NE in the CNC? Move pondered

According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Northeast High School has been a charter member of the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League since its inception.
But there has been some chatter about the smallest school in the league looking for a way out.
“There’s a grassroots group of people that have looked into it but there are others that feel that we are a charter member of the league,” said outgoing Northeast Athletic Director Ken Cleland. “There is a sense of loyalty.”
And it is not that the chatter is unfounded either.
“Several superintendents met last year from some other leagues and schools and nothing came of that,” said Northeast Principal Alan Roberts. “They were looking at forming a new league but there was nothing from that.”
Those schools included Erie, Northeast, Yates Center, Humboldt and Pleasanton.
“There were probably seven or eight other schools that discussed the issues,” Roberts said. “They were looking to get teams to play 11-man football but when it came down to it, they decided not to attempt it.”
But it raises a question on whether a school like Northeast would benefit from joining another league with schools of similar size.
“It could be in some sports,” said incoming Northeast Athletic Director Jason Clemensen. “Obviously, travel-wise, it would not be but competitive-wise, some years it could be and some years it could not be.”
With the variance in school sizes — with Girard being the largest competing as a Class 4A school and Northeast and St. Mary’s-Colgan playing on the Class 2A level — Clemensen said that switching to a league that involved schools of closer size proximity would be a pro.
“Northeast, next to Colgan is the smallest school in the league I would say that would be a reason that it would be advantageous,” Clemensen said. “With Girard as a big school and Frontenac growing, I think that Northeast could be at a disadvantage.”
According to Cleland, there was a point in time when the school looked into even going independent.
“Honestly, we had looked into it earlier a couple of years ago,” Cleland said. “I asked the league to let us go independent and the league would not allow us to.”
In addition to school size, another factor for Northeast to change leagues would be the level of competition.
“I can say that when our kids play those teams up in that direction, we are able to compete a little better,” Cleland said.
But, Roberts said that the community of Arma may not be ready to let go of their ties to the CNC.
“I don’t know that the community has made a decision about that,” Roberts said. “A lot of people in the community feel that because we are a charter member of the CNC, there is some loyalty and you add in the fact that if we were to go to another league there would be a lot more travel involved.”
As for now, there is no intention for Northeast to vacate its charter to the league it has been involved with for so many years.
“All of my scheduling for the next couple of years have been to keep Northeast in the CNC,” Cleland said. “With the football cycles in district it would have to be something that is a few years down the road but there has been no action taken.”

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140