No changing sports conferences

CLINTONVILLE – The Clintonville School District will remain in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) for sports after the Clintonville Board of Education took no action at its Sept. 22 meeting on a request to switch to the Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC).
The request was for changing conferences for the following sports: volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, track, cross country, golf, boys soccer, and wrestling. Football was not included in the request, as football requests occur in opposite years as the other sports.
Leading off the discussion, Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn said that switching conferences has been brought up by some parents and coaches, but added that the majority of the varsity coaches in the district were not in favor of the district trying to switch sports conferences.
He added that he had spoken with Shaun Liesch, former activities director for the district, Caleb Bembenek, current activities director, as well as parents in the district about the matter. He said he felt it needed to be something that the board discussed.
“If we are going to consider this, we need to make a decision now, otherwise we have to wait two years,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn said it could be considered for two reasons. The first is the distance of travel.
“It really shrinks down how far we’re traveling on our away games,” Kuhn said.
The other reason is socio-economics. He said Clintonville has different socio-economics than Denmark, Freedom, Little Chute, Luxemburg-Casco, and other schools in Clintonville’s current conference.
“Our students, mine included, work,” Kuhn said. “If they want to go to a post-secondary school, if they want to do X, Y, and Z, they’re choosing, I’m not saying it’s the right choice, they’re choosing to go to work instead of go to the weightroom. They’re choosing to go to work instead of participating in summer camps.”
Kuhn said the socio-economics of the schools in the CWC are similar to those of Clintonville.
“I’ll tell you if we would move forward to this, we’re not going to the CWC and whooping butt on anybody because right now the CWC is pretty darn strong, really strong,” Kuhn said. “So, if we don’t fix our culture internally, it doesn’t matter what conference we’re in when you look at wins and losses.”
Even if the district would decide it wanted to switch from the NEC to the CWC, the NEC would still need to agree to release Clintonville from the conference. The CWC would also have to agree to let Clintonville into its conference. If the district would decide not to try to switch conferences at this time, it would have to wait another two years to consider it again.
Board Clerk Klint Barkow asked about Clintonville’s high school enrollment. When told it was around 390 students, Barkow said that meant Clintonville’s enrollment was the lowest of any school in the NEC.
Board Vice President Kris Strauman said she liked the idea of less travel for Clintonville students if the district switched to the CWC.
“It will cut costs, it will cut time for them (students), they won’t be up until midnight and have to perform at school the next day,” Strauman said.
Board member Christopher Hoffmann asked for Bembenek’s opinion.
Bembenek said he understands how it would be better for traveling, but added that he also wants to support the district’s varsity coaches and their desire to not switch conferences.
Kuhn added that the district considering to switch conferences has nothing to do with the quality of the district’s coaches.
“I’ve said that to them in many meetings,” Kuhn said. “…It’s the commitment from the athletes to their sports where we’re lacking.”
Board President Glen Drew Lundt said he would like to see more unity in the district, and recommended supporting the district’s coaches.
Board Treasurer Jason Moder said the only positive to changing conferences would be less travel. But he said the district should listen to its coaches and not pursue changing conferences.