Task Force Conducts Appeals and Amends Football & Lacrosse Realignment Plans
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Conference Realignment Task Force convened Thursday to hear appeals of the preliminary solutions for the football and lacrosse realignment requests reviewed in December.
Based on the information gathered from the appeals of the preliminary solutions, the Task Force amended the 11-player football and the lacrosse plans. Schools and conferences that are directly affected by the amended realignment considerations have the opportunity to appeal the proposed changes at the Task Force meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The hearing is intended to enhance engagement, communication and transparency in the conference realignment process. Requests to appeal must be submitted in writing to Melissa Gehring by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
No amendments were made to the 8-player football conference realignment plan, which will be advanced to the Board of Control for a final vote Tuesday, March 11.
The details of the amended plans and the complete configuration of the modified conference affiliation recommendations for football and lacrosse are available for review by accessing the “Requests and Proposals” option on the WIAA’s Conference Realignment web page.
Comprehensive Modified Conference Affiliations Plan – 11-Player Football
Comprehensive Modified Conference Affiliations Plan – 8-Player Football
Comprehensive Modified Conference Affiliations Plan – Boys Lacrosse
Comprehensive Modified Conference Affiliations Plan – Girls Lacrosse
Plans that are advanced from the Task Force meeting on Feb. 6 will be reviewed by the Board of Control to make a final determination on each of the proposals at its March 11, 2025 meeting.
The football and lacrosse plans advanced by the Task Force, if approved by the Board of Control, will be implemented for the 2026 seasons, respectively. The conference realignment process addressing sports other than football occurs on an alternate-year rotation. The lacrosse realignment process is occurring this year because of requests following the first year the sport was sponsored in 2024. Future lacrosse realignment requests will follow the schedule of nonfootball realignment.
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
