Somerset seeking move to District 5

[NS grad]

Somerset seeking move to District 5
By JEFF MAURER
[email protected]

Friday, January 8, 2010 3:58 AM EST

The Somerset Area High School athletic department is exploring the possibility of moving to PIAA District 5.
Somerset originally competed in District 5, but had to move to District 6 in the early 1980s when school enrollment numbers rose.
“In the 1980s and 1990s we were Triple-A or Quad-A in every sport,” Somerset athletic director Scott Close said. “We had no sports eligible for District 5.”
School enrollment numbers have since started to decline. Somerset now competes as a Class AA or Class AAA school in every PIAA sport.
For Somerset to officially move to District 5, it must first be released from District 6.
“We are asking our school board for approval to submit an application to be released from District 6 and then apply to District 5,” Close said. “Official action should take place (at the school board meeting on Monday). If that action is approved, then we will proceed and ask for a release. If that is successful, then we will go to District 5 and ask for acceptance.”
The District 6 committee would likely be presented with Somerset’s request at its next meeting on Tuesday.
If Somerset is released, the District 5 committee, which next meets on Jan. 20, would then have to vote to accept Somerset. Final approval by the PIAA is then necessary.
“It makes sense,” District 5 chairman Virgil Palumbo said of the move. “Geographically, Somerset is located in District 5. We have them on the agenda for our January 20th meeting. Obviously, we’ll take action at that time.”
“I think it would be a good move for District 5 and Somerset also,” Palumbo added. “As District 5 chairman, my recommendation to our committee would be to accept Somerset.”
If the move ultimately happens, Somerset’s athletic facilities, including its state-of-the-art artificial turf football and baseball fields, could be used to host District 5 playoff games and championships.
“We really want to highlight the fact that the switch is predominantly to use our new facilities to the fullest extent possible,” Close said.
Somerset’s Class AA sports that could compete in the District 5 playoffs include football, wrestling, boys cross country, boys track and field, golf, girls tennis and boys tennis, Close said.
The remaining sports — boys soccer, girls soccer, girls volleyball, girls cross country, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys swimming, girls swimming, baseball, softball and girls track and field — would likely remain in the District 6 playoffs for now.
Somerset would remain a member of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference for regular-season play in a situation similar to that of Bedford, which is a member of the LHAC and District 5, but also competes in the District 6 playoffs in some sports.

[once a runner]

http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2 ... rts110.txt

District 6 releases Somerset to pursue entry to D5. I'm a little surprised the D6 has released them. I assume that half their sports will have to remain in D6 because of their size. They have moved down in classification in some of the sports. They will surpass Bedford as the biggest school in D5. If D5 goes to conference type set up in the future, will Somerset be happy with that? They would lose the competition they now have in the LHAC and have to play other D5 teams in the regular season.

[southpaw]

Is that a bad thing for Somerset or the rest of D5 for that matter? A D5 all sports conference would rekindle old rivalries and start new ones and increase gate receipts and cut down on travels costs for ALL schools in D5 as well as generate alot more fan support. Win/Win. Way too much emphasis has been placed on the playoffs in the last 20 years.

[pats39]

any chance Richland is going to attempt to go down this road?

[southpaw]

I would bet Richland and several others.

[Portage Alum]

A reliable source has informed me that Portage, Conemaugh Valley, Blacklick Valley, and Ferndale could be in District 5 by next season.

Why wouldn't they? The West Pac, where these schools reside, is a D5 conference. And, these true Single A schools shouldn't have to compete with the private schools in D6 Single A.

We'll see.

~PA

[Sneakers]

I do not understand the "It's where they reside" comment....I mean I'm ok either way but geographically I look at County borders....Cambria County, Blair County etc...are not District V counties...
Beford, Fulton & Somerset...+ 1 (Fannett) are traditionally D V counties.

[nortnort76]

Portage and Blacklick Valley are already speaking to their school boards. Ferndale and Conemaugh Valley are still pondering. No chance Richland is leaving at the present time. The other possibility that no one is metioning is Claysburg. Don't be surprised if Claysburg is the next school to leave after Portage and BV

[once a runner]

I have a hard time believing D6 is going to allow all those teams to go to D5. It would be good for D5 if they allowed them to switch. I believe it's good for D5 for Somerset to move in as well. In my earlier point I was wondering if Somerset will be happy with the move. Under the current system it will work great for them just like it works to Bedford's advantage. You get to play good competition during the season in the LHAC then play D5 schools in the playoffs. If D5 does go to a conference schedule at some point, will Somerset be in favor of that setup?

[Lemmy]

Southpaw, you think too much emphasis is placed on districts? I assume you also think the same of the state playoffs. Last year, do think it was more important how McDannel wrestled at districts/regional/states or the meet against Northern Bedford? I do not think it is a good idea to be happy with the King of Bedford County mentality...