Progress cited in first meeting on realignment issue

No decisions were made when representatives of eight metro conferences met Monday to discuss possible league realignments. But progress was made, said one of the meeting's organizers.

"We came in as optimists and we left as optimists," said Northwest Suburban Conference executive secretary Jim Norwick. "People left wanting to meet again. I'm just hoping people go back to their conferences and carry on a genuine open dialogue and discussion."

The group of 20 people scheduled another meeting for Jan. 26 at the same location, the office of the Minnesota State High School League in Brooklyn Center.

With the Classic Lake Conference dissolving at the end of the 2009-10 school year, Armstrong, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Wayzata could be left without a league. Those schools are in the process of applying to conferences, as required by MSHSL rules. If any of them are not invited to join a conference, the MSHSL will place them in existing leagues, whether or not the schools or conferences agree. Monday's meeting was the first step in, hopefully, avoiding placement of those schools.

"I think everyone would like it done by the schools, rather than the legislative process," Norwick said.

Each of the eight conferences was asked to send three representatives to the meeting. The Lake and Suburban East both sent one person, with a message from each conference that they are happy with their current schools.

"In our conference we're pretty content with where we're at," said Woodbury athletic director John Soma, who represented the Suburban East. "I basically went for possible information, because there could be a ripple affect for us."