Lake and Classic Lake - something has to be done

[Bart82]

Clearly the Classic Lake Conference has got some major issues with only five teams - Wayzata, Edina, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and Armstrong. <br><br>I know that there has to be some other issue, but it just makes sense for Chaska or EP to join the classic lake. You have one conference that's too small and on that is way too big.<br><br>Another answer could be to bring in Totino or Benilde for hockey but hell will freeze over before that will happen, I'm sure!<br><br>I would think that EP/Chaska/Tonka would have some pretty intense puck rivalries.<br><br>I hope the powers that be do something bout it. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

I think some conference realignment is on its way in the next year or two, especially with teh disparity between Lake and Classic Lake and with the growth of Prior Lake, Shakopee and Farmington. I've heard a number of possible scenarios, including one where Hastings would come into what is now the Lake. It's been discussed on the Minnesota Preps football board also. <br><br>one possibility is to go back to the structure they had in the 70s and 80s, with one Lake Conference with different divisions. <br><br>Picture this: <br><br>Classic Lake: Chaska, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Armstrong, Hopkins, Edina, Shakopee<br><br>Lake West: Kennedy, Jefferson, Burnsville, Prior Lake, Lakeville North, Lakeville South<br><br>Lake East: Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview, Hastings, Farmington <p></p><i></i>

[FreeAGENT]

Jefferson, Kennedy, EP, Chaska, Edina, Tonka, Wayzata would be my ideal conference. <p></p><i></i>

[shutout]

Bart:<br>Just a reminder that ALL sports have to change to the conference. <br><br> With that in mind I would like to see Bloomington Kennedy and Jefferson move to the Classic Lake. This conference would be a better fit for their enrollment, all of the Lake Conference schools have much larger enrollment then the Bloomington schools and Jefferson is competitive at this point because of their deep tradition but Kennedy gets slaughtered at everything. Most of the Lake conference schools are going to continue to grow and most of the Classic Lake schools are more like Blomington and are land locked. <p></p><i></i>

[Bart82]

Shutout.<br><br>Good point about all sports. But for football the conference is even more of a disaster - from the Classic Lake perspective. I think that's the case for most of the other team sports as well.<br><br>I would think that the Lake Conference kids/coaches don't like having their schedule so tied up with so many conference games.<br><br><br>AD's love it because it make their job easier.<br><br>I hadn't thought about Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Farmington. It's true that they aren't getting any smaller! <p></p><i></i>

[shutout]

Bart: <br> <br> Actually the schools that you named are in the Missota Conference not the Lake.<br><br>The point that you brought up about the number of schools in the Lake and not being able to have many non-conference games is a great point.<br><br>I know in Hockey this season there are two additional Conference games with the addition of Lakeville South, which leaves room for only 2 non-conference games. <br><br>The only coaches that wanted to make a change to the policy of playing everyone twice in the Conference were E.P. and Jefferson. I know in Jefferson's case they had to drop Hill Murray and Wayzata. That was unfortunate for the fans and the players to not get to see these games anymore. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

My point in bringing up Shakopee, Prior Lake and Farmington is that they are outgrowing the Missota Conference, and it is possible they can follow the footsteps of Apple Valley and Rosemount in the 80s (before Eagan and Eastview even existed) and Chaska and Lakeville in the 90s and move on from the Missota to a bigger conference. I was surprised to find out that Prior Lake already has a bigger enrollment than Jefferson. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeydad</A> at: 10/16/05 11:00 pm<br></i>

[goldy313]

Farmington and Northfield should look toward the Big Nine giving the Big Nine 12 teams. They're enrollment wise better off there than anywhere else, plus they play in section 1 in nearly every sport. If Albert Lea heads off to join Fairmont, New Ulm and Blue Earth like has been rumored, Farmington would be a natural fit to give the conference 10 teams, otherwise the Big Nine should look to adding them both. <br><br>Where did Cooper go, weren't they in the Classic Lake? <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

Cooper and St. Louis Park joined the North Suburban beginning this year. <br><br>I hadn't heard the Albert Lea rumor. that's interesting. <br><br>Still, I can't see Farmington going south. They are growing so fast, they'll fit right in with the Lake schools within a couple of years. remember, it wasn't that many years ago they were a Class A school in the Tri-Metro Conference. They rejoined the Missota in the mid-90s, after Lakeville and Chaska left. <br><br>I have wondered why the Mankato schools stay in the Big 9. It's a long long ride to Winona and Rochester for them. How about a conference with East.West. New Ulm.Waseca.Albert Lea.Fairmont.St. Peter.New Prague. New Prague could be looking for a new home if Prior Lake, Shakopee and Farmington leave the Missota <p></p><i></i>

[MNPuckster40]

Didn't Buffalo join the Classic Lake this year? I believe they are only playing a single game schedule in the Mississippi 8 (4 conference points per game) so they can do a home and home with the Classic Lake teams.<br><br>Why not move Orono and Mound in the Classic Lake? <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

I'm just trying to picture Mound vs. Wayzata in football....scary thought. <br><br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br><br>Orono might be able to compete in some sports, but they are a third...almost a fourth the size of Wayzata and are not growing very fast...not workable. <p></p><i></i>

[Eddie Shore]

Hockeydad, you are right. If it were just an issue of hockey, you can bet that Mound and Orono would probably jump at the chance to move to the Classic Lake rather than play in the Wright County Conf. Unfortunately, the enrollment at those schools would cause issues in most of the other sports. Wayzata's band would probably give the Mound football team a good run. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

The rumor I had been hearing was that mound was going to drop varsity football for a year or two because of low numbers, but now I have heard they are just dropping out of the WCC for football and playing an indy schedule. They are truly horrible (though they did win last night). <br><br>But enough about football. They do have a decent hockey program, and it seems to be improving. And Orono is solid year-in, year-out. <p></p><i></i>