Now that the curtain has been pulled back publicly on the Kaw Valley members wanting to leave for the Frontier League, and the possible new league ahead, I figured I may as well ramble on thoughts ahead.

A LOOK BACK

First, let's look at the first domino. Basehor-Linwood led this effort in 2012, as the intention was to get away from a larger and growing Mill Valley dominating the Kaw Valley League on the football field. Mill Valley also wanted to get away to ramp up its competition during the regular season and prep for the playoffs. Which certainly worked, as MVHS has won two straight Class 5A state football titles now after joining the Eastern Kansas League.

Rumor had it that Basehor-Linwood was initially to join the Frontier League at the time, but Bonner Springs, Piper and Tonganoxie also jumped on like a lifeboat off a sinking Titanic, and tried to join the Frontier. The schools were voted down, barely, so the KVL went on with Mill Valley eventually departing.

Fast forward to today, and sure, Bishop Ward needed to leave the league. But that still left six schools, with the largest enrollment at Lansing (910) and smallest at Piper (601) - not a big disparity in league sizes. Heck, Desoto (854) to Baldwin (410) is a bigger gap in the Frontier League. Then the KVL could've sought additional schools in a Desoto (854) or such.

Now in isolated situations, I get it. Piper and Tonganoxie would fit better in the Frontier League, especially since recently the two leagues have filled some schedule gaps with each other.

Bonner Springs is the perplexing school to me. BSHS toggles so much between 5A and 4A every cycle, that they'll be back to 5A by the time you finish reading this article. (So if the Frontier desires 4A-only schools, why dabble with Bonner?)

Basehor-Linwood by all projections of population growth is to be 5A ahead. Turner and Lansing already are. So they are left in the cold on this musical chairs game. It's a shame the core of Basehor, Piper, Tonganoxie and Lansing - separated by a mere few minutes in any direction or county road, are busted up.

BUT WHY NOT FRONTER + KVL MERGER?

And the funny part? In the quest for an all-4A Frontier League, if the new Kansas classification proposal passes, two schools would be 5A (Bonner Springs, Ottawa), with the top school in the state in 4A enrollment being Spring Hill, ready to move up.

It seems like the Frontier League could've had a big and small division, with say Basehor-Linwood, Bonner Springs, Desoto, Lansing, Ottawa, Spring Hill, Turner (and Leavenworth?) in the big division, and Baldwin, Eudora, Louisburg, Paola, Piper and Tonganoxie in the small division. Shoot, perhaps this still should be the route considered.

But instead, it appears in four years, this will be the KVL trading Piper and Tonganoxie to the Frontier League for Desoto and Spring Hill.

KSHSAA POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATIONS FOR SCHOOLS

Below is the alignment of Kansas school classifications (aside from football) if the new KSHSAA proposal passes. Including Bonner Springs becoming 5A... again. 
Image courtesy Scott Nuzum, Fort Scott Tribune.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Otherwise, here we are. Much like 2012, Lansing and Turner are going to be without a league. This time, Lansing looks to be in better shape than the 2012 scare. And Basehor, whether they think so or not, is in a worse spot this time around - and needs Lansing going forward.

Now onto the schools mentioned in the new league. The Eastern Plains League, heck, why not the Kaw Valley League still?

With the mindset that football is driving the train, and of course, it is, here's some evaluations.

SCHOOL-BY-SCHOOL

Bonner Springs – This move doesn’t make sense, unless the fact that they sought the Frontier League thinking the KVL would blow up and be stranded, but now that there is an option which includes long-time partner Turner, and rival Basehor-Linwood, BSHS may have to rethink the decision. Aside from Shawnee Heights, most schools are within 15-20 minutes, including Desoto just 15 minutes.

Additionally, Bonner Springs bouncing from 5A to 4A, and if the KSHSAA proposal passes and Bonner is 5A, why not stay in a 5A league with long-time and geographical rivals, and closer driving distance?

I’d be willing to bet that even if Bonner Springs stays put with its Frontier League decision for two years, BSHS is back in the new league / former KVL by the following football cycle. Makes just too much sense.

Leavenworth – The Pioneers have struggled recently in most sports aside from girls basketball. The traditionally tough boys basketball program has sustained a tough run recently. The football program definitely could use not being the only 5A team in a 6A league. And again, travel is majorly reduced as Lansing and Basehor can be reached by a moped, or even a bicycle. Turner and possibly Bonner Springs are short distances.

The decision to go to the KVL v2.0 is a no-brainer.

Desoto – While the Frontier League is a very darn good 4A league, with Desoto entrenched as a 5A, the new league would give them more 5A regular-season games, and not having to join the EKL to do so. Driving distance hopefully is no more of a factor than when DHS was in the league with Lansing, Basehor, Leavenworth-Immaculata, Perry-Lecompton and others. 

Piper, Tonganoxie – The move makes sense for both. It would be nice seeing both stay, but it also makes a lot of sense in these cases. Definitely for Tonganoxie and while a case could be made for Piper, it also feels like if Piper has a doopleganger, its Baldwin. So these make sense to go to the Frontier League.

Spring Hill – While not in the initial six to likely be in the new league, the population continues to grow and will be 5A soon as well. See Desoto (above) for their needs, as Spring Hill is rumored to be a strong candidate for the new league after the next football cycle (in 2020-21).

Shawnee Heights – Onto the hot topic in Topeka. 

From the standpoint of competition, Shawnee Heights won't have to wait for a state championship team to compete for a league title. Sure, the Thunderbirds get more "battle tested", but entering the football playoffs with a 1-7 record and to perhaps win a game while playing the entire playoffs on the road is not better than going 6-2, hosting a game. 

Take 2014, when Heights went to the semis and narrowly lost to Aquinas, 42-41, at SHHS. Heights entered the playoffs with a 3-6 record. They played two HOME games in three playoff games under the format with a 3-6 mark. Now, Heights would play all three games on the ROAD, never drawing a home gate split, and chances for a win are severely decreased.

Competitive balance and morale over the course of three months of a regular season are definitely on the frontburner, and for good reason.

Now the standpoint of kids - and parents. Heights is one of seven Topeka area schools, but would be the only one NOT in the Centennial League. Kids wouldn't be playing against friends from in town or AAU / summer teams or parents' friends and families. This is a BIG factor for certain. Will there be any anymosity in scheduling ahead from the Centennial League schools? Eh, perhaps. I’m sure a non-con game with Seaman or Topeka West can always be scheduled.

Some feel that the Shawnee Heights students don't want to leave a league with their friends, and that the parents will hold the same feelings. No offense, but I doubt getting amped up for a trip to Turner or Desoto or Leavenworth is the same as playing Seaman, Hayden or Topeka High. 

On the flip side, an extra home football game, more competitive balance and controlling its own destiny may be too luring from an administrator's viewpoint to decline. Over time, having strong chances to win at Lansing or Leavenworth is better than taking a long bus ride to Junction City or Manhattan, and most likely returning with a loss.

In last four years, SHHS has won 7 of 132 possible league titles in boys sports, with the seven being state championship teams. So unless Shawnee Heights is a state title team, they aren’t sniffing a league title.

So is Heights acting rogue, or are they just the first brave ones to step forward out of the line of Topeka 5A schools, and perhaps in two years, Highland Park, Seaman and/or Topeka West also join the ranks in a 5A league.

Just look at the numbers - if you COMBINE the enrollments of Topeka West (1,073) and Highland Park (866), the two schools are just 43 more than Washburn Rural.

Seaman or Highland Park has to consider a move in a couple years, and likely just doesn’t want to be the first to leave, and want to see how it plays out.

WHAT’S NEXT

The centerpiece will be Heights and its vote at its next Board of Education meeting on May 15. After then, I don't think it'll be hard to coax Leavenworth and Desoto to fall in line. In fact, the five should STILL create a league and then look into persuading Bonner Springs to stay, or Spring Hill after the ensuring two years (2018-19, 2019-20). But that may be tough to leave solid leagues for a five-team league, and a hope to gain schools in two more years.

From the standpoint of Lansing, Basehor-Linwood and Turner, it would be great if Shawnee Heights approved a move, a new league was created and eventually more came in line like Spring Hill, Bonner Springs, Seaman and Topeka West. Easily can happen, and would be a great league for many reasons.

We will find out more, on May 15.