New Southwest District?
Following is a reprint of the article by ALLEN GREGORY with the Bristol Herald Courier staff on Sep 11, 2002
The Southwest was once one of the largest and most competitive Group AA districts in Virginia. If some administrators get their wish, the SWD could soon be reborn via a merger with the Highlands District.
Highlands principals voted 3-1 last week to create the new nine-team SWD. Lee High cast the lone negative vote. The plan also seems to be popular with the five schools in the current Southwest. The SWD athletic directors expressed approval in a meeting Wednesday, with the SWD principals expected to vote Sept. 25.
Region IV officials, including those from the Piedmont District, could make the move official in an Oct. 2 meeting in Wytheville. The new alignment would take effect, for at least a two-year period, in the 2003-04 school year.
"A lot of thought and discussion has gone into this matter and it has not been easy,'' Abingdon athletic director Sam Blevins said. "Our principal (Bo Catron) has tried to make the best decision for our kids." Few folks in the Highlands were happy when Lebanon dropped back to the Group A Hogoheegee District two seasons ago, leaving the Highlands with just Marion, Abingdon, Lee High and Virginia High.
"Nothing changed our opinion about the challenges with a four-team district last year,'' Blevins said. "The talk of doing something with the Southwest just heated up over the spring and summer. "For example, scheduling is really tough when you have so few district games locked in. It's especially tough when the surrounding Group A districts are pretty good size.''
Then, there is the question of competition.
"When you only have four teams, the feeling of winning a district title is not the same,'' Blevins said. "Having a nine-team district would make things a lot more competitive and fun for our athletes and fans.''
The Highlands District, which was formed in 1986, replaced the old SWD which swelled to 11 schools at one point. The SWD once featured schools like Gate City and Graham and even current Group A Hogoheegee members Patrick Henry, Lebanon and John Battle. Carroll County, Tazewell, Grundy, Richlands and Graham are the current SWD members.
The merger proposal requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Officials from Lee High have been trying to convince representatives from the Piedmont District to block the measure. A community meeting was held Tuesday night at Lee High School to discuss the issue.
"We're not worried about the competition,'' Lee athletic director Richard Stapleton said. "We're concerned about the travel to places like Tazewell, Grundy, Bluefield and Hillsville. That would be a hardship to our athletes, students and fans. "Having to play in the Southwest would be a real blow to us.''
However, Blevins is optimistic that the Southwest will be reborn in another form. "I don't see any reason why the folks in the Piedmont District would oppose this plan,'' Blevins said. "I can understand Lee's issues with travel and scheduling, but maybe we can help Lee under this new district. "There's not a whole lot we can do with geography. People have to do what they have to do.''
Travel has been a persistent problem area since the Piedmont District joined Region IV. Teams have been forced to endure up to five-hour bus rides to regional events. Officials from Lee High unsuccessfully petitioned the Virginia High School League last year to be allowed to drop down to Group A status. Neither the Lonesome Pine District or Cumberland seem eager to welcome Lee High into their ranks due to enrollment concerns.
Carroll County officials had earlier explored idea of joining the Blue Ridge District. Richlands athletic director Tom Rife said tradition is a major factor in the SWD. "Just like Thanksgiving, you can't beat tradition,'' Rife said. "The Southwest District dates back to the 1960s and there have been some great battles through the years. "Actually, I never wanted to split the district in the first place. I can remember Glynn Carlock (Graham) and I opposing the idea of a split.''
The old 11-team setup did create schedule challenges, but long-standing rivalries such as Virginia High-Tennessee High, Patrick Henry-Abingdon and Graham-Bluefield were able to continue through creative scheduling. Rife said SWD officials conducted a straw poll in the spring. The tone was positive. " I think most everyone is pretty much in favor of a merger with the Highlands,'' Rife said. "We've heard very few negative comments, but we do understand the travel concerns at Lee.''
Rife has actually offered the athletic facilities at Richlands to Carroll County when the Cavaliers make the long trip to Grundy. "We may have to get creative with game sites and scheduling,'' Rife said. "For example, there is the possibility of neutral sites, doubleheaders and traveling every other year on long trips.''
The athletic directors meeting discussed the new-look SWD again Wednesday during a meeting. "Everyone seems very positive to the merger,'' Rife said. "I don't hear any opposition." SWD could be reborn via merger with Highlands District Highlands principals voted 3-1 last week to create the new nine-team SWD. Lee High cast the lone negative vote. The plan also seems to be popular with the five schools in the current Southwest. The SWD athletic directors expressed approval in a meeting Wednesday, with the SWD principals expected to vote Sept. 25.
