Lewis & Clark Conference

[northeastNebraska]

The Lewis and Clark Conference member schools had a meeting last Wednesday. Quite a bit of moving parts and activity going on.

1) LCC, Hartington-Newcastle, and Plainview are leaving in 2025-2026. These three schools are set to form a new conference beginning in 2025-2026 along with LHNE, Summerland, Neligh-Oakdale, Elkhorn Valley, and West Holt.

2) Wakefield is leaving in 2024-2025 for the East Husker.

3) Ponca is deciding at their board meeting tonight between East Husker and Mid-States affiliation. They plan to be a part of their new conference in 2024-2025.

4) The remaining Knox County schools; Creighton, Bloomfield, and Wausa are considering a move to the Niobrara Valley Conference. Sounds like this is in the very beginning stages.

5) LCC, Hartington-Newcastle, and Plainview all said they would go independent this next school year if asked by the conference. The reason for going independent is to allow the conference to reset once, not two years in a row.

6) The remaining L&C schools, including the Knox County schools, are having a meeting next Monday to discuss future of conference.

I think the remaining schools should stick together. It forms a nice manageable group of 10 teams; Tri-County Northeast (Allen and Emerson Hubbard), Homer, Walthill, Winnebago, Bloomfield, the new Osmond and Wausa coop (Osmond and Wausa, not sure of name), Randolph, Winside, and Wynot. The outlier here is Winnebago because of their size. Walthill is an outlier to some degree too. If Bago left, the L&C could approach Niobrara-Verdigre or Omaha Nation. Another potential fit, though getting a little far away could be Lyons-Decatur.

Have to think Creighton, Bloomfield and Wausa will move to the NVC. Have to think Osmond is a member by proxy due to Wausa's membership

Niobrara Valley Conference (8)
(West Holt, Elkhorn Valley, Neligh-Oakdale and Summerland move out. Bring in Creighton, Bloomfield and Wausa). I would think they'd approach Ainsworth to get to 12. Ainsworth seems on the outs with the SWC.

Boyd County
Chambers/Wheeler Central
Elgin/Elgin Pope John
Niobrara/Verdigre
North Central
O'Neill St. Mary's
Santee
Stuart
Creighton
Bloomfield
Wausa
Ainsworth

By doing this, the NVC could have divisions if they wish.

West:
Ainsworth
Stuart
St. Mary's
North Central
Boyd County
CWC

East:
EPPJ
Niobrara/Vedigre
Santee
Bloomfield
Creighton
Wausa/Osmond

 

[northeastNebraska]

I agree that LHNE should have been in the Mid-States or any conference for that matter years ago. Geographically I think there isn't much difference between the Mid-States and East Husker for Ponca.

Ponca is like the Valentine of the east. No matter what they do, they have to travel. Very isolated, especially when it comes to playing C2 teams. I think for them it's who they want to be associated with and the consistent level of competition.

Ponca to Wayne: 37 miles
Ponca to Hartington: 39 miles
Ponca to Crofton: 45 miles
Ponca to West Point: 59 miles
Ponca to Pierce: 62 miles
Ponca to Norfolk: 69 miles
Ponca to Battle Creek: 79 miles
Ponca to O'Neill: 104 miles
Ponca to Albion: 120 miles

Ponca to Wakefield: 27 miles
Ponca to Pender: 40 miles
Ponca to Wisner: 48 miles
Ponca to Bancroft: 51 miles
Ponca to Lyons: 56 miles
Ponca to West Point: 59 miles
Ponca to Oakland: 62 miles
Ponca to Stanton: 67 miles
Ponca to Tekamah: 71 miles
Ponca to Howells: 77 miles
Ponca to Madison: 83 miles
Ponca to Leigh: 84 miles
Ponca to North Bend: 90 miles
Ponca to Humphrey: 93 miles

 

[GrizzzlyPanda]

Ponca is like the Valentine of the east. No matter what they do, they have to travel. Very isolated, especially when it comes to playing C2 teams. I think for them it's who they want to be associated with and the consistent level of competition.

