http://www.newsandsentinel.com/sports/l ... perations/
SARAHSVILLE, Ohio — The Pioneer Valley Conference has a pulse — but just barely.
According to PVC commissioner Don Ullman, the league will “temporarily suspend operations” June 30, but will not officially fold.
“All other financial obligations and scholarships will continue on and all outstanding bills/obligations will be meet,” said Ullman in a press release.
Ullman is hopeful that the league will be “revived” at a future date.
“You never know,” he said. “We are leaving our options open, should league membership increase as we continue to explore all possible avenues with regard to league expansion.
“This is a very good league, and the remaining PVC schools of Caldwell, Shenandoah, and Fort Frye, will continue to play one another despite the suspension of the league.”
This upcoming fall, the Cadets have scheduled football games against the Redskins and Zeps. Fort is also slated to play at Monroe Central to fulfill a contract.
After Buckeye Trail left the league two years ago without a replacement to join the Indian Valley Conference (IVC), the PVC started the 2018-19 school year with five schools. But then last fall, Frontier High first and Monroe Central a month later each announced its withdrawal from the PVC.
Both were charter members of the PVC.
Now, the Cougars and Seminoles reportedly will be joining the newly formed Mid-Ohio Valley League and also continue as Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) members. (All PVC schools are affiliated with the OVAC.)
“We wish Frontier and Monroe Central the best of luck,” Ullman said.
The Mid-Ohio Valley League is also expected to include Paden City, River, Bridgeport, Magnolia, and Shadyside.
The Pioneer Valley Conference has actually been in a state of flux for some time, now.
The league had its origins in 1964 as the Frontier Valley Conference. Then, two years later, it became the Mid-Ohio Valley Conference. In 1976, it settled on Pioneer Valley Conference with Ullman, a Mid-Ohio Valley Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2013), as one of its founders.
Before school consolidations, former members included Lawrence, New Matamoras, Newport, Marietta St. Mary Central, Salem-Liberty, Skyvue, Waterford, Trimble, Beallsville, Woodsfield, and River.
Waterford left for the Tri-Valley Conference-Hocking Division in 1997.
River withdrew in 2014.