Final Northern Area re-leaguing proposal decided on

Monday’s CIF Nothern Area Re-Leaguing meeting at Bishop Diego High School lasted over five hours, with a final proposal on the issue of releaguing for the 2014-15 school year being approved by a 31-24 vote.

Sixty-one of the 63 schools in the Northern Area, which stretches from Calabasas to San Luis Obispo, were represented at the meeting.

The final proposal [VIEW HERE] includes no changes for the Channel League while the local smaller schools will see some differences.

“We are OK with the outcome of the meeting,” said Channel League representative David Hess, the Ventura Athletic Director. “In a perfect world, the Channel League would have picked up a team or three and be an even numbered league (less bye?s in the schedule.) But unless a new school is built, you can not add a team without taking it from some other league. That?s where it gets tricky. Although several schools in the Marmonte League were interested in leaving that league, they did not want to have to send teams all the way to Goleta.”

Cate School will see one of the biggest changes in its athletic landscape. The Rams will move into the TCAA after being in the Condor League for over 50 years. Joining Cate in the TCAA from the Condor League will be Thacher, leaving Laguna Blanca, Providence Hall and the new Garden Street Academy as local schools that remain in the Condor League.

“It certainly will be different for us. We’ve been in the Condor League for 50-plus years. We have a lot of great relationships with that league,” said Rams Athletic Director Wade Ransom.

“The move to TCAA will provide some stability and consistency for our entire athletic department and especially our girls sports. We look forward to competing against schools of similar size. we looks forward to forming some new rivalries and having some great competition, and providing an exciting experience for our student-athletes.”

Bishop Diego and Carpinteria will remain in the TCAA, which loses Oak Park to a new league consisting of Agoura, Calabasas, Moorpark and Newbury Park.

Another new league will be established that includes Camarillo, Royal, Simi Valley, Westlake and Thousand Oaks.

These two new leagues will form a two-tiered association for football only.

Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure, current members of the TCAA, had previously been moved to the parochial schools area and will also be leaving the TCAA after next year.