Anamosa will apply for River Valley membership

It could be the first part of a new wave of conference movement. Or it could be merely a ripple.

Athletics Director Bret Jones confirmed Friday morning that Anamosa will seek entrance into the River Valley Conference, effective the 2018-19 school year.

'It's not all about trying to win,” Jones said. 'The River Valley Conference is plenty strong. What this comes down to is what we need to do for our school, our kids and our programs.”

The Anamosa school board voted unanimously Monday to pursue a spot in the River Valley, which currently houses 13 members. Anamosa has been a member of the member of the Wamac since 2007.

This isn't the only move that could come about in 2018-19. The Mississippi Valley Conference covets another Wamac school, Western Dubuque, with hopes of balancing out a league that will expand to 15 schools upon the arrival of Iowa City Liberty that year.

And Dyersville Beckman AD Todd Troutman said Friday that a meeting is set for Nov. 1 among Beckman coaches to gauge their interest in applying for River Valley membership.

According to the most recent BEDS Documents), Anamosa is the second smallest school in the Wamac with 290 students in grades 10-12. It would be the second largest school in the River Valley (behind West Liberty).

The current RVC consists of Monticello, Camanche, Northeast, Cascade, Norh Cedar and Bellevue in the North Division, West Liberty, Mid-Prairie, Tipton, Iowa City Regina, West Branch, Wilton and Durant in the South.

'I hope they see us as a positive addition,” Jones said. 'I think we would be a very good fit.”

With 216 students in the top three grades, Beckman is the smallest school in the Wamac by a large margin, and Troutman anticipates that margin to grow in the next two years.

'Our junior class has about 100 students, and when they graduate, that will have a significant impact,” he said. 'In an ideal world, our enrollment would stay high enough that we wouldn't have to have this conversation, because I love the Wamac and everything about it. But the reality of our numbers is that we need to consider all of our options.

'Our size would fit well with the River Valley, but I'm not sure the southern schools would like the extra travel.”

Meanwhile, Western Dubuque AD John Hlubek continues to gather information from his coaches on whether they want to stay in the Wamac or make the leap to the MVC.

'I want to get their input collected as soon as possible,” Hlubek said, then we'll meet with our principal and superintendent. If we're going to jump to the MVC, there are a lot of things to consider. We'll probably need more coaches. We might need to consider transportation, like charter-bus expenses. If we would go to the MVC, it would be a big commitment.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com