The state high school athletic association on Wednesday released its first draft of proposed conferences for the next realignment, and Lake Norman could spend a lot of time on the road if the plan stays the same.
The proposal moves the Wildcats out of the I-Meck 4A and into a six-team league, 4A Conference No. 1, with Alexander Central, Asheville Roberson, McDowell, South Caldwell and Watauga.
The closest of those schools is Alexander Central, which is still 40 miles away. Roberson is the longest distance at 125 miles. The average traveling distance from Lake Norman to those schools is 81.4 miles.
“This is nothing to be concerned about or even talk about right now because this is just what the computer generated,” Lake Norman athletic director Steve Rankin said. “The athletic association says it will take a look at it and tweak the major problem areas.
“Of course we let it be known that there is a major problem area in the western part of the state. …I hope on Dec. 9 we have a more realistic one, but we are going to send a letter to let them know we are not happy with this one.”
Rankin said the state will release a new draft for conference realignment Dec. 9.
SAS, a data-analysis firm based in Cary, put together the first draft of the realignment proposal for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association based on the average daily membership of all high schools across the state. The new alignment is scheduled to take effect starting in fall 2013.
Lake Norman would also lose a pair of conference rivals in Mooresville and Hough in the draft.
Mooresville would stay in a conference with six of the current schools in the I-Meck. The league, 4A Conference No. 4, removes Lake Norman and West Charlotte, and it picks up Kannapolis Brown and Concord Robinson. Brown and Robinson are 3A schools this year.
The draft also moved South Iredell up to 3A from 2A. South Iredell has been in 2A since the 2003-04 school year. It was a member of the Central Piedmont 4A in 2002, but it was dropped to 2A a year after Lake Norman opened.
The draft puts the Vikings in a conference with North Iredell, Statesville and West Iredell. The league, 3A Conference No. 4, also has Hickory, Fred T. Foard, St. Stephens and Hibriten.
None of the teams from Rowan County are in the same conference as teams from Iredell County under the new proposal. West Rowan, South Rowan, East Rowan and Carson are in a league, 3A Conference No. 6, with Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro.
Proposed conferences for next scheduled realignment
3A Conference No. 4
South Iredell, North Iredell, Statesville, West Iredell, Hickory, St. Stephens, Fred T. Foard and Hibriten
4A Conference No. 1
Lake Norman, Alexander Central, McDowell, Asheville Roberson, South Caldwell, Watauga
4A Conference No. 4
Mooresville, Kannapolis Brown, Hopewell, Hough, Mallard Creek, North Mecklenburg, Concord Robinson, Vance
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