THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412090249
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
NORFOLK SCHOOLS, AFRAID of getting shut out in area football scheduling, have requested that the Eastern Region study realignment of districts.
One of the suggestions is for a merger of Portsmouth and Norfolk teams into a single district.
``I think that would be one route to go,'' said Bert Harrell, athletic director and football coach at Norfolk's Lake Taylor.
The past season Lake Taylor, a member of the five-team Eastern District, played five of its 10 games against Southeastern District schools, including Churchland and Wilson.
``Right now it seems just a matter of time before the Norfolk schools may not have anybody left to play locally,'' pointed out Harrell. ``The Peninsula District already plays all of its games inside its own conference. The teams in the Beach District have openings for just one game. The Southeastern is adding Hickory and could pick up two schools in Suffolk and that would leave no openings for us to have games with those teams.''
Another suggestion is to align schools by enrollment, placing Division 5 schools in two districts and Division 6 schools in two other districts.
``I would not be in favor of that,'' said Joe Langston, Norcom's athletic director and football coach. ``We have established rivalries with some Division 6 schools and I would like to continue playing them.''
Langston said he would have no objection to a merger of Portsmouth and Norfolk schools in a single district. ``That would give us an eight-team district and still leave scheduling room for three other games with teams we now play,'' he said.
One school official is concerned about poor attendance if Portsmouth and Norfolk schools form a league. He pointed out that the least attended games on Portsmouth schedules are those against the Norfolk teams.
``The Portsmouth and Chesapeake rivalries are established and some date back to old Norfolk County days,'' he said. ``Without the crowds those games generate, the football program might not even be able to survive financially.''
Meanwhile the Virginia High School League is considering a suggestion that the classification of schools be based on total enrollment instead of grades 10-12.
Since ninth-graders are now eligible to compete on varsity athletic teams, it was pointed out they should be included for a more accurate reflection of a school's size.
VHSL officials, using enrollment figures given to the State Department of Education, have compiled a list based upon 1993-94 totals.
The only change in the Eastern Region would elevate Norview of the Eastern District to Division 6 and drop Bethel of the Peninsula District to Division 5.
Based on adding ninth grade figures, the cutoff figure for Group AAA membership would be 1,301 students and up. Group AA would be 651 to 1,300 and Group A would be 650 and under. Schools always can petition to play at a higher classification.
Including ninth-graders, the enrollment at Wilson is 1,523. The Churchland enrollment is 1,512 and the Norcom enrollment is 1,371.
Great Bridge, with an enrollment of 2,670, is the second largest school in the state. The biggest is Woodbridge at 2,881. by CNB