(Des Moines, IA) — Conference realignment is coming to Western Iowa. Des Moines Christian is the first domino to fall that could have repercussions for high schools in West Central Iowa. The Lions have accepted an invitation to join the Little Hawkeye Conference beginning in the 2006-07 school year. Ames will also be joining the conference in 06-07 and the Little Hawkeye has extended invitations to another West Central member Van Meter plus PCM, Knoxville and Urbandale.
Des Moines Christian will join Dallas Center Grimes, Indianola, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella, and Pella Christian. The Little Hawkeye has been looking to expand its membership since Grinnell left several years ago to join the WaMaC.
When DMC leaves, the West Central Activities Conference will have 10 members with AC/GC, Earlham, Interstate 35, Madrid, Ogden, Panorama, Pleasantville, Woodward Granger and West Central Valley plus Van Meter for now.
Audubon and IKM Manning currently have invitations from the Rolling Valley Conference to leave the Western Iowa Conference which is another domino that could fall. Audubon will vote at its next school board meeting on Monday, June 16 whether or not to accept the invite. IKM Manning is expected to act as well in its next school board meeting on leaving the WIC and going to the RVC.
The Western Iowa Conference is not expected to sit by and lose two of its members but options are limited as to where they might look for new members. It is unclear what the WCAC will do about replacing DMC in its conference.
