LCC considers new activities conference

LAUREL – Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School is one of eight schools considering a conference realignment for athletics and activities.

Currently a member of the Lewis and Clark Conference of 17 schools and 16 athletic schools/cooperatives, the conference is divided into two halves by geographic region.

“Our Lewis and Clark Conference affiliation has overall been positive for our students and school communities with numerous opportunities provided for students. However, during the past several years, I, among others, have grown increasingly concerned about a trend of school-size disparity within our conference that has and likely will continue to impact those opportunities,” said Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen in his report to the school board last week.

He said one of the main concerns is opportunities available for students playing in reserve and junior varsity contests.

“More often than not, and of greater frequency each of the past three years, reserve and JV matches and games have been canceled, reduced or shortened due to a lack of participants from the opposing school’s teams,” Christiansen said.

Other concerns include logistics and scheduling issues with such a large number of conference teams. Size disparity among schools also has created some friction.

Administrators from eight schools met last month to discuss the potential of creating their own conference.

Those schools include Creighton, Elkhorn Valley, Hartington-Newcastle, LCC, Lutheran High Northeast, Neligh-Oakdale, Plainview and Summerland. Four of the schools – Creighton, Hartington-Newcastle, LCC and Plainview – are currently in the Lewis and Clark Conference, three – Elkhorn Valley, Neligh-Oakdale and Summerland – currently compete in the Niobrara Valley Conference and Lutheran High Northeast is independent.

The group of schools was identified based on school enrollment and geographic location. The longest distance for LCC with the new proposed conference would be 66 miles to Summerland.

All of the schools are in the discussion phase and met for a second time Tuesday. A final decision would require board action, potentially next month. The earliest any conference changes would occur would most likely be for the 2024-25 academic year.

Quin Conner, LCC’s activities and transportation director, met individually with coaches and sponsors and feedback has been mostly positive.

Any change requires adaptations and a change in conference will be no different, Conner said. After all, LCC has been a part of the Lewis and Clark Conference for a decade.

“I talked to most of our sponsors and coaches and they understand the rationale,” he said. “Travel-wise, it will be a little extended but it’s not like we’re taking three-hour bus rides.”

Christiansen said if a change in conference happens, the school would be open to maintaining some of the existing matches and rivalries with other regional schools – as long as it maintains opportunities for students.

Yellow school bus purchase

In other news, the school board approved the purchase of a IC 2024 77-passenger, gas-powered “typical yellow school bus” for $121,000 to be used for regular bus routes and activity transportation as needed.

The new bus will replace one in the fleet with increased mechanical issues and more than 133,000 miles.

The board also reviewed a diesel-powered option but ultimately chose gas.

Christiansen talked with a nearby school who had recently purchased a similar model before providing his recommendation to the board.

“One of the typical concerns about gas versus diesel is reduced torque, especially on hills,” he said. “However, Ponca reports that they have not had any concerns from drivers about the power or torque on the gas-fueled buses.”

The last bus purchase was in December 2021. A vehicle trade-in was utilized for a credit towards the purchase.

Esports to begin

LCC students will have the opportunity to level up their gaming skills next semester with the introduction of esports.

About 25 students have already signed up to participate in the new activity in which participants compete in video games between teams in other schools.

Marcus Messersmith and Zeke Stephens have been selected as co-sponsors.

Esports has grown in popularity across the state with nearly 50 schools forming teams, including Wynot, Wayne, Pender, Norfolk, South Sioux City and Ponca. Competitions are “fluid and flexible,” Conner said, with no travel involved as teams can play against each other digitally. No competitions have been set as of yet.

“If we compete one and all the kids get to be a part of it, that will be great. We have everything ready to go,” he said.

Esports seasons doesn’t follow the same traditional sports seasons which allows students to participate in it along with other activities, Conner said.