Sunday, June 15, 2008
Realignment?
Questions swirl concerning a possible realignment within the Middlesex League. Many feel that football is the driving force, and that realignment is designed to create a large and small division. It has been widely circulated that Watertown and Stoneham feel that this might allow for fairer competition, as their enrollments are far below some of the large ML communities such as Lexington and Woburn.
The Wakefield Observer also reports that the league hopes to add two teams to the mix. Some have speculated that Wilmington and Tewksbury might be candidates, as they have a pre-existing Thanksgiving Day football rivalry.
A PDF file outlining the enr0llment-based plan already exists here.
Enrollment data is available from the MIAA Website...
Lexington 1832
Woburn 1348
Reading 1165
Belmont 1154
Wakefield 1004
Melrose 972
Burlington 929
Winchester 940
Stoneham 881
Watertown 749
Tewksbury 1098
Wilmington 885
A basketball realignment might include higher enrollment teams (ML Large) playing each other twice, and teams in the opposing division once. This would create a 16 game schedule, allowing for four non-league games. Who wouldn't want to see Melrose playing in either elite tournaments or more quality opposition?
For example, in volleyball, Melrose will face perennial Division I champion Barnstable and Division II South powerhouse Bishop Feehan this fall.
Drawbacks? Melrose has won the past nine ML girls hoop titles, and if realignment resulted in an 'unbalanced' schedule, some would argue that Melrose 'avoided' playing Reading and Lexington twice.
The Wakefield Observer also reports that the league hopes to add two teams to the mix. Some have speculated that Wilmington and Tewksbury might be candidates, as they have a pre-existing Thanksgiving Day football rivalry.
A PDF file outlining the enr0llment-based plan already exists here.
Enrollment data is available from the MIAA Website...
Lexington 1832
Woburn 1348
Reading 1165
Belmont 1154
Wakefield 1004
Melrose 972
Burlington 929
Winchester 940
Stoneham 881
Watertown 749
Tewksbury 1098
Wilmington 885