Cedar Valley Christian’s independence, and other area high school conference moves for 2022-23

CEDAR RAPIDS — Principal Jeff Posipisil said that Cedar Valley Christian’s enrollment is beginning to rebound at the elementary level.

“But that doesn’t help our high school teams right now,” he said.

As a result, Cedar Valley will pause its Tri-Rivers Conference athletics membership for at least the next two school years, and compete as an independent.

“We don’t want to be a burden to those schools. We don’t want it to be a deal that we have to tell them at the last minute that we can’t field a team,” Pospisil said.

“We’re still going to pay Tri-Rivers dues, and we’ll still be a Tri-Rivers member for fine arts, choir and those things. As far as sports, we’re taking a two-year break, and hopefully (in 2024-25), we’re able to build our high school sports programs back up. We’ve got some athletes in middle school.”

CVCS will continue to be a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and will be eligible for postseason competition.

The school, which joined the Tri-Rivers in 2013, has an enrollment of 36 students in grades 9-12. The Huskies had a sharing agreement with Isaac Newton Christian Academy recently, but Pospisil said INCA has severed that alliance in favor of a sharing agreement with Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Posipisil said the school will field volleyball, boys’ basketball and soccer teams for certain. Girls’ basketball is wait-and-see.

The volleyball program (11-14 in 2021) and the boys’ basketball team (11-11 last season) have been competitive recently, and the girls’ soccer team — shared with Alburnett — reached a regional final a few years back.

Girls’ basketball won 10 games in 2017-18, but has backtracked since.

Cedar Valley’s decision is one of several major changes in conference affiliations, effective this school year.

A look at area leagues:

Mississippi Valley

CHANGES

Waterloo East has left for the Iowa Alliance Conference, leaving the MVC with 15 schools for now.

2022-23 MEMBERSHIP (divisions reshuttle in 2023-24)

Mississippi Division

Cedar Falls

Cedar Rapids Prairie

Cedar Rapids Washington

Dubuque Wahlert

Iowa City High

Iowa City Liberty

Linn-Mar

Western Dubuque

Valley Division

Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Cedar Rapids Xavier

Dubuque Hempstead

Dubuque Senior

Iowa City West

Waterloo West

Wamac

CHANGES

Dyersville Beckman and Maquoketa have departed for the River Valley, leaving 11 schools. Independence moves to the East Division.

Next year, Grinnell will join and be placed in the West Division, and Center Point-Urbana will transition to the East.

2022-23 MEMBERSHIP

East Division

Independence

Marion

Mount Vernon

Solon

West Delaware

West Division

Benton Community

Center Point-Urbana

Clear Creek Amana

South Tama

Vinton-Shellsburg

Williamsburg

River Valley

CHANGES

Beckman and Maquoketa have entered from the Wamac, and will be placed in the North Division. North Cedar has left for the Tri-Rivers Conference.

The River Valley will consist of 15 schools and operate more as two different leagues than it has in the past.

2022-23 MEMBERSHIP

North Division

Anamosa

Bellevue

Camanche

Cascade

Dyersville Beckman

Maquoketa

Monticello

Northeast

South Division

Durant

Iowa City Regina

Mid-Prairie

Tipton

West Branch

West Liberty

Wilton

Tri-Rivers

CHANGES

North Cedar enters from the River Valley. Cedar Valley Christian is leaving the league (athletics only) for two years, and will compete as an independent. Athletics membership will consist of 15 schools.

2022-23 MEMBERSHIP

East Division

Bellevue Marquette

Calamus-Wheatland

Clinton Prince of Peace

Easton Valley

Lisbon

Midland

North Cedar

West Division

Alburnett

Central City

East Buchanan

Edgewood-Colesburg

Maquoketa Valley

North Linn

Springville

Starmont

Elsewhere ...

There is no change in any other leagues for 2022-23.

The Northeast Iowa Conference will subtract Waverly-Shell Rock from its roster in 2023-24. As of now, the only five remaining schools will be Charles City, Crestwood, Decorah, New Hampton and Waukon. They are trying to attract other schools to join.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com