Oxford High School athletic teams could be playing opponents such as Naugatuck, Derby and Seymour next year rather than the likes of Pomperaug, Newtown and Brookfield.
That’s because the Oxford Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a committee’s recommendation that OHS apply for acceptance into the Naugatuck Valley League. Currently, Oxford plays in the South-West Conference.
A driving force behind the move, according to supporters, is that Oxford is a small school and will have an opportunity to compete against more similar-sized schools in the NVL. The SWC has several large schools and thus more student-athletes, school board members said.
“Moving to the NVL from the SWC is not going to mean that Oxford student-athletes aren’t going to have some really long days,” said school board member Gerard Carbonaro, who spearheaded a discussion about the move.
“I’ll be proud of our kids if they compete favorably in that league,” he said. “But I know as adults, I think it’s our job and our responsibility to put these kids in the best position to succeed. The fact that the NVL has eight schools that have populations within 300 students of Oxford - and the SWC only has four - makes a big difference.”
The move is not a done deal. The NVL still has to accept Oxford. If accepted, Oxford teams whose sport is not offered in the NVL, such as boys’ volleyball, would continue to play in the SWC. Board members say the move would have no negative impact on current sports teams.
The high school has been competing in the SWC since opening to students in 2007. Board Chairwoman Paula Guillet said that the move to the NVL is a good not only because of the chance to play smaller schools, but also because NVL schools are closer, thus cutting down on commute times and travel expenses. And she said people in Oxford, many of whom attended Seymour High School before Oxford had a school, want to see league competition between Seymour and Oxford.
Committee member Dave Yish, a former selectman, said he anticipates better attendance at games that are closer.
“It should help with pride and morale for our students,” he said.
And committee member Bill Hovan said many parents have expressed concerns about not being able to attend games that are too far away.
This is off the top of my head. Will the NVL be easier? In some sports yes and others no. Some years yes, others no. But the NVL has no Boys Volleyball team so that team gets left out to dry. Wrestling and Girls XC almost 1/2 of the NVl does not have a team. So inistead of playing against 16 schools or so you are now playing against 6-7 and some of those NVL schools that have teams barely can fill team. Boys XC 3-4 NVL schools don't have a team. 63 kids from the SWC went to the State Opens in XC vs 5 from the NVL, 2 teams in the SWC were top 3 in the staet and 6 in New England. If they don't have an XC team that most likely means their tracks teams will be very small too or the 4 distance events will not be covered. That is 20% of the meet. Swimmng, Cheerleading also have fewer teams to compete against. You have a 1 in 16 chance of winning the SWC now in some sports in the NVL the chances are 1 in 8 or less. Techinally that makes it easier. Basketball and Football will probably struggle. In football you lose 2 you have no shot at states, Basketball you are looking at probably 8 losses guaranteed. Plus in hoops the NVL plays no out of league games. I don't know enough about the Baseball and Softball teams in the NVL but I am sure there are some good teams and terrible ones too. I am sure the Waterbury schools are not good in baseball and softball. The main reason for the SWC is that every school covers just about every sport and the NVL does not.
Agreed on the XC and Track fronts as well....much bigger part of SWC land than NVL land. Cheerleaders from Seymour and Oxford both seemingly win some type of competition every single year, so I don't see that being a big issue. I see your logic that hanging banners in a few areas will become mathematically easier. (Behind the scenes though isn't that exactly the reason driving this decision?) Football (in my humble opinion) will have about the same outcome (though the possibility of a "valley" division sounds great to this valley guy). Derby thought a few years back they would march into the NVL from the SCC and have great success. This year was Derby's first winning season in the NVL. Basketball will be rough. NVL is arguably the best conference in the state at the top of the league. FYI (currently) both Basketball and Baseball (and football) allow for ONE out of conference game per year. The Basketball schedules are weighted to give an easier road to the suburban schools in hoops.
So ask your kids this. If there are two Buses gased up and running side by side, one was marked Joel Barlow the other one was Seymour. Which one would your kid get on?
What does that mean to you Oxford folk? Well it could mean that being in a division with Seymour, Woodland, Derby and Ansonia. That means that you would play those teams every year guaranteed in football and home/away every year in most other sports. So trips to Danbury, Fairfield and Weston to meet up with your Patriot Division rivals would be out the door. Would you perhaps have to go to St. Paul in Bristol or Torrington every other year in some sports? Sure. But fyi....Seymour has NEVER played St. Paul in football yet in the four years since St. Paul joined up.
I am confident that the BOE will review all public input and make the best fiscal decision for our town as to not increase our expenses but decrease them. For those of you who would like an opportunity to voice your opinion, on Tuesday November 27 at 7pm in the media center at OHS there will be a Board of Ed meeting to further discuss the possible league change.
"Old Business: The Athletic League Committee Report – Chair P. Guillet reports that after hearing many concerns from parents and coaches regarding fair competition due to the size of the schools in the Southwest Conference, the athletic conference we are currently participating in, the Board formed a committee to study the matter. Our Athletic league committee consists of Board members Paula Guillet, Lisa Hellauer, Gerard Carbonaro and William Neary. William Hovan and David Yish were also added as parents from our community. The charge was to gather information and establish criteria in the best interest of the children of Oxford when it comes to athletics and study the matter in regards to both the Southwest Conference and the Naugatuck Valley League and make a recommendation to the full Board. Our Athletic Director, Joe Stochmal gathered input from all the head coaches and was interviewed by the committee. Former Asst. Principal and A.D. Glenn Lungarini, OHS Principal Frank Savo, Interim Superintendents Connelly and Reed, Superintendent, Tim Connellan and many parents also gave their opinion on the matter."
This year Seymour traveled to Municipal Stadium in Waterbury (a lovely facility the majority of Waterbury schools play their football and soccer games at) to play Kennedy. Seymour also played at Ansonia (literally a 5 minute drive), at Crosby HS of Waterbury, at Watertown HS (the furthest drive in 2012) and will play Thanksiving Eve at Woodland HS (10 minutes). Watertown HS is 18.2 miles from Seymour HS, and an estimated 28 minute drive). Seymour football has never traveled to St. Paul and hasn't been up to Torrington in more than four years. In hoops and baseball we currently have to travel to those two outlying school once every other year.
I think it is rude and inconsiderate of you to say that playing in the NVL is dumbing down. Who says the NVL is less competitive then the SWC? Those kids play just as hard as the kids in the SWC. Have a little respect for the players and coaches in the NVL.