New configuration aims to balance sports competition
The most comprehensive league realignment in years will be implemented this fall when the former North Bay League and Sonoma County League merge into one league with two divisions.
The new configuration will include Windsor, Analy, El Molino, Cardinal Newman, Elsie Allen, Healdsburg, Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Piner, Rancho Cotate, Santa Rosa and Ukiah.
The NCS realignment also calls for Casa Grande, Petaluma and Sonoma Valley High Schools to join a new “Southern Sonoma/Napa League” with American Canyon, Justin Siena, Napa and Vintage. The Marin County Athletic League would remain unchanged with the exception of the loss of Justin Siena.
In an effort to achieve competitive balance, a key component to the new alignment is the formation of two six-school divisions within the league, based on the strength and track record of teams in each sport. Divisions will be assigned on a sport-by-sport basis and school rankings would be reconfigured every two years.
The new league will consist of a competitive Oak Division, while the Redwood Division is comprised of less competitive teams.
As an example, Analy, with about 1,100 students, will compete in the Oak Division in football and basketball, while competing in the Redwood Division in boys soccer and track. In all, Analy teams occupying the competitive Oak Division will outnumber those placed in the Redwood Division 13-4.
El Molino, with a total enrollment of just over 600 students, will be among the small schools to benefit from realignment. All 17 of the Lion’s varsity teams have been placed in the Redwood Division, a situation that should lead to better results in games and a much more competitive league.
“I’m very excited for the league realignment, it puts us with teams with a record very much like our own and will make matches more exciting,” El Molino volleyball coach Becky Sani said. “Our program has been improving over the last few years and I look forward to being very competitive in the new Redwood Division.”
With enrollment about twice as large as El Molino, Analy has been nothing short of dominant in athletics since the last realignment took place in 2011. The new configuration promises to make it much tougher to hang league pennants in all sports against many of the top programs in the North Bay.
“The new league will certainly increase the level of competition,” longtime Analy Athletic Director Joe Ellwood predicted. “We’re looking forward to building relationships with more of our local schools while maintaining the ability of playing teams from the other division in non-league contests.”
A good example of the impact of realignment will be in girls soccer, where the Analy girls have dominated the Sonoma County League in recent years in capturing four straight championships. The Tigers will find the sledding tough in the ultra-competitive Oak Division, battling the likes of nationally ranked Maria Carrillo and Montgomery highs.
“Competition is going to be tough,” Tigers soccer coach Brittney Briones said. “I’m expecting this to be a challenging season that is full of learning and growing. I’m looking forward to the challenge and believe the girls will rise to the occasion. This will help us better prepare for playoffs, grow as individuals and as a team. Each game is a going to be big, it should be fun.”