Ponca to Wayne: 37 miles
Ponca to Hartington: 39 miles
Ponca to Crofton: 45 miles
Ponca to West Point: 59 miles
Ponca to Pierce: 62 miles
Ponca to Norfolk: 69 miles
Ponca to Battle Creek: 79 miles
Ponca to O'Neill: 104 miles
Ponca to Albion: 120 miles

Ponca to Wakefield: 27 miles
Ponca to Pender: 40 miles
Ponca to Wisner: 48 miles
Ponca to Bancroft: 51 miles
Ponca to Lyons: 56 miles
Ponca to West Point: 59 miles
Ponca to Oakland: 62 miles
Ponca to Stanton: 67 miles
Ponca to Tekamah: 71 miles
Ponca to Howells: 77 miles
Ponca to Madison: 83 miles
Ponca to Leigh: 84 miles
Ponca to North Bend: 90 miles
Ponca to Humphrey: 93 miles

I agree that they aren't an ideal geographic fit, but comparing them to Valentine is a little much....120 miles is a light Tuesday night for Valentine, and that would be Ponca's furthest trip if they had to go to Albion.

Valentine - McCook: 198 miles
Valentine - Ainsworth: 45 miles
Valentine - Broken Bow: 130 miles
Valentine - Gothenburg: 157 miles
Valentine - Cozad: 167 miles
Valentine - Ogallala: 184 miles
Valentine - Minden: 216 miles
Valentine - Holdrege: 206 miles

 

[northeastNebraska]

I agree that they aren't an ideal geographic fit, but comparing them to Valentine is a little much....120 miles is a light Tuesday night for Valentine, and that would be Ponca's furthest trip if they had to go to Albion.

Valentine - McCook: 198 miles
Valentine - Ainsworth: 45 miles
Valentine - Broken Bow: 130 miles
Valentine - Gothenburg: 157 miles
Valentine - Cozad: 167 miles
Valentine - Ogallala: 184 miles
Valentine - Minden: 216 miles
Valentine - Holdrege: 206 miles

It was more hyperbole than anything but just used them as an example of being somewhat isolated in a part of the state that doesn't have much isolation.

 

[northeastNebraska]

Bump.

 

[GrizzzlyPanda]

Ponca had conference affiliation on their school board meeting agenda on Monday, the following is what was posted in the minutes: "Moved to authorize the superintendent to execute all necessary documents to attain new conference affiliation."

Have heard that Ainsworth has been asked to leave the SWC, but haven't heard official official word on that. I know that the NVC has held their position on not allowing them to join....which still makes ZERO sense to me.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Ponca is joining the Mid-State Conference

Ponca, Wakefield switching conferences

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

norfolkdailynews.com

Ponca, Wakefield Switching Conferences
by Mike Renning, Norfolk Daily News

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

Wakefield recently voted to accept an invitation to the East Husker Conference and the Ponca school board recently accepted an invitation to compete in the Mid-State Conference beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

"It just made sense for us," Wakefield superintendent Matt Farup said. "We didn't go out looking for a new conference, but with the schools leaving the Lewis & Clark Conference, we thought it was a good time to check around and see what's out there and what fits best for our students."

Hartington-Newcastle, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, and Plainview recently voted to leave the Lewis & Clark Conference in the 2025-26 school year to join four Niobrara Valley Conference schools -- Neligh-Oakdale, West Holt, Elkhorn Valley and Summerland -- along with former independent Lutheran High Northeast to form a yet unnamed conference.

"We felt we needed to get to a conference with schools that are more our size," Farup said. "We didn't set out to leave the Lewis & Clark. We just felt like this was the right time, and we're excited to get into the East Husker."

Ditto for Ponca.

"We have mixed feelings here at Ponca," longtime athletic director and coach Bob Hayes said. "I've played and coached in the Lewis & Clark Conference for longer than I care to admit, but there are a lot of relationships and memories from that conference."

At the same time, Hayes realizes there is a new opportunity.

"We're very excited to get into the Mid-State," he said. "The schools are more our size, and the talent in all aspects of extra-curricular activities is really good. The fine arts, speech, drama and music is really, really good. The athletics, we all know about."

Wakefield was one of the founding members of the East Husker Conference back in the 1940s according to Farup, and left there to join the Lewis & Clark n the '70s.

"We're excited for our students for sure," Farup said. "The East Husker will give us opportunities and, for us, it's kind of going back home."

Ponca is also looking forward to its new opportunities.

