Ligonier Valley

[tubmill]

The WPIAL will release their new sections by January 20th. There are two proposals. One is keeping the status quo. In that scenario here is LV's new home:


Class 2A, Section 1

Apollo-Ridge, Ligonier Valley, Serra Catholic, Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley, Summit Academy

In the second proposal sections would be aligned geographically with different classifications in the same section. If that proposal is selected, here is the Rams new conference:

Section 11

Apollo-Ridge (2A), Burrell (3A), Deer Lakes (3A), Derry (3A), Freeport (3A), Highlands (4A), Indiana (4A), Ligonier Valley (2A), Summit Academy (2A), Valley (3A)

[Crimson's Ghost]

LVHS to Apollo-Ridge 37.7 miles
LVHS to Serra Catholic 36.7
LVHS to Shady Side Academy 54.1
LVHS to Steel Valley 50.1
LVHS to Summit Academy 61.6

LVHS to Burrell 42.2
LVHS to Deer Lakes 50.8
LVHS to Derry 11.2
LVHS to Freeport 50.8
LVHS to Highlands 48.5
LVHS to Indiana 36
LVHS to Valley 43.7

[Crimson's Ghost]

In an ideal world, Ligonier would be in a conference with GCC and Jeannette etc. but I think both schools are Single-A

[knowitall]

In an ideal world, Ligonier would be in a conference with Westmont, Johnstown, Richland, Somerset and Central Cambria.

[tubmill]

Distance from LV:

Westmont - 19.1 m
Forest Hills - 37.5 m
Bishop Guilfoyle - 62.7 m
Chestnut Ridge - 46.5 m
Central Cambria - 47.2 m
Bedford - 48.9 m
Bishop Carroll - 47.5 m
Greater Johnstown - 23.0 m
BM (Point Stadium) - 23.3 m
Somerset - 24.1 m
Richland - 31 m
Cambria Heights - 61.5 m

[tubmill]

Proposal 2 probably won't happen, but it is intriguing. There is finally a chance to develop rivalries. Indiana and Derry come to mine. When Ligonier was in the LHAC, they had absolutely no rivalries. LV thought that they had rivalries when they were in the Heritage, but that simply wasn't the case. If you talk to fans from all of the Heritage teams, they could have cared less if they played the Rams. In fact they would prefer not to play them. The Heritage already had built in rivalries that had lasted for decades. If the WPIAL chooses Proposal 1, I hope that they consider adding Derry, Mt. Pleasant, Yough or Southmoreland to the Ram's out of conference schedule!

[PAgridder2011]

Tubmill,it's going to be proposal 1 (the trib announced tonight) They will be in a conference with Apollo-Ridge, Steel Valley, Shady Side Academy, Serra Catholic, and Summitt. That is 5 of the games right there, LV will be responsible for scheduling week 0 and Jeannette would be a good place to start looking or possibly GCC. Then the WPIAL will hand pick cross over games based on geography and competitive balance for 4 games. Possibilities here include, Charleroi and Wash high (very likely), Beth Center and Frazier. There are 24 Single A (even number) teams so I'm not sure if they will schedule those up to 2A for non-conference. If they do GCC and Jeannette are likely. If not, schools like Derry and Elizabeth Forward on the schedule could be possible.

[tubmill]

I would love to see Jeannette, GCC and Derry on the schedule. I would much rather see Southmoreland or Yough rather than Wash High, EF or Frazier. I don't think that will happen.

[PAgridder2011]

Southmoreland and Yough would be possible as well as 3A schools. It will be interesting to see how much the WPIAL favors staying within classification, especially at the lower levels. Personally, I've always maintained most coaches would rather play teams in their own class, which was kind of proven by the WPIAL survey results.

[tubmill]

PAgridder2011, looking at the 2A sections, you are probably right about LV's non-conference opponents. I would love to see Derry on the schedule to provide a natural rivalry.