I just found an interesting story on the Hornell Evening Tribune.
The story primarily deals with Wellsville moving from Livingston Conference Division II to Division I, and renewing a rivalry with Hornell.
But that isn't the most interesting thing I took from the story, which was written by my former college friend Derrick Balinsky, the sports editor.
Pending final approval by the Superintendents of Livingston County, there will be a division realignment for the Livingston County Athletic Association for the 2009 football season, moving Wellsville from Division II to Division I, joining Hornell, Livonia, Wayland-Cohocton, Dansville and Bath-Haverling. Also making the move from Division II to Division I is LeRoy.
Assuming this move gets approved, it probably makes some major changes for the Le Roy football team. The story makes no mention as to how next season's schedules will be made up, but will the Oatkan Knights lose out on playing rival Caledonia-Mumford?
The Red Raiders are going to stay in Division II. Letchworth is always another fun game for Le Roy, and the Indians will stay in D2.
Hornell, Bath, HF-L, Livonia, Dansville and Wayland-Cohocton were in Division I last year with Le Roy, Cal-Mum, Avon, Letchworth, Canisteo-Greenwood and Wellsville making up Division II.
Next season, Le Roy would have six games already on the schedule for Division I opponents, which means that one the non-league games against Batavia or Cal-Mum would have to go.
Le Roy and Batavia have played each other for the last four seasons, renewing a rivalry that was halted in 1959. Le Roy and Cal-Mum have been playing since football was invented.
The Oatkan Knights will probably play Cal-Mum with its non-division game, because if that rivalry game was stopped there would be absolute chaos in Section 5.
So it is safe to assume that Le Roy and Batavia will not be playing next season. The Blue Devils played an independent schedule last year, which was made up of mostly Finger Lakes schools. Batavia will probably end up back in the Monroe County League, and the great Batavia/Le Roy rivalry games are probably coming to an end.
