Colonial League could vote to expand on May 24

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Several trusted sources say that at the May 24th Colonial League meeting, a vote is expected to take place that would approve league expansion.

Lehighton and Jim Thorpe will be up for approval to be admitted as full members. And, Moravian Academy and Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg would be promoted from associate members to full members.

Lehighton and Jim Thorpe would, naturally would be added to the North Division, which currently consists of Northern Lehigh, Palmerton, Northwestern, Bangor, Pen Argyl and Catasauqua.

To balance it out at seven schools apiece, Catasauqua would slide to the South to join Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh, Salisbury, Notre Dame, Wilson and Palisades.

Where Moravian Academy and Notre Dame-ES would fit, and in what sports they will compete for league titles, is unclear.

If they decide to go to eight teams in each division in certain sports, Moravian Academy would fit into the South and Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg to the North.

What complicates the picture at the moment is the major budget and program cuts being proposed in Palmerton.

We've heard that one proposal has Palmerton being reduced to six sports programs, two in each section (fall, winter, spring) of the school year.

We've also been told that the Colonial League has said that basically Palmerton can't cut all of its sports programs and expect to maintain membership in the league.

It's all going to be interesting to see how it works out, but hopefully Lehighton will be approved because it has been clear for a long time that its much more suited to the Colonial League than the Mountain Valley Conference.

By the way, if Lehighton and Jim Thorpe are approved, it's likely that it wouldn't join the Colonial League until the 2012-13 school year because next year's schedules are already set.

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