Hampshire to join Fox Valley Conference

Hampshire High School essentially had this to say to the Big Northern Conference this week: "It's not you, it's me."

The Community Unit District 300 school board voted unanimously Monday to move Hampshire High from the Big Northern to the Fox Valley Conference, where it will face stiffer competition from larger schools.

While stressing they are in no way dissatisfied with the Big Northern, Hampshire officials said the switch will open more athletic and academic opportunities for students.

"I think it's a little bit of mixed feelings," Hampshire Principal Chuck Bumbales said after the vote. "We're excited about new opportunities, but it's hard to leave behind good people."

Besides tougher varsity contests, Bumbales said he expects students at the junior varsity and freshman level to have more opportunities to compete - simply because of the larger size of the Fox Valley schools.

But the principal noted he has no intention of severing relationships with Hampshire's current Big Northern colleagues - including nearby rival Burlington Central High School.

"We have every intention of keeping that rivalry alive," Bumbales said. "There's always nonconference opportunities."

At the same time, prep sports fans will be watching to see how Hampshire's move plays into the already robust rivalry between Jacobs and Dundee-Crown, Hampshire's "sister schools" in District 300.

"I think it adds a new dynamic, something we've never experienced before," Bumbales said. "I think it will be very interesting to see if they become big rivals of ours."

Because schedules have already been set for next year, Hampshire won't join the Fox Valley Conference until July 2011.

District 300 officials expect the move to save on transportation costs because many Fox Valley schools are closer that its current Big Northern opponents.