POTOSI — If everything gets approval by the February deadline, the Six Rivers Conference could see another co-op join the league for football.
Potosi and Cassville are currently in talks of joining forces for the 2017 football season and beyond.
After cancelling its 2015 varsity schedule this fall, Cassville has reached out to Potosi about possible co-op for football only.
The proposal has already gotten approval from the Cassville School Board and is awaiting approval from Potosi.
A 12-person football co-op committee, that includes current Potosi head coach Mark Siegert, Potosi High School principal Mike Uppena and Potosi superintendent Ron Saari, held a public meeting Wednesday night at the Potosi High School cafeteria to discuss the issue with the public.
Parents and community members in the Potosi School District are invited to a meeting at the Potosi High School cafeteria to discuss the possibility of a football co-op between Potosi and Cassville High School.
The proposal still has to get approval from the Potosi School Board on Monday, Oct. 17, before going to the athletic directors of the Six Rivers Conference, followed by the league’s principals and then superintendents.
After all that, the proposal then goes to the WIAA. Once approved by the WIAA, all co-ops, regardless of sport, need re-approval every two years.
According to a memo to parents posted on the Potosi School District Facebook page, the football co-op is not expected to move Potosi from its current place in Division 7 to Division 6 for the playoffs. The memo also suggest, Potosi would be the host school for the co-op and host all practices and home games; and the coop would also retain the Chieftains’ nickname and the current uniforms.
Co-op football began in Southwest Wisconsin in 1983 when Benton began the nation’s first two-state co-op with Scales Mound, Ill.
One year later in 1984, Bloomington and West Grant formed a football co-op that lasted until 1995, when the two schools then combined to form what is now River Ridge. Pecatonica and Argyle combined to form their football co-op in 1991.
Co-op football paved the way for the creation of the Six Rivers Conference after State Line League football teams Pecatonica/Argyle and Black Hawk joined the Blackhawk Conference for football in the 1990s.
