Newbury to Join NAC

May 30, 2013 by Jamie Ward

By Jamie Ward
The Newbury Black Knights, who have struggled to compete in the Chagrin Valley Conference of late, have found a new home, the Northeastern Athletic Conference has confirmed.
The school will join the NAC during the 2014-15 athletic season for all middle school and high school sports, boys and girls, said Athletic Director Paul Toth.
Toth said the school was excited to make the switch.
“They are a really good basketball conference,” he said. “And there is some soccer there — track and cross country.”
Newbury will join fellow Geauga County school Ledgemont in the conference, which now consists of 12 teams with the addition of Windham next season.
The others include Vienna Mathews, Chalker, Grand Valley, Pymatuning Valley, Badger, Bristol, Bloomfield, Maplewood and Lordstown.
Those last five schools do not have football programs, making the NAC a seven-team football conference.
“Given the circumstances, the size of the school and the proximity — a whole slew of different factors,” said NAC Commissioner Patrick Juliano, “it was in the best interest of not only Newbury but the rest of the conference.”
The Northeastern Athletic Conference’s executive committee approved Newbury’s acceptance during a May 15 meeting, Juliano said. The NAC had previously denied Newbury’s request for admittance, but Juliano said things have changed.
“They felt Newbury has a good relationship with Ledgemont and Grand Valley,” he said. “And if you look at the tournaments, often times they are in the same district.”
Tom Pokorny, a teacher at Newbury who has coached baseball, cross country and basketball, said he thinks the switch is a good idea given Newbury’s lack of competition with many of the CVC opponents.
“We won’t be lining up against Kirtland every year,” said Toth. “We have to look out for the health and safety of the kids, and put them in the best situation we can.”
But, he said, the school hopes to keep its relationship with Berkshire and Cardinal, given the closeness of the Geauga County communities.
“I think our community would like to keep competing with them,” he said. “That makes sense.”
Newbury School Board approved the move 5-0 at its meeting last week.
Transportation times were one concern.
Toth said there will be some extra miles, but “the trade off is going to be a much more competitive situation for our kids.”
Of the 12 schools in the NAC, there are only two that Newbury wasn’t able to routinely play in the regular season or scrimmage, Toth said.
Juliano has helped guide the NAC since 2006. Since that time he is proud of an all-star competition and all-conference academic teams.
Newbury’s exodus comes on the heels of a potential large shake-up in the CVC. Juliano was also aware of that situation.
“Every conference has its issues,” Juliano said. “We’ve been able to work through it, but we need to keep our focus on what’s in the best interest of the kids, and then in the best interest of the coaches and fans. Those are the elements we take into account.”
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