Polo admitted to Grand River Conference, Braymer on the bubble

Amidst a number of unknown factors affecting pending re-classification of area high schools, Grand River Conference administrators voted Tuesday to admit Polo High School into the league as a full-fledged member, beginning with the 2006-07 athletic season.

The vote, 8-1 to admit, with Worth County submitting the only “no” vote (travel concerns), allows Polo to move from the Central River Conference to the GRC next year for all sports, except girls volleyball. Seven votes (or 75% of the voting membership) were needed to admit.

Polo plays volleyball instead of fall softball, but PHS will reportedly phase in softball over the next two seasons and will be ready to compete in that sport in the GRC in time for reclassification in 2008. The phase-in will allow current Polo juniors and seniors to finish their careers in volleyball.

Polo and Braymer approached the GRC two years ago about being admitted into the league, but that proposal was voted down. Braymer recently learned about Polo’s bid to be accepted and contacted Gallatin athletic director Chris Elbert about being voted on as well, said Gallatin R-5 principal Mike Burrell, who is president of the conference this year.

“They (Braymer) wanted in on that,” said Burrell, “but we told them that they needed to put a proposal in writing and we would submit it at our December meeting,” he added. “The by-laws say that a proposal must be left on the table for thirty days for individual schools to study. We may then address the issue of Braymer’s admittance at our next meeting in March.”

Burrell added that right now schools are waiting for the Missouri State High School Athletics Association to release new enrollment figures for re-classification.

“As far as the conference goes, we’re waiting to see where South Harrison and Hamilton will be in classification,” he said. “Both schools put in lower numbers than the last two-year cycle,” he stated, “and they are both hoping to drop down in class.

“I’ve also heard through the grapevine that Plattsburg and Lathrop both submitted lower enrollment figures than last time,” Burrell continued. “Obviously, all four schools can’t drop down,” he added. “It looks like we won’t know until February what class and district assignments will be.”

It also remains to be seen what will happen with the Missouri high school football playoff format after MSHSAA announced recently that a proposal to change the current format was not acceptable.

With Polo’s admittance into the GRC, the league will be back to nine schools playing 11-man football. King City rejoins the 11-man ranks next season after phasing in 11-man football last season in junior varsity and junior high levels.