CIML News: Looks Like The Suburban Conference Thing Is Happening Faster Than I expected

[Gunnerclone]

It’s also happening in the reverse fashion of how I thought it would go down.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/s...e-high-school-sports-central-iowa/6868153002/

 

[Cyched]

Can't really blame those schools.

 

[Althetuna]

It’s also happening in the reverse fashion of how I thought it would go down.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/s...e-high-school-sports-central-iowa/6868153002/

Wow! Being a class of 1991 SEP grad, I never thought I'd see the day where anyone looked upon the athletics program as something special. (excepting the girls basketball program and Red Owens' wrestling program.)

"But, from my perspective at Mason City, how we can get more kids involved? When you talk about going up against the Valleys and the Southeast Polks and the Waukees and the Centennials and all that stuff week in and week out, it’s hard on the kids.

 

[Cyched]

The long bus rides were part of the charm of the CIML Iowa Division

Always envied the division that had Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, SEP, Indianola & Dowling.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Wow! Being a class of 1991 SEP grad, I never thought I'd see the day where anyone looked upon the athletics program as something special. (excepting the girls basketball program and Red Owens' wrestling program.)

"But, from my perspective at Mason City, how we can get more kids involved? When you talk about going up against the Valleys and the Southeast Polks and the Waukees and the Centennials and all that stuff week in and week out, it’s hard on the kids.

I'm guessing the Class of 2021 has about 400-500 more students than the Class of 1991 lol

 

[SolarGarlic]

The long bus rides were part of the charm of the CIML Iowa Division

Always envied the division that had Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, SEP, Indianola & Dowling.

As a CIML Central vet, a trip to Mason City or Fort Dodge was always a great opportunity for a Subway dinner followed by trying to sneak alcohol on to the bus for the trip home.

 

[Gunnerclone]

As a CIML Central vet, a trip to Mason City or Fort Dodge was always a great opportunity for a Subway dinner followed by trying to sneak alcohol on to the bus for the trip home.

Wouldn’t want to be the person that had to clean up all the spit bottles after a trip to MC or FD.

 

[CloneJD]

If I was Ottumwa AD i would have to think about going independent rather than driving my kids to 2-3 hours for each competition.

 

[Three4Cy]

If I was Ottumwa AD i would have to think about going independent rather than driving my kids to 2-3 hours for each competition.

They should just go back to the Southeast 7 where they used to be. I understand the schools are a class smaller, but at least geographically speaking the travel would be heckuva lot easier.

They could still schedule the DSM schools for non-conference games.

 

[Gunnerclone]

If I was Ottumwa AD i would have to think about going independent rather than driving my kids to 2-3 hours for each competition.

Southern Iowa is such a wasteland.

 

[JM4CY]

Southern Iowa is such a wasteland.

Southern Iowa >>>>>>> Eastern Iowa

 

[jcisuclones]

As a CIML Central vet, a trip to Mason City or Fort Dodge was always a great opportunity for a Subway dinner followed by trying to sneak alcohol on to the bus for the trip home.

Plus getting out of class early!

 

[CyJam]

Southern Iowa is such a wasteland.

As a former SE Iowan, I can confirm.

 

[CloneJD]

Can Urbandale compete with the other suburban schools regularly?

Or are they a better fit in the Little Hawkeye (DCG, Indianola, Pella, Norwalk, PC, Osky, Newton)?

 

[JustAFleshWound]

Can Urbandale compete with the other suburban schools regularly?

Or are they a better fit in the Little Hawkeye (DCG, Indianola, Pella, Norwalk, PC, Osky, Newton)?

The Urbandale school district is completely landlocked. While their neighbors - DCG, Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny - continue to grow, Urbandale's student population will drop. No new homes means no young families moving in.

 

[beentherebefore]

All those schools who now want to leave ASKED to be part of what used to be the DM Metro Conference (except the DM public schools, of course). Huge conferences in high school and college are silly. The CIML was way too large for really working well as a unit. I think the whole idea of a conference is silly since it could be just as easy to have the IHSAA assign teams to districts in all sports much as they do with football. Shoot, that's probably how P5 football should be, but in college it's about money and not competitive balance.

 

[Al_4_State]

As a former SE Iowan, I can confirm.

I've always harbored this mindset, but a couple years ago on RAGBRAI we did the Fairfield>Burlington and the Burlington>Keokuk stretch, and it really exceeded my expectations. Some of those small towns in Lee County were much nicer than I would have guessed. I think it was West Point in particular that impressed me. I had really never been through that part of the state before.

 

[beentherebefore]

All those schools who now want to leave ASKED to be part of what used to be the DM Metro Conference (except the DM public schools, of course). Huge conferences in high school and college are silly. The CIML was way too large for really working well as a unit. I think the whole idea of a conference is silly since it could be just as easy to have the IHSAA assign teams to districts in all sports much as they do with football. Shoot, that's probably how P5 football should be, but in college it's about money and not competitive balance.

And much of the issue for many of these schools is facilities and getting students to participate. I suppose losing by 20-40 points every game makes it not that worthwhile for some to even go out for a sport. I assume that is what the ADs are thinking at places like Mason CIty......But Ames? They always used to be quite competitive.

 

[Three4Cy]

Can Urbandale compete with the other suburban schools regularly?

Or are they a better fit in the Little Hawkeye (DCG, Indianola, Pella, Norwalk, PC, Osky, Newton)?

The rumor has been DCG and Norwalk are going to eventually join the CIML since they are both growing.

Norwalk (47th overall) played in the 4A substate this year, and DCG is 50th overall for enrollment 9-11. DCG people will tell you their facilities were built to be at the same level at CIML schools.

Urbandale sits at 34th overall in 9-11 enrollment. They have 986 kids in 9-11, the smallest 4A school is Lewis Central with 677.

 

[Three4Cy]

Southern Iowa is such a wasteland.

Bottom two tiers of Iowa counties are often considered part of northern Missouri. I grew up in one, so I can attest to this.