NPHS applies to Big Nine, Wright County conferences

Anticipating a possible rejection for membership in the Metro West Conference, the New Prague Area School Board gave approval for New Prague High School to apply for membership in the Big Nine and Wright County conferences beginning with the 2014-15 school year. 

New Prague's current conference, the Missota Conference, is breaking up after the 2013-14 season. Farmington and Shakopee are headed to the South Suburban Conference, while Chaska and Chanhassen will be two of seven members in the new Metro West Conference. Northfield and Red Wing are expected to be admitted to the Big Nine Conference at a meeting in early May.

New Prague has applied to the Metro West Conference, but NPHS Activities Director Brad Skogerboe told board members at their April 22 meeting that he has been told by several of the ADs in that conference that the application would likely be rejected. The school would prefer the Metro West because it is the best fit both enrollment-wise and geographically. 

Skogerboe talked about different options. Besides the Big Nine and Wright County, other options were the South Suburban, which would be the best fit geographically, but where New Prague would be the smallest school by about 400 students; and the Classic Suburban, which would be a good fit enrollment-wise, but where the closest school, Henry Sibley, is 41 miles away. 

If all three conferences reject New Prague's application, the school could apply to the Minnesota State High School League to assign them to a conference. However with timelines for the process, that might not happen in time for the 2014-15 school year, which would force New Prague to play as an independent. 

Read more in the May 2 edition of The New Prague Times.