Bolivar High School’s initial application to join the Ozark Conference has been denied. The Liberators were looking for a new home after the bulk of the COC-Small schools joined with the Big 8 Conference in December. None of these changes will take effect until the 2018-19 cycle.
Waynesville High School principal Courtney Long is the president of the Ozark Conference this year and was in charge of the voting that wrapped up Monday. The vote, made by each of the member schools’ principals, required a two-thirds majority which was not reached. Springfield Central is an incoming member of the OC, but is not yet eligible to vote. Joplin is leaving the conference for the COC-Large in 2018-19.
“We asked each school to look at it in the best interest of their school,” said Long, who voted in favor of Bolivar joining.
The main point of contention was related to football. The current 10-school Ozark Conference allows the league to play all nine regular season games against each other, creating a “true champion”. Adding an 11th school would create an odd number, meaning each week one school would be required to either take a bye or schedule out of the area.
Despite the vote, Bolivar remains optimistic that they may still join the Ozark Conference in all sports except football.
“We’re going to re-apply for everything but football,” said Bolivar Athletic Director Todd Schrader. “It’s a tough decision for everyone. We’re not mad, but we want to do what’s best for our kids.”
Bolivar, who won or shared the COC-Small football title in each year of its existence, will play one more year in the league before being forced to go independent beginning in 2018. Schrader is already working on a schedule that will include schools to the north and possibly neighboring-state schools of comparable size like Harrison, Ark. and Pittsburg, Kan.
The Missouri High School Activities Association is not involved in conference decisions such as this.
No timetable has been set for a decision on Bolivar’s new application.
