NICL approaches Waterloo Columbus

Another wrinkle has arisen in the ongoing area conference shuffle.

Athletics director Aundra Meeks confirmed Thursday that Waterloo Columbus has been approached by the North Iowa Cedar League about possible membership.

"We are in the inquiring phase," Meeks said. "It isn't something we were looking at until all these other things transpired."

Columbus is a longtime member of the Wamac, but dwindling enrollment has made it the smallest of the 16 schools.

Meeks said the NICL approached as it became likely that Cedar Falls NU High will be closed.

"We're going to listen to what the NICL has to offer," Meeks said. "We already know what the Wamac has to offer."

The Iowa Department of Education will host a hearing Wednesday with a lot on the table. A committee, including David Anderson of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Mike Dick of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, has recommended several changes to conference affiliations in Eastern Iowa.

That included the move of Wamac member Anamosa to a new, yet-to-be-named conference. The committee also said that once the new alignments are in place, teams will be frozen within their leagues until August 2017.

A current member of the NICL, Union High in LaPorte City, has expressed interest in Wamac membership.