"There are no ill feelings towards the Lewis & Clark or any of its members," Hayes said. "We'll miss a lot of people we have developed relationships with over the years. This was just too good of an opportunity to pass up for our kids and the school."

Existing members of the Mid-State are excited to have Ponca join as well.

"They will fit into our conference," Norfolk Catholic athletic director and football coach Jeff Bellar said. "We've been a nine-member conference for a while, and 10 is just a better number. I really think this will be better for us all."

 

[northeastNebraska]

Ponca is joining the Mid-State Conference

Ponca, Wakefield switching conferences

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

norfolkdailynews.com

Ponca, Wakefield Switching Conferences
by Mike Renning, Norfolk Daily News

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

Wakefield recently voted to accept an invitation to the East Husker Conference and the Ponca school board recently accepted an invitation to compete in the Mid-State Conference beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

"It just made sense for us," Wakefield superintendent Matt Farup said. "We didn't go out looking for a new conference, but with the schools leaving the Lewis & Clark Conference, we thought it was a good time to check around and see what's out there and what fits best for our students."

Hartington-Newcastle, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, and Plainview recently voted to leave the Lewis & Clark Conference in the 2025-26 school year to join four Niobrara Valley Conference schools -- Neligh-Oakdale, West Holt, Elkhorn Valley and Summerland -- along with former independent Lutheran High Northeast to form a yet unnamed conference.

"We felt we needed to get to a conference with schools that are more our size," Farup said. "We didn't set out to leave the Lewis & Clark. We just felt like this was the right time, and we're excited to get into the East Husker."

Ditto for Ponca.

"We have mixed feelings here at Ponca," longtime athletic director and coach Bob Hayes said. "I've played and coached in the Lewis & Clark Conference for longer than I care to admit, but there are a lot of relationships and memories from that conference."

At the same time, Hayes realizes there is a new opportunity.

"We're very excited to get into the Mid-State," he said. "The schools are more our size, and the talent in all aspects of extra-curricular activities is really good. The fine arts, speech, drama and music is really, really good. The athletics, we all know about."

Wakefield was one of the founding members of the East Husker Conference back in the 1940s according to Farup, and left there to join the Lewis & Clark n the '70s.

"We're excited for our students for sure," Farup said. "The East Husker will give us opportunities and, for us, it's kind of going back home."

Ponca is also looking forward to its new opportunities.

"There are no ill feelings towards the Lewis & Clark or any of its members," Hayes said. "We'll miss a lot of people we have developed relationships with over the years. This was just too good of an opportunity to pass up for our kids and the school."

Existing members of the Mid-State are excited to have Ponca join as well.

"They will fit into our conference," Norfolk Catholic athletic director and football coach Jeff Bellar said. "We've been a nine-member conference for a while, and 10 is just a better number. I really think this will be better for us all."

Great move for both, especially Ponca. They will settle in nicely in the Mid-State.

 

[Alum-Ni]

An invitation is on the table for Logan View to join the East Husker. Twin River has announced its plans to leave the EHC

Changes coming to East Husker Conference

Change is on the horizon for the East Husker Conference, which was addressed at the West Point Public Schools Board of Education meeting held February 12.

www.wpnews.com

 

[Alum-Ni]

NEW CONFERENCE
Elkhorn Valley
Hartington-Newcastle
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
Lutheran High Northeast
Neligh-Oakdale
Plainview
Summerland
West Holt

MID-STATE CONFERENCE
Battle Creek
Boone Central
Crofton
Guardian Angels Central Catholic
Hartington Cedar Catholic
Norfolk Catholic
O'Neill
Pierce
Ponca
Wayne

EAST HUSKER CONFERENCE
Bancroft-Rosalie
Clarkson/Leigh
Howells-Dodge
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
Lyons-Decatur Northeast
Madison
North Bend Central
Oakland-Craig
Pender
Stanton
Tekamah-Herman
Wakefield
West Point-Beemer
Wisner-Pilger

NIOBRARA VALLEY CONFERENCE
Boyd County
Chambers/Wheeler Central
Elgin/Elgin Pope John
Niobrara/Verdigre
North Central
O'Neill St. Mary's
Santee
Stuart

LEWIS & CLARK CONFERENCE
Bloomfield
Creighton
Homer
Osmond
Randolph
Tri County Northeast
Walthill
Wausa
Winnebago
Winside
Wynot

TBD
Twin River

 

[northeastNebraska]

An invitation is on the table for Logan View to join the East Husker. Twin River has announced its plans to leave the EHC

Changes coming to East Husker Conference

Change is on the horizon for the East Husker Conference, which was addressed at the West Point Public Schools Board of Education meeting held February 12.

www.wpnews.com

I wonder if LV is unhappy in the Capitol? They just moved there two years ago.

