Portsmouth to the OVC?

[4thgoal]

Source: OVC courting Portsmouth

October 7, 2013

Cody Leist
PDT Sports Writer

The Daily Times has learned another member of the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League could be off to a different conference as soon as next year as Portsmouth may be leaving for the Ohio Valley Conference.

The move by the OVC to welcome Portsmouth officials into their next meeting of conference representatives comes as the conference will lose River Valley after this school year to the Tri-Valley Conference. One OVC official, who spoke to the Daily Times on the condition of anonymity, feels the Trojans are a fit for travel purposes.

“There aren’t any other area schools that make any sense as far as geographically for us to have besides Ironton and Portsmouth,” the source said. “…Schools aren’t just going to appear to be ready to go into the league. A lot of the schools around us are comfortable with where they are at.”

The source also lists Portsmouth High School as being comparable to the remaining five schools in the conference. According to OHSAA figures, the five remaining schools have a total boys and girls high school enrollment between 275 and 405 students. Portsmouth High School is listed as having 362 students.

If the Trojans leave, the SEOAL will shrink to four schools — Gallia Academy, Jackson, Logan and Warren — after losing Chillicothe over the summer to the South Central Ohio League. Marietta, Ironton, Athens and Zanesville have also left the league within recent years.

Discussions among OVC officials about adding Portsmouth to the membership have been ongoing for the last few weeks. In accordance with the OVC Constitution, a petitioning school cannot receive more than one no vote and be accepted into the conference.

The longest drive for Portsmouth to a current SEOAL school is Warren, which is 123 miles one-way according to Google Maps. In comparison, the team furthest away for the Trojans in the OVC would be Fairland. The trip to Proctorville is only 51 miles according to Google Maps.

If an invitation is offered by the conference and accepted by Portsmouth, schools such as Ironton, Jackson and Gallia Academy could also be options should further expansion be the conference’s continuing topic of discussion.

Cody Leist can be reached at 353-3101, ext. 294, or [email protected]. For breaking sports news, follow Cody on Twitter @CodyLeist.

[noles_fan]

Looks like someone had a good source after all. Well done to the fellows who shared this last week.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

interesting.

[NYBuckeye96]

Depending on how many schools were added, you could split into two divisions based on school size.

[ohbuckeye2]

It says Portsmouth could join as early as next year, don't they have to give the SEOAL a 2 year notice before leaving?

[NYBuckeye96]

It says Portsmouth could join as early as next year, don't they have to give the SEOAL a 2 year notice before leaving?

I'd say that is more of a courtesy from the bylaws than anything else. What if they didn't give the two year notice? It's not like they could be sued or anything.

[ohbuckeye2]

It says Portsmouth could join as early as next year, don't they have to give the SEOAL a 2 year notice before leaving?

I'd say that is more of a courtesy from the bylaws than anything else. What if they didn't give the two year notice? It's not like they could be sued or anything.

True

[unclebob]

It says Portsmouth could join as early as next year, don't they have to give the SEOAL a 2 year notice before leaving?

They are not on every schools' schedule for next year so I double it will start then. Especially football would be one that is set in stone for years ahead. I know some of the OVC schools play them regularly in a lot of sports like Fairland and South Point but others do not.

[purpleblood1]

Only thing that would happen is the would be slotted in RV old slots on the schedule.

[dragonsfan24]

Only thing that would happen is the would be slotted in RV old slots on the schedule.

^^This^^


The only thing that would require changing is if after we added Portsmouth if Gallipolis and/or Ironton came in.

The article mentions Jackson, but I don't see Jackson petitioning for membership. I have a feeling that if the SEOAL goes belly up (which it probably will) that Logan and Jackson would team up to court Athens, Vinton, and possibly schools like Chillicothe, Logan Elm, Hillsboro, and Washington to form a new conference.

[osumufan]

Only thing that would happen is the would be slotted in RV old slots on the schedule.

^^This^^


The only thing that would require changing is if after we added Portsmouth if Gallipolis and/or Ironton came in.

The article mentions Jackson, but I don't see Jackson petitioning for membership. I have a feeling that if the SEOAL goes belly up (which it probably will) that Logan and Jackson would team up to court Athens, Vinton, and possibly schools like Chillicothe, Logan Elm, Hillsboro, and Washington to form a new conference.

River Valley and the other OVC schools have known for a few years that they were leaving so some of the schools have already filled their slots with other schools. So I am guessing it will start in football any way in a couple years at least.

[goUK]

Yeah schools already have the schedules for football for two years after this one. Maybe it could start in all sports other than football

[dragonsfan24]

That seems fair. Fairland already plays them in everything else (Fairland v. Portsmouth in basketball is always an exciting game.)

[urban buck]

I believe it would be a great move for the Trojans for all sports involved.

[I AM FORREST]

FORREST SAYS: :122245 :122249 if I mention a chance of rain mke sure to bring an umbrella!!!

[readn,writn,&rt243]

FORREST, you and I are the voice of reason, never doubt our sources.

[BubbleGumTiger]

FORREST, you and I are the voice of reason, never doubt our sources.

when I grow up I want to be just like u 2 cats..........just a barrel of laughs...........

[I AM FORREST]

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[I AM FORREST]

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[Gallipolis Blue Devil]

Does everyone think that Portsmouth is going to get voted into the OVC?