Grid schools seek change
DANVERS — Representatives from 20 schools arrived at St. John’s Prep yesterday with one goal in mind: try and sway the football subcommittee to accept the argument that their current placement in the new football realignment isn’t right.
They were given five minutes to present their case to the group chaired by St. John’s Prep athletic director Jim O’Leary. After the meeting, the committee went into executive session to discuss the appeals. Decisions are expected tomorrow. Any school that was unsuccessful in its initial appeal will have one final opportunity in front of the entire MIAA Football Committee on Jan. 31.
Dual County League members Cambridge and Newton South both petitioned to be dropped from Division 1 to 2. Cambridge cited an 11-33 overall record over the past four years, while Newton South pointed to safety concerns.
Lynn Classical and Masconomet were hoping to go from Div. 2 to 3. Lynn Classical AD Bill Devin pointed to a variety of enrollment numbers, among those being that 56.5 percent of the students were non-English speaking and nearly 40 percent were economically disadvantaged. Masconomet officials said the school’s numbers will continue to drop over the next few years.
Boston Latin and Shawsheen looked to leave Div. 3. The Wolfpack were hoping to be placed in Div. 5, while the Rams asked to be dropped to either Div. 6 or 7.
“I appreciate the respect you have for our program,” joked Shawsheen AD Al Costabile. “But we really don’t belong in Division 3 trying to compete against the likes of Billerica or Tewksbury.”
North Reading, Bedford, East Boston and Chelsea appealed their current placement of Div. 4. North Reading and Bedford were looking to go to Div. 5, East Boston to Div. 7 and Chelsea to Div. 8.
A trio of Commonwealth Athletic Conference schools looked to drop from Div. 5. Northeast was asking to go to Div. 6 or 7, Greater Lowell to Div. 7 and Whittier to either Div. 7 or 8. Whittier AD Kevin Bradley said a recent decision by the school committee to drop school choice cut into the numbers, while Greater Lowell AD Mark White cited financial reasons.
Austin Prep and Brighton were looking to go from Div. 6 to Div. 7, while O’Bryant, Latin Academy, Matignon and Cathedral would like to drop from Div. 7 to Div. 8.
The school which requested to be moved up a division was Bishop Fenwick. Athletic director/ coach David Woods feels the school is a better fit in Div. 6 as opposed to Div. 7.