Western Sun Conference likely to disband

Just when Glenbard South thought it had found stability and a nearly perfect fit in an athletic conference, it looks like more change is coming.

Five of the eight schools in the Western Sun Conference - Yorkville, DeKalb, Sycamore, Rochelle and Kaneland - seem likely to leave the conference for the NCIC, a Rockford-area league. That would leave Glenbard South, Geneva and Batavia again looking for new partners.

"We're not happy with it," Glenbard South athletic director John Treiber said. "We were hoping it would stay together, but it's looking pretty bad right now."

The issue is competitiveness, especially at the lower levels. Yorkville decided a few months ago it couldn't hold its own in the conference and started looking to leave, then the other schools opted to follow suit. The switch must be approved by each of the five schools' school board.

Treiber said Glenbard South was asked to join the NCIC also but chose not to because it would mean even more travel for its athletes. Travel, especially the 60-mile trip to Rochelle, already was a concern for Glenbard South.

"Our coaches are concerned because no one wants to be an independent. That's not a good thing to be," Treiber said. "The unknown is a little bit scary for them. They finally just got in place about the travel and all that ... and all of a sudden you get this thrown at you."

Competiveness also was an issue for the Raiders.

"We like having Batavia and Geneva with us because we think it makes the conference more competitive," he said.

It's not yet known when the five schools plan to leave the three-year-old Western Sun, but Treiber said he hopes they will give at least two years notice so the other three schools have time to adjust.

Glenbard South, Batavia and Geneva - which plan to meet to discuss their options next week - could look to partner with West Chicago, which is looking to leave the DuPage Valley Conference.

Fenton and Riverside-Brookfield, two former conference foes in the old Suburban Prairie, now are in the four-team Metro Suburban and would seem to be a good fit. Elmwood Park and Ridgewood, however, would be too small, Treiber said.

Glenbard South wants to make sure it doesn't get into a conference that is too big because its enrollment likely will drop into the 1,300s next year, Treiber said.

"We can't look back at the real big schools anymore," he said. "In this area it's hard to find schools of 1,300-1,400."