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WIAA Press Release:



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 15, 2009



BOARD OF CONTROL GIVES FINAL CONSENT TO OMRO REALIGNMENT

Board Votes to Defeat Conference Realignment Proposal for North Central Wisconsin



STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control gave its final approval of the conference realignment plan involving Omro High School at its monthly meeting here today.



    Beginning in the fall of 2010, Omro will compete in the Wisconsin Flyways Conference, making the move from the Eastern Valley Conference.  The Board issued its first approval of the plan on April 3. WIAA?procedures provided for a 40-day window for schools to appeal the initial action before final action was taken.



    The Board voted down an executive staff realignment proposal that would impact the Wisconsin Valley Conference and the newly formed Great Northern Conference. The proposal would have removed Rhinelander from the Wisconsin Valley and placed the school in the Great Northern, and it would have moved Merrill from the Great Northern to the Wisconsin Valley.



    A lengthy discussion focused on divisional placements to address the perceived disproportionate success of religious and independent schools in the membership s Tournament Series. The executive staff presented the Board with a specific proposal that would ultimately move a significant number of religious and independent schools into larger enrollment divisions. The plan will be presented at next fall s Area Meetings.



    The Board gave its routine approval of a pair of cooperative program renewals, one in boys swimming and diving and another in gymnastics. Other deliberations included a review of the Annual Meeting discussions, which included nine-man football, a single baseball season and the 2009 girls basketball season start date.



    The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 503 senior high schools and 116 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It will sponsor 25 championship tournament series in 2008-09. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.



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