Twin River is heading to the CRC. (LINK)

 

[Alum-Ni]

I wonder if LV is unhappy in the Capitol? They just moved there two years ago.

Thy co-op with Scribner-Snyder in a lot of activities and I believe S-S is still technically a member of the EHC.

 

[nenebskers]

Ponca is joining the Mid-State Conference

Ponca, Wakefield switching conferences

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

norfolkdailynews.com

Ponca, Wakefield Switching Conferences
by Mike Renning, Norfolk Daily News

After eight schools recently formed a new conference, other schools are moving from existing conferences to enhance experiences for their students and to find a better fit elsewhere.

Wakefield recently voted to accept an invitation to the East Husker Conference and the Ponca school board recently accepted an invitation to compete in the Mid-State Conference beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

"It just made sense for us," Wakefield superintendent Matt Farup said. "We didn't go out looking for a new conference, but with the schools leaving the Lewis & Clark Conference, we thought it was a good time to check around and see what's out there and what fits best for our students."

Hartington-Newcastle, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, and Plainview recently voted to leave the Lewis & Clark Conference in the 2025-26 school year to join four Niobrara Valley Conference schools -- Neligh-Oakdale, West Holt, Elkhorn Valley and Summerland -- along with former independent Lutheran High Northeast to form a yet unnamed conference.

"We felt we needed to get to a conference with schools that are more our size," Farup said. "We didn't set out to leave the Lewis & Clark. We just felt like this was the right time, and we're excited to get into the East Husker."

Ditto for Ponca.

"We have mixed feelings here at Ponca," longtime athletic director and coach Bob Hayes said. "I've played and coached in the Lewis & Clark Conference for longer than I care to admit, but there are a lot of relationships and memories from that conference."

At the same time, Hayes realizes there is a new opportunity.

"We're very excited to get into the Mid-State," he said. "The schools are more our size, and the talent in all aspects of extra-curricular activities is really good. The fine arts, speech, drama and music is really, really good. The athletics, we all know about."

Wakefield was one of the founding members of the East Husker Conference back in the 1940s according to Farup, and left there to join the Lewis & Clark n the '70s.

"We're excited for our students for sure," Farup said. "The East Husker will give us opportunities and, for us, it's kind of going back home."

Ponca is also looking forward to its new opportunities.

"There are no ill feelings towards the Lewis & Clark or any of its members," Hayes said. "We'll miss a lot of people we have developed relationships with over the years. This was just too good of an opportunity to pass up for our kids and the school."

Existing members of the Mid-State are excited to have Ponca join as well.

"They will fit into our conference," Norfolk Catholic athletic director and football coach Jeff Bellar said. "We've been a nine-member conference for a while, and 10 is just a better number. I really think this will be better for us all."

Three types of mascots in the Mid-States;

The birds; Bluejays, Bluejays, Cardinals, and Eagles.

The Native American heritage; Warriors, Braves, and Indians.

The fighters; Knights, Trojans, and Blue Devils.

 

[northeastNebraska]

 

[Hardwoodbeaver]

Not a good fit for Ponca

 

[Llama57]

Not a good fit for Ponca

Their schedule will get exponentially harder.

 

[EndzoneView]

Their schedule will get exponentially harder.

Ya I was thinking both them and Wakefield are going to have a rough transition to their new conferences from the Lewis n Clark

 

[nenebskers]

Their schedule will get exponentially harder.

Agreed, but is that a bad thing? They are a C2 that has had success at the state level playing in a conference full of D schools. Good move for them to strengthen their schedules and belong in a stable conference. Why stay in the L&C where they were consistently finishing at the top? Many of the L&C schools are consistently dealing with the struggle of fielding JV teams. Many are also just trying to figure out who to coop with. Why would Ponca stay in that environment when they were offered to join a stable conference in which they already have multiple standing rivalries? Will they have less success in the Mid-States then the L&C, most certainly. Will they hold their own, be competitive, and bring value to the conference, yes.

Their softball plays Boone, O'Neil, Wayne, GACC, and Pierce already (all the Mid-States schools that offer softball). Volleyball plays Wayne, Pierce, Crofton, and Cedar already. Basketball plays Wayne, Battle Creek, Cedar, and Crofton already. Most of us on this board tend to think of conferences as Boys Basketball, some Girls Basketball, and a tiny bit of Volleyball. In reality there are multiple other sports and activities that these schools are involved in at the conference level. Ponca is the only school in the conference to offer softball. Probably less than half of the L&C offer golf and cross country. Although not a conference activity, they have been the only school to play 11 man for about 6 years now.

As far as fit, Ponca is very similar to Crofton, Cedar, and GACC. Those schools seem to do just fine. Obviously Cedar and GACC are a little different being privates. One thing I'll say about the Mid-States, it is about as even of a conference as you'll find. No school has completely dominated it. There seems to be a very good competive balance. Their conference tournaments are fun to follow because you'll see the 3, 4, 5, etc... seeds come out on top on a regular basis. Probably most important is you rarely see one of the schools teams be very poor. The exception may be Crofton boys basketball over the years though they are starting to be more competitive of late.

 

[Llama57]

Agreed, but is that a bad thing? They are a C2 that has had success at the state level playing in a conference full of D schools. Good move for them to strengthen their schedules and belong in a stable conference. Why stay in the L&C where they were consistently finishing at the top? Many of the L&C schools are consistently dealing with the struggle of fielding JV teams. Many are also just trying to figure out who to coop with. Why would Ponca stay in that environment when they were offered to join a stable conference in which they already have multiple standing rivalries?

Their softball plays Boone, O'Neil, Wayne, GACC, and Pierce already (all the Mid-States schools that offer softball). Volleyball plays Wayne, Pierce, Crofton, and Cedar already. Basketball plays Wayne, Battle Creek, Cedar, and Crofton already. Most of us on this board tend to think of conferences as Boys Basketball, some Girls Basketball, and a tiny bit of Volleyball. In reality there are multiple other sports and activities that these schools are involved in at the conference level. Ponca is the only school in the conference to offer softball. Probably less than half of the L&C offer golf and cross country. Although not a conference activity, they have been the only school to play 11 man for about 6 years now.

As far as fit, Ponca is very similar to Crofton, Cedar, and GACC. Those schools seem to do just fine. Obviously Cedar and GACC are a little different being privates. One thing I'll say about the Mid-States, it is about as even of a conference as you'll find. No school has completely dominated it. There seems to be a very good competive balance. Their conference tournaments are fun to follow because you'll see the 3, 4, 5, etc... seeds come out on top on a regular basis. Probably most important is you rarely see one of the schools teams be very poor. The exception may be Crofton boys basketball over the years though they are starting to be more competitive of late.

I didn't say it was a bad thing. Just stating that replacing Hartington, Osmond, Walthill, Allen, etc. with GACC, O'Neill, Norfolk Cath, Boone, & Pierce is quite an upgrade in scheduling.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Not a good fit for Ponca

I also thought they'd be a better fit in EHC. I haven't followed their enrollment trends, but haven't they been struggling to field football teams?

 

[northeastNebraska]

Their schedule will get exponentially harder.

Iron sharpens iron. Ponca doesn't seem to be the school to walk away from a challenge or go the easy route. Will their schedule get tougher? You bet. But as @nenebskers said, they play a majority of these schools in other sports already. Their girls sports will have a tough time right away, but their boys basketball team has always held their own. Including against Mid-State teams.

This move shows Ponca has high expectations for the athletics, students and school. I think it was the most logical add for the Mid-State to get back to 10, not sure who else would have been worth an add with Elkhorn Valley and LHNE moving to the new unnamed conference. That matters in the discussion too.

I think the EHC would have been fine fit as well, but they have more tradition and rivalries with Crofton, Cedar, and Wayne. Only common opponent in the EHC is Wakefield.

Staying in the L&C for Ponca would be like Nebraska staying in the Big 12. A bad decision for the future. Go play with the best instead of being in a smaller conference.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Iron sharpens iron. Ponca doesn't seem to be the school to walk away from a challenge or go the easy route. Will their schedule get tougher? You bet. But as @nenebskers said, they play a majority of these schools in other sports already. Their girls sports will have a tough time right away, but their boys basketball team has always held their own. Including against Mid-State teams.

This move shows Ponca has high expectations for the athletics, students and school. I think it was the most logical add for the Mid-State to get back to 10, not sure who else would have been worth an add with Elkhorn Valley and LHNE moving to the new unnamed conference. That matters in the discussion too.

I think the EHC would have been fine fit as well, but they have more tradition and rivalries with Crofton, Cedar, and Wayne. Only common opponent in the EHC is Wakefield.

Staying in the L&C for Ponca would be like Nebraska staying in the Big 12. A bad decision for the future. Go play with the best instead of being in a smaller conference.

If I were the Mid-State Conference commissioner, I would have reached out to Columbus Lakeview to gauge their interest.

 

[northeastNebraska]

If I were the Mid-State Conference commissioner, I would have reached out to Columbus Lakeview to gauge their interest.

I would have said that a few years ago, because they seem like a natural fit and a good travel partner for Boone. They play Boone, Pierce and Wayne often in activities, but no one else in that league.

The Lakeview area north of Columbus is growing quite quickly. If that growth continues, who knows? They could be a small Class B in everything in 5-10 years. Their girls were the 4th largest in C1 this year in terms of enrollment.

 

[SPbObRT]

the new league with LHNE in it should address fan behavior before the first games, the fans are absolutely terrible and nobody wants to step up and stop it.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Twin River is joining the Crossroads Conference next season per TR's school board minutes.

 

[EndzoneView]

No idea what Ponca youth sports look like but early returns on the switch to mid states look like it may be a rough ride.

 

[northeastNebraska]

No idea what Ponca youth sports look like but early returns on the switch to mid states look like it may be a rough ride.

Their boys went 4-1 against Mid-State opponents this year.

Beat Wayne (21-6) 54-43
Beat Battle Creek (11-12) 52-44
Beat Crofton (7-15) 52-33
Beat Cedar (19-6) 50-36
Lost to Norfolk Catholic (18-8) today 62-33.

It's going to be a transition, but it's better than staying in the LC.

 

[Cornicator]

Ponca had conference affiliation on their school board meeting agenda on Monday, the following is what was posted in the minutes: "Moved to authorize the superintendent to execute all necessary documents to attain new conference affiliation."

Have heard that Ainsworth has been asked to leave the SWC, but haven't heard official official word on that. I know that the NVC has held their position on not allowing them to join....which still makes ZERO sense to me.

Is the issue related to Ainsworth having such a crazy disparity between Girls and Boys Enrollment? For instance, small high school girls programs like St. Mary's, Stuart, and CWC would be forced to play two games per year vs. a much larger C2 school.

 

[northeastNebraska]

Is the issue related to Ainsworth having such a crazy disparity between Girls and Boys Enrollment? For instance, small high school girls programs like St. Mary's, Stuart, and CWC would be forced to play two games per year vs. a much larger C2 school.

That could be part of the hesitation. But I can’t imagine that’ll continue with lower grades.

Plus the NVC is losing some members in 25-26. Summerland, Neligh-Oakdale, West Holt and Elkhorn Valley are all leaving for a new conference. They would need to add a team or two I would think and Ainsworth is the most logical.

 

[nenebskers]

Anyone aware how the conference's meeting in late February went? Are the remaining Knox County schools (Bloomfield, Creighton, Wausa and Osmond) still considering the Niobrara Valley? Will the three schools leaving for the new conference in 25-26 (LCC, Plainview, and Hartington-Newcastle) be competing in the L&C next year? All 3 previously said they would not be a member next year if asked?

 

[EndzoneView]

The remaining L&C schools are going to keep the conference together as is with the remaining 11 or 12 schools it sounds like. Niobrara valley conference is fine moving forward with their 8 schools it sounded like. Believe those 3 schools will be independent next year rather than be part of L&C.

 

[nenebskers]

The remaining L&C schools are going to keep the conference together as is with the remaining 11 or 12 schools it sounds like. Niobrara valley conference is fine moving forward with their 9 schools it sounded like. Believe those 3 schools will be independent next year rather than be part of L&C.

I'm glad the Knox County schools are staying in the L&C. It appears the remaining schools will be much more similar going forward, excluding Winnebago and also Walthill to some degree. While Wynot will very well dominate the conference, as a whole it should be more balanced.

 

[TC53]

Academic exercise: If we were to declare conferences as belonging to Classes A, B, C, or D, what conferences would be the most difficult to pigeonhole like that?

 

[EndzoneView]

I'm glad the Knox County schools are staying in the L&C. It appears the remaining schools will be much more similar going forward, excluding Winnebago and also Walthill to some degree. While Wynot will very well dominate the conference, as a whole it should be more balanced.

Yeah to a point, wynot will lose a massively successful senior class for both boys and girls. They seem to always replace their girls though. Boys wise Winnebago and walthill have had pretty successful runs the last decade in basketball. Wausa should have a pretty competitive boys team the next 3-4 years with all the younger kids they played this year. Not sure who would be considered the second best team behind wynot for girls basketball or volleyball with LCC and plainview leaving. Tri-county has some pretty athletic younger girls that should show out this track season, not sure if that’s gonna translate to the other sport’s however.

 

[rufuller]

Yeah to a point, wynot will lose a massively successful senior class for both boys and girls. They seem to always replace their girls though. Boys wise Winnebago and walthill have had pretty successful runs the last decade in basketball. Wausa should have a pretty competitive boys team the next 3-4 years with all the younger kids they played this year. Not sure who would be considered the second best team behind wynot for girls basketball or volleyball with LCC and plainview leaving. Tri-county has some pretty athletic younger girls that should show out this track season, not sure if that’s gonna translate to the other sport’s however.

Greater Northeast Activities Conference (GNAC) will be starting this fall 2024.
Elkhorn Valley
Hartington-Newcastle
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
Lutheran High Northeast
Neligh-Oakdale
Plainview
Summerland
West Holt

 

[Alum-Ni]

Greater Northeast Activities Conference (GNAC) will be starting this fall 2024.
Elkhorn Valley
Hartington-Newcastle
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
Lutheran High Northeast
Neligh-Oakdale
Plainview
Summerland
West Holt

Is that the name they chose? I thought it wasn't starting until 2025-26?

 

[nenebskers]

Yeah to a point, wynot will lose a massively successful senior class for both boys and girls. They seem to always replace their girls though. Boys wise Winnebago and walthill have had pretty successful runs the last decade in basketball. Wausa should have a pretty competitive boys team the next 3-4 years with all the younger kids they played this year. Not sure who would be considered the second best team behind wynot for girls basketball or volleyball with LCC and plainview leaving. Tri-county has some pretty athletic younger girls that should show out this track season, not sure if that’s gonna translate to the other sport’s however.

The Wynot boys have deep and talented grades coming up. They will continue to make deep runs in football and basketball. The girls will take a little dip but with their coaching and program will be just fine, just won't be competing for state titles the next few years but will be just fine at the conference level, especially with the schools that are leaving.

Neither Plainview or LCC girls were real challengers to Wynot the last 10 years. Plainview had a decent year this year but we're never a real threat.

Winnebago and Walthill boys do decent but the challenge those schools present is their girls teams. Regardless of sport they are always some of the worst in the state.

Not so confident about the TCNE girls. If they perform like they did in youth and JHigh they will struggle. But, kids change and develop at different rates so who knows.

I think the school that benefits the most with the 5 schools leaving is Homer. They now become the 2nd largest in the conference in enrollment and should be much better positioned to compete.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Greater Northeast Activities Conference (GNAC) will be starting this fall 2024.
Elkhorn Valley
Hartington-Newcastle
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
Lutheran High Northeast
Neligh-Oakdale
Plainview
Summerland
West Holt

Perusing the minutes of the school board meetings of the entities involved, it appears you are correct. Will begin in 2024-25 and the name is the Greater Northeast Activities Conference.

I can't say I really like the name, we already have a GNAC (Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference).

 

[runningback43]

Perusing the minutes of the school board meetings of the entities involved, it appears you are correct. Will begin in 2024-25 and the name is the Greater Northeast Activities Conference.

I can't say I really like the name, we already have a GNAC (Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference).

I don’t really like the name either.

 

[NE Neb BB]

I don’t really like the name either.

I guess NENAC wasn’t good enough… needed to be the GREAT NENAC. Ha