PHOTO: Sugar Dre Donovan works out with trainer Lee Kreisher
Three schools recently announced they would be leaving their current athletic conference.
Claymont, Tuscarawas Valley and Sandy Valley, all currently participating in the Inter-Valley Conference South Division, will be joining Carrollton, Fairless, Marlington, Minerva and Tuslaw in a new, as of now un-named conference that will begin in the 2028-29 school year.
So where does that leave the IVC?
“That’s a good question,” said Indian Valley High Principal Rob Clarke, who is also the President of the IVC. “If you have any answers, I’d be interested in listening.”
The IVC is currently made up of two divisions, with Buckeye Trail, Conotton Valley, East Canton, Malvern, Newcomerstown, Strasburg and Tuscarawas Central Catholic making up the North Division.
Claymont, Garaway, Hiland, Indian Valley, Ridgewood, Sandy Valley and Tuscarawas Valley make up the South Division.
Conotton Valley does not compete in the IVC in football and Hiland does not field a football team.
The IVC realigned in 2017, splitting to a two-division format with a number of schools seeing success. This past fall, of the 13 schools fielding a football program, nine – Malvern, Strasburg, Conotton Valley, Newcomerstown, Ridgewood, Garaway, East Canton, Claymont and Indian Valley – qualified for a playoff berth.
“The IVC has been a very good league, a great league,” Clarke said. “It serves Holmes County, Tuscarawas County, Carroll County and Coshocton County extremely well. We love the fact that it’s really a community-based league and it has a lot of support within the communities.
“Sometimes, when leagues are formed and you’re driving 45 minutes or more, you’re not familiar with those teams.”
The local rivalries are highlighted within those communities in the IVC as well.
“Our fan bases support these schools, our media supports them and I’d hate to see that go away,” Clarke commented.
Clarke said IVC members were surprised at the announcement, which was made at the league meeting in early February.
A decision on the new direction has not been reached as of yet. Clarke said that all options are being considered, which includes accepting new members or re-aligning the divisions.
The league is currently accepting applications from new schools. A letter of interest can be submitted to Rob Clark at rob.clarke@ivschools.org. The deadline to apply is March 8.
“I knew I was approaching the record, but at the end of the day, that’s not what this is about. It’s more about getting to the next week successful and healthy. Thankfully, we got both done tonight.”
