Big changes in conferences taking place this fall

Talk about it

Area schools have been playing a game of musical conferences for this fall, and for some, the changes are big.

Alexandria’s conference will see just one small change in the Central Lakes Conference as Little Falls leaves the league after 34 years.

One of the charter members of the CLC, the Flyers will now transfer into the newly formed Granite Ridge Conference along with former West Central Conference squads St. Cloud Cathedral, Foley and Milaca, as well as Mora, Princeton and Zimmerman.

Osakis, which was part of the Prairie South Conference, has moved into the North Division along with Upsala/Swanville Area.

The Silverstreaks will be joined by Wadena-Deer Creek from the Heart O’ Lakes Conference, and Barnesville from the now-defunct Northern Plains AA Conference.

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, formerly part of the West Central North, has also joined the Prairie North.

Out are Pillager, Ottertail Central and New York Mills, with Parkers Prairie moving to an independent schedule.

The only team still remaining in the Prairie North is United North Central.

Minnewaska returns to the West Central North this year, a conference they have been familiar with, having played there at different times through the years, with the latest being 2007.

West Central Area will also see a change as it moves from the Heart O’ Lakes Conference into the Prairie South.

CENTRAL LAKES CONFERENCE

Alexandria

Brainerd

Fergus Falls

Rocori

Sartell-St. Stephen

Sauk Rapids-Rice

St. Cloud Apollo

St. Cloud Tech

Willmar

•Little Falls transfers to the newly formed Granite Ridge Conference

PRAIRIE NORTH CONFERENCE

Barnesville

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle

Osakis

United North Central

Upsala/Swanville

Wadena-Deer Creek

•UNC is the only team remaining from last year’s Prairie North.

•Wadena-Deer Creek transfers in from the Heart O’ Lakes-Classic Conference

•Barnesville transfers in from the now defunct Northern Plains AA Conference

•Pillager transfers to the newly formed North Star East Conference

•Parkers Prairie begins an independent schedule in 2011

•Ottertail Central and New York Mills transfers to the Prairie South Conference

•Long Prairie-Grey Eagle transfers in from the West Central South Conference

PRAIRIE SOUTH CONFERENCE

Browerville

Royalton

Ottertail Central

New York Mills

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg

West Central Area

•Ottertail Central and New York Mills transfer from the Prairie North Conference

•West Central Area transfers from the Heart O’ Lakes-Classic Conference

Upsala/Swanville and Osakis transfer to the Prairie North Conference

WEST CENTRAL NORTH CONFERENCE

Albany

Melrose

Minnewaska

Montevideo

New London-Spicer

Sauk Centre

•Foley, Milaca and St. Cloud Cathedral transfer to the new Granite Ridge Conference

•Minnewaska and Montevideo transfer from the West Central South Conference

WEST CENTRAL SOUTH CONFERENCE

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City

Benson

BOLD

Lac qui Parle Valley

Morris

Paynesville

Yellow Medicine East

•Minnewaska and Montevideo transfer to the West Central North Conference

•Long Prairie-Grey Eagle transfers to the Prairie North Conference

Tags: alexandria sports, area sports, sports, football, conference, changes