Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 1, 1993 TAG: 9310010218
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Mountain Empire District reconsidered Thursday and split its league in two, a move that was approved by Region C schools in a telephone vote.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of Region IV schools, it was decided to maintain the status quo for two years while urging the state to study the problems in all classifications such as having an imbalance of teams and size of schools.
This means the New River District will play with only three teams - Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Carroll County - while Region IV will consist of 12 schools, making it the smallest regional alignment in the state.
The two meetings became necessary when the Radford City school board approved a proposal to permit Radford High, a member of the New River District in Region IV, to drop to the Mountain Empire District in Region C and move down from Group AA to A status.
The Mountain Empire approved Radford as a new member school Thursday.
Region C had turned down a request Tuesday by the Mountain Empire to divide its league. With the Mountain Empire not splitting, that league would have had 10 football-playing schools and 11 for basketball, meaning there would be no flexibility in scheduling.
"We approved a new motion with a different twist," said Mountain Empire District chairman Doug Arnold of Galax. "The schools in the west will be Grayson County, Galax, Fort Chiswell, Bland, Rocky Gap and Narrows. The schools in the east will be Giles, Floyd County, Auburn, Shawsville and Radford."
The twist is that Narrows originally was proposed to play in the east. The Green Wave was moved in order to balance the number of football-playing schools in each district.
The western schools will retain the name of the Mountain Empire District; eastern schools will choose a name for their district.
Shawsville principal Nelson Simpkins, one of the people spearheading the move to split the Mountain Empire, was elated.
"As I said before, this is a good move for the Mountain Empire District and the schools, but most of all for the all of our kids," he said. ". . . I think the flexibility will prove to be valuable for small school programs as well as large schools. I feel like we're all winners."
Arnold voted against the split. "I can live with it," he said. "I was never opposed to the split. I felt we were rushing into things and I wanted a chance to study it."
Region C chairman Larry Journell of James River said, "I think this vote reflects the best interest of the region. I'm sorry it took a second go-around to do it, but the best interests of everybody prevailed."
There is one lingering question. The Radford City school board, in approving Radford's move, also passed in the same motion that the Bobcats could play only Group A schools in football. That meant an end to two of Timesland's oldest rivalries - Radford against Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
At the time, with the Mountain Empire District having voted not to split, the issue seemed to be moot. Now Radford would have room to play both schools if it is allowed to seek some games against Group AA competition.
Dr. Michael Wright, Radford Schools superintendent, said the motion that passed stands unless it is reversed.
Wright said he couldn't answer whether the board would reverse the part about Radford not playing Group AA schools or whether it even would be presented to the board.
"I never speculate on anything that might happen in a public meeting. Board members can bring anything they choose before the board," Wright said.
Unfortunately, things aren't as clear in Region IV, which will muddle through two years and hope to get some relief from the Virginia High School League.
"We're making a recommendation to the Virginia High School League and the Group AA board that the entire issue of reclassification and realignment for all schools in the state, from top to bottom, be studied," said Region IV chairman George Porterfield of Christiansburg. "There are a number of schools playing up in classification and some Group AAA schools [that are allowed] to play in Group AA. There are geographic problems coming about from dropping enrollment and this needs to be studied right now so that we get something on paper.
"The impact goes way beyond Region IV. It's already affected Region C."
by CNB