Realignment: New league would cut travel costs locally

Thu. February 16, 2012 at 5:14 p.m. | By Powell Latimer | StarNews Staff Writer

Topsail High School is will appeal the school's move to a 3A school in the Mideastern Conference. (Photo by StarNews file)

The NCHSAA released its second realignment plan to member schools on Thursday morning and, at least in Wilmington and Brunswick County, athletic administrators are happy.
The plan calls for a split 4A/3A Mideastern Conference including the four Wilmington public high schools, South and West Brunswick and Topsail. This realignment draft will go into effect for the 2013-14 school year, barring a convincing formal appeal from individual schools. Typically, this realignment draft is difficult for schools to alter.
The Pirates' move to a 3A school allowed for the more local conference. The current version of the Mideastern Conference raised hackles both in Wilmington and in Greenville. All schools were unhappy with the extensive travel required, and all sought to enter split conferences to reduce travel.
"I think it's good," New Hanover athletic director Keith Moore said. "Just with proximity and trying to draw some crowds, some good gates. I think we've paid the price the past few years with travel."
The average round trip in the current Mideastern Conference is 116 miles. If the next realignment holds, the average round trip would be 53.7 miles.
West and South Brunswick also pushed hard on the grounds that it saved travel costs and would make both schools more competitive in the state playoffs.
The NCHSAA put the conference together despite the strong objections of Topsail.
Athletic director B.J. Horne spoke out publicly several times against joining the conference on the grounds that Topsail, which has grown from a 1A school in 2009 to a 3A school in 2013, would struggle to compete. Horne made that case again at the NCHSAA eastern realignment meeting and asked the realignment committee to place Topsail in a straight 3A conference with several schools to the north.
Horne said that Topsail planned to appeal the NCHSAA's plan.
Horne reiterated that Topsail's facilities and support resources simply aren't on par with its new rivals.
"Comparing Pender County with New Hanover County is not a level playing field, with resources and facilities and finances," Horne said. "We're not afraid of competition. We're fully capable to participate with 3A schools, but we don't want our kids to be overwhelmed."

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