teams into four regions of roughly 1/4th of all teams in that division (classifcations in PA). This would easily clear up a lot of the issues facing with realignment and schools growing or shrinking over time.

It'd keep situations like District 10 having 1 6A school and 2 4A schools and 6 1A schools from happening. In all other sports, districts would still operate as they do now. But, not in football where so few games are played and where the variances of playoff participation are so pronounced (D8 having 6 schools and 3 that can qualify for state playoffs) while D7 has almost a quarter of the entire state's roster of teams.

[CRWizard]

D5 should be a single A district only. Bedford, CR and Somerset should compete in D6 for most other sports IMO.

[Big Ike]

I thought when this came up a few years ago Leechburg should have leaped at the chance. Their reactions were pretty much the same as West Shamokin as far as " competition level" , winter sport distance, etc...I thought then while the Heritage has some teams that will put a hurtin on them, at least with football, on their average year they could scratch out 2 ,maybe 3 stretching it, more victories or closer scores a year due to teams up and down cycles. Not to use the cliché but they are scrappy...In all the years I have seen Leechburg you don't get a complete sense they just give up, they just don't seem to. They ultimately just don't have speed and lower roster numbers don't help. I have seen them try multiple offenses too to try to compensate. Ultimately what stopped them was they were riding high off of their WPIAL basketball championship. I think they let that sport dictate what may have been best for all around athletics. They have solid basketball years but I think they thought that would lead to multiple titles. I would have moved anticipating playing a schedule with more similar player cycles. Also the geographic footprint is about the same or less travel wise for 65% of the Heritage teams to the teams they play now.

[u]Current predicament[/u] est. W- 1 (maybe 2) L- 8
Riverview - Great past, most comparable to Northern Cambria, imho. not huge but speedier team. Loss most years
Jeannette- Not pretty, yearly powerhouse (Comparable? maybe the fast Penns manor Teams, some athletic Blairsville teams)
Canevin- Some down years, but school that can rebound quickly any given year (Comparable: Lig Valley on good years)
Springdale- So much Size, not much speed lately but grinds down small roster teams like the blue devils (Comparable: Maybe Homer Center)
Greensburg CC- See Canevin but less "down" years.
West Greene (OOC) - Saltsburg level
Clairton- :/
Brownsville - (OOC) Struggling program with numbers, but some speed.
Imani - The one year they existed, very athletic (Maybe most like bobcats, may spread you out and sling the ball)

est. W- 3 (maybe 2 or 4) L- 7
Blairsville - Like WVU, every 3rd -4th years or both mature into a state level team or conference power. even on an off year when the bobcats are young probably would take it to leechburg
Homer Center- Would get overpowered most years
Ligonier Valley- Overrun by numbers
Marion Center- Could be closer battles, but I think MC still a little stronger. but again cycle more comparable to Leechburg
Northern Cambria - Would be out quicked , NC I don't think is ever too down.
Penns Manner- Current PM Program does not fall to far any given year.
Saltsburg - Could become rival, 2 struggling programs not too far from each other.
Purchase Line - on a rebound but when their down they seem to be down
United - Another mighty warrior on hard times but improving.
West Shamokin - Have had better recent success but these 2 have had some battles I believe.

...Again overall the Heritage are no slouches but a program like Leechburg would fair better imho with teams/programs that will have more frequent up and down trends and roster sizes.

...In a past post I think A-R is in the footprint without a doubt geographically. As of the past 4 years they would have been a heck of a Heritage team member. Were talking Tre tipton and currently Duane Brown, good luck to him with his injury. These guys vs. the Danny Ferens, Lig valley teams, Blairsville would have been some good track meets. I am not sure of their interest in the Heritage but they have been competitive enough playing in the "Big (size wise)" League...But with farther teams to play and re classification a move could be thought about...but I still think they would not consider it with the history in the WPIAL, much like Leechburg, but they have sustained a much greater success level, with more numbers, than Leechburg