BY DONALD J. BROWER
The following is the soon to be announced realignment of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference and its respective Divisions. The changes were approved by the Conference Athletic Directors on December 2nd and should be implemented next season.
American:
Morris Hills, Mount Olive, Pope John, Sparta, Vernon
Colonial:
Hopatcong, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Wallkill Valley
Freedom:
Hackettstown, High Point, Jefferson, Lenape Valley
Independence:
Boonton, Butler, Kinnelon, Morris Catholic, Pequannock, Whippany Park
Liberty:
Dover, Hanover Park, Madison, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany
National:
Morris Knolls, Roxbury, Parsippany Hills, Randolph, West Morris
United:
Chatham, Delbarton, Mendham, Montville, Morristown
Nearly all of the divisions will be switched around (The exceptions being the Independence and Liberty which were massively realigned in recent years) and two new ones will be created; the Colonial and United Divisions.
The United Division essentially takes the Eastern four schools of the old National and adds Montville, who has to be thrilled with the move. They no longer have to make the long trip to High Point or Vernon, which at certain times during the season can become a 2 hour commute on Route 23. The Colonial Division takes four of the old SCIL teams and adds in North Warren.
While I understand the athletic directors are trying to save travel costs, some of these moves make no sense.
First you are separating geographical and long standing rivals like Mendham and West Morris or Morris Knolls and Morris Hills. These kids grow up together and its is always a spirited match for town bragging rights when these schools meet.
Second, if a lowering of travel costs is part of the thought process behind the move, then why are High Point, Vernon and Wallkill Valley not in the same division when they are the three most northern schools in Sussex County. That kind of contradicts the goal if that is what they are trying to accomplish.
Also most coaches do not seem to be happy with the reduction of teams in each division. As one coach told me recently “How can you be proud of winning a conference title when you only have to beat four teams? It is a joke.”
If they really wanted to cut down on travel or realign due to geography, this would have been my plan regardless of school size.
American:
Hackettstown, Hopatcong, Kittatinny, Lenape Valley, Mount Olive, Newton, North Warren
National:
Delbarton, Mendham, Morris Hills, Morris Knolls, Randolph, Roxbury, West Morris
Freedom:
Dover, High Point, Jefferson, Pope John, Sparta, Vernon, Wallkill Valley
Independence:
Boonton, Butler, Kinnelon, Montville, Morris Catholic, Mountain Lakes, Pequannock
Liberty:
Chatham, Hanover Park, Madison, Morristown, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Whippany Park
In this alignment, each division has 7 teams. This should allow for outright champions each year. Also each one is geographical with a few minor exceptions.
For the American Division, all of these teams reside on the northwest side of Morris County, the bottom edge of Sussex County and both Warren County teams. This cuts down on travel to 30 minutes for any match.
In the National Division, geographical rivals like Hills/Knolls, Randolph/Roxbury and Mendham/West Morris are preserved while keeping a strong Delbarton in the division. This would be one of the toughest by far with the champion having truly earned the title.
The Freedom Division or the Rt 15 group as I call it is another division that keeps rivals together while making a yearly match between High Point and its nearest opponents Vernon/Wallkill Valley.
The Independence Division or the 287 extension finally puts Boonton, Butler, Kinnelon, Montville and Pequannock in the same division. These schools are less than 10 miles apart. Add in Mountain Lakes, which is a stone’s throw from Boonton and Morris Catholic which is a quick trip down 287 and you have another competitive grouping.
When it comes to the Liberty Division, I call this my Old School Division. You have some of the most historic teams in one division; Hanover Park, Madison, Parsippany and Parsippany Hills. Chatham, Morristown and Whippany Park round it out. By removing Dover, the distance between these teams becomes increasingly shorter.
While there will always be dissenting voices toward every plan, the general reaction to the new alignment has been one of disgust by coaches and fans alike. This is yet another example of the powers that be not listening to the most important people; the coaches, wrestlers and fans.
