TVL votes to accept Dedham High

One Prediction (0.00 / 0)

Well, take heart. My prediction came true - that if Dedham was selected, the second team would be from the far western end of the spectrum.  Don't worry - Google Maps says that Milford High School is only 38.3 miles from Dedham High ... that's only about a mile further than a trip from DHS to downtown Providence. Happy motoring, Marauders!

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by: stebivule @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 21:01:01 PM CST

The horror...the horror (0.00 / 0)

Unless I'm mistaken, the teams would only play each other once a year, correct?  And even then aren't the schedules done in a Home/Away format so if we play in Milford this year, then we have a home game against them next year?

A 45-minute drive once a season doesn't seem like that big of deal to me.  My wife works in Milford and makes the trip five days a week.  She'd be happy to cut back to once every other year.

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by: Eric C. @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 07:10:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Agree (0.00 / 0)

Not long ago Dedham had to make 2 trips to Framingham(when they had a north and south high) everyteam every sport. My prediction is TVL goes Dedham, Westwood, Dover, Medfield, Medway, Millis as one group and those rides don't make me want to say pull the plug. Most teams would have to travel to Norton, Hopk, Holliston,Milford, Ashland and Bellingham every other year.

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by: setheman @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 07:58:13 AM CST

[ Parent ]

If Brian is correct (0.00 / 0)

With his reporting of the alignment of Dedham, Dover,Norton, Bellingham, Millis, Ashland, then I would defintiely rethink my support for the move. All the TVL towns are so close numbers wise, with the exception of Millis that I was hoping/predicting for a more geographical alignment. Possibly before accepting Dedham could have a say in the alignment. If not I say re look at the Hockomock.

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by: setheman @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 07:58:56 AM CST

[ Parent ]

It's not set in stone (0.00 / 0)

That alignment isn't set in stone, but Someone Who Knows tells me it's what they are looking at right now.

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 08:34:59 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Divisions (0.00 / 0)

You and I are in total agreement. I don't think that the Hockomock is an option anymore, they are moving forward, but there is still time to advocate for a sensible divisional alignment. I posted this in the Transcript's comments section:

Rather than 'small' and 'large' divisions, how about establishing divisions with geographic sanity in mind:

Medfield, Millis, Westwood, Dedham, D-S, Medway

and

Ashland, Bellingham, Milford, Holliston, Hopkinton, Norton

That would provide for two geographically balanced divisions. Of course, since this is all about football (and to hell with every other consideration, particularly girls sports) they will likely just take the highest six and lowest six enrollments and clump them together, geography be damned:

SMALL: Dedham, Millis, D-S, Ashland, Bellingham, Norton

LARGE: Medfield, Westwood, Medway, Milford, Holliston, Hopkinton

This, of course, makes little sense except regarding football - so let's see whose ox gets gored.

My belief is that the whole idea of Dedham joining the TVL was championed by Westwood's AD ... so it seems perverse to think that Dedham would be admitted and then placed in a different division than Westwood. Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

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by: stebivule @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 08:36:21 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Transportation Costs (0.00 / 0)

Please consider that the extra transportation mileage will come with a higher price tag. At a time when Norwood is eliminating buses to scrimmages to save cash, we're considering extending the transport routes and incurring additional expense.  

If setheman is correct that the TVL would develop a localized two-division league, that would indeed make a big difference.  

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by: stebivule @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 08:48:09 AM CST

Just the AD's (0.00 / 0)

I'll have more details on MDN shortly, but it was only the Athletic Directors who voted for the expansion.  The principals still have to sign off on it on February 11th.  Of course, you have to wonder how many ADs would vote to expand if they know their bosses were opposed to it.

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 09:24:29 AM CST

Clarification: ADs and Principals (0.00 / 0)

I believe ADs work for their superintendents, not their principals.

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by: stebivule @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 09:39:27 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Story's up (0.00 / 0)

It took me a little longer than I had expected to get a hold of everyone I wanted to talk to about this, but the story on MDN is now online.  You will read that John Kirby, president of the TVL, said it really was the principals who make the final call.  At first I thought he was just saying it, but he was pretty adamant that its entirely possible that the ADs and the principals could be on opposite sides of the issue.  This isn't over yet.

myDedham.org - a community since 1636 and online since 2007!

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by: Brian @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 20:17:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Stebivule (0.00 / 0)

There are ways around the high bus fees:

1) Our small teams can take vans.
2) One way bus (wrestling has done this)
3) The HS teams can cut out the non-league games because everyone is almost their size. They won't need to schedule Div 3 teams to qualify for the State Tournament.
4) Scrimmage only local teams
5) Parents drive to local events (wrestling has done this)

The BSC is a great league,but we get out muscled in most matches due a lack of numbers.  Some teams have 3 wrestlers for every Dedham kid.  When we compete against TVL teams, they have similar sized teams and similar problems filling all the positions.

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by: JM @ Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 22:40:55 PM CST

TVL Principals vote (0.00 / 0)

vote to accept Dedham and Milford

http://www.dailynewstranscript...

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by: JM @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 06:23:09 AM CST