By Adam Roberts – 12/1/2020
Two area schools have requested to change their football conference affiliation starting in the fall of 2022.
Today was the official deadline for WIAA schools to request football-only conference realignment for that season, and De Soto and West Salem both are seeking a change. If the requests are approved, De Soto would switch from the Ridge & Valley Conference to the 8-Player South, while West Salem would leave the Mississippi Valley and join former MVC opponent Aquinas in the Coulee.
Also notable is River Falls, who is requesting a switch from the MVC back to the Big Rivers. The Wildcats still have not played a down of MVC football due to their season switching to the alternate spring plan.
As Travis Wilson of Wissports.net reports, any moves would require corresponding moves to keep conference numbers the same. The football-only realignment of a few years ago was done with the purpose of keeping conferences at 8 teams. A task force will overview each request and then the WIAA Board of Control will have the final say.