Orrville discussing a potential new league

[BigTenBuckeye]

Someone finally addressed the rumors in Wayne County:

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5154074

PARTING SHOTS -- Orrville athletic director Kent Smith confirmed this week that the Red Riders' are exploring options outside of the Ohio Cardinal Conference, which has had the same eight schools since 2004.

Along with a couple other OCC schools that Smith didn't want to name, he said Orrville will have a fact-finding meeting Feb. 9 with a group of schools that include Dover, New Philadelphia and Claymont.

Some of the OCC's western members also have had talks with some outside schools, Smith said.

"My guess is the OCC will keep the same eight schools, but everyone is exploring options," said Smith, who expressed concerns with some of the road-trip distances in the OCC. "There are a lot of dominos falling in Northwest Ohio, with leagues making changes.

"It's not like any of the OCC teams are mad about anything, but people want to protect their positions. Schools don't want to be left without a seat when the music stops. No one wants to be an independent school without a league,"

Some of my initial thoughts:

1. I'm guessing the "couple other OCC schools" would be Wooster and West Holmes. Just a strong hunch. :D

2. I would also have to imagine that independents Northwest and Barberton might be interested too.

3. Who else might be interested in this? Triway, Tuslaw, maybe some Suburban League schools? I figured it'd be places close to Orrville if distance in the OCC was a factor for them.

[teach1coach2]

Heard that New Philly and Claymont decided not to attend the meeting.

[timbolt]

Orrville might as well stick with the OCC. It's looks like Galion Has found a league and Shelby I heard wants to stay in the NOL. So the Richland County thing may not happen.

[knah]

Football is the only sport on the boys side that can compete with the rest of the OCC, and even they will struggle in the upcoming years. Kids are starting to get tired of getting beat up by the OCC. It is currently very difficult for Orrville to field freshmen teams anymore...even in basketball. I think that a move to a smaller school sized league like the PAC should be considered. We would be one of the smaller schools in the PAC. The travel would be amazingly close and maybe the PAC could consider Northwest and West Holmes. We could establish rivalries with PAC schools very easily, some are already established. A 12 team league would work very well...perhaps a small school-big school setup.

[timbolt]

i always thought Orrville held its own in the OCC in most sports. In 18 boys games in basketball with Ashland OHS has won 15 of them. They have played well against Wooster, Lexington and even beaten the Tygers a few times.

[trusprtfan]

The only schools that I've heard are Orrville, West Holmes, Wooster, and Dover. I am interested in hearing more about this new league and hope something comes together soon.

[ECOLace]

The ideal league on paper would be:

Wooster, Barberton, Dover, New Philadelphia, West Holmes, Claymont, Northwest and Orrville, however I'm not sure if Barberton would want to stop being independent, I guess you could substitute Barberton with Ashland, and I'm not sure Claymont would want to join that league. Maybe drop Claymont, and add Barberton.

So it would be;

Dover
New Philadelphia
Ashland
Barberton
Orrville
West Holmes
Wooster
Northwest

But if the problem with Orrville in the OCC is competitive balance in other sports other than football... then this league would be no better for them.

IMO, Orrville should just join the small school ECOL league and Northwest should join the large school ECOL.

[ryan11677]

Ya then orrville can drive to zanesville and marietta a lot

[teach1coach2]

I predict Marietta will be back in the SEOAL within about 5 years. I could see them getting replaced by Canal Fulton NW.

[ryan11677]

northwest will not join the ecol. to far to drive for them to zanesville

[ECOLace]

Ya then orrville can drive to zanesville and marietta a lot

If Orrville were in the small school ECOL, they would only have to travel to Marietta once every 2 years in basketball, that's it. Zanesville once every two years in football, and one-two times a year in basketball.

[ryan11677]

Marietta is over 100 miles from orrville and zanesville is about 2 hrs from orrville. meadowbrook is over 70 miles from orrville and the roads to coshcton and river view are really curvy. so I would say no thanks if I was orrville

[Captain Tony]

If Orrville were in the small school ECOL, they would only have to travel to Marietta once every 2 years in basketball, that's it. Zanesville once every two years in football, and one-two times a year in basketball.

Is this league just for boys basketball and football ?

[ryan11677]

well we know that northwest needs a home and west holmes and wooster for the most part would follow. so that would be 4. maybe triway? dover would come and new philadelphia would follow dover no doubt.
lets be honest i dont see wooster and orrville every being apart or dover phili either.

[BigTenBuckeye]

Orrville, Wooster, West Holmes, Northwest, Dover, and New Philadelphia would be a good 6-school start. I think you could go after Triway as the 7th, but I don't know who the best 8th would be (Tuslaw, Fairless, Timken, someone else?).

The western 5 OCC schools could team up with Ontario and start with those 6 in another direction as well, or bring up that NOL merger again.

[knah]

What about a twelve team league. 6 west-6 east in the OCC.

West
Senior
Madison
Ashland
Lex
Clearfork
Ontario

East
Orrville
Wooster
Cloverleaf
Northwest
West Holmes
Triway

Each team plays everyone in their division and then for crossover games they go big-small.

For example, Ontario, Clearfork, and Lex..would play Orrville, Triway, and West Holmes while Wooster, Cloverleaf, and Northwest would play Ashland, Senior and Madison.

Would have to do a little coaxing with Triway and Ontario but this could work. It incorporates geography and school size. If teams wanted to play others they would just schedule them in the "nonconference" part of the schedule.