Comstock leaves Wolverine Conference

The Wolverine Conference, in the final stages of its first year of expansion, will need to find at least one more team following the 2014-15 season.

The Comstock Board of Education voted Monday night to accept the invitation of the Kalamazoo Valley Association. The Colts will join the league following the 2014-15 season.

“We have some work to do,” said Allegan Athletic Director Gary Ellis, who is the Wolverine Conference secretary. “We don’t have anything definite in mind at this point. We will review where things are at and who is interested and would be a good fit.

“We are in the early stages. We haven’t had a meeting yet. At our last meeting, Justin (Ansel) discussed what the situation was. It became final last night. Now we have to sort through things and make the best of it.”

Dowagiac Athletic Director Brent Nate said he was not surprised by the move and that it is what is best for Comstock.

“The KVA is a better fit for them, both geographically and athletically,” Nate said. “Unfortunately the conference realignment will only have two full years and never got a chance to strive and succeed to get an identity.”

Nate noted he believes you will see a major conference realignment in the near future because of the changing demographics of southwest Michigan.

“I think you will see more conference realignment to fit individual school’s needs,” he said. “Some schools are going to eight-man football, while other schools are cutting freshmen football. We might need to find three or four freshmen games to fill our schedule.”

Edwardsburg was one of three teams that joined the Wolverine Conference this season. The Eddies were admitted along with former Lakeland Conference mates Berrien Springs and Coloma.

“It doesn’t surprise me because I knew it was a possibility when we were joining,” Edwardsburg Athletic Director Kevin Dean said. “I don’t blame them. They know where they fit at this point. It will be interesting to see what happens now. We will probably discuss it at the next meeting in May.”

Buchanan, which was not invited to join the league, was one of several schools that did submit an application for admittance to the Wolverine and could be one of the teams the league targets when it decides who will replace the Colts.

The Bucks remain in the Lakeland Conference with Bridgman, Cassopolis and Brandywine.

That league has been looking at expansion in recent months and was waiting to see what was going to happen with the KVA before moving forward. Now that the KVA has selected just one team, further conference realignment plans for the Lakeland, Red Arrow and St. Joseph Valley could begin moving forward quickly.

Leader Columnists

Cains: Opinion is not news

Crime/Court

Niles man gets probation for sending explicit photo to minor

Community News

Dowagiac, Edwardsburg drama programs nominated for WAVE Awards

Business

Zolman Tire hosts Student Leadership Award ceremony

Columns

APPLEGATE: Providing a comprehensive and accessible learning environment for all students

Crime/Court

Niles man gets prison time on drug charges

Community News

AMVETS Post 1978 hosts annual Blessing of the Bikes event

Letters to the Editor

Vote ‘yes’ May 7 for Bobcats

Business

JC’s Grill opens in Niles Township

Cass County

Cass County high school students invited to participate in design contest

Dowagiac

Sanitary sewer overflow reported in Dowagiac

Community News

Dowagiac Area History Museum Spring Lecture Series continues this week with Ring Lardner spotlight

Cass County

Dowagiac teen sentenced for resisting police

Dowagiac

Two hospitalized after two-vehicle Howard Township crash

Community News

Rotary president named Paul Harris Fellow

Berrien County

New public administrator appointed in Berrien County

Community News

Niles teen delivers 300+ tree saplings on Earth Day

Letters to the Editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Vote Michael Majerek for county commissioner

Local Government

Niles City Council approves Memorial Day Parade

Community News

City council talks PrideFest, approves housing grant

Community News

Dowagiac Middle School to host inaugural Mother’s Day Market, Craft Fair Saturday

Brandywine Education

Michigan Supreme Court hears case at SMC

Community News

Dowagiac first responders, school staff honored for life-saving actions

Community News

2024 Dowagiac Music in The Park lineup, vendors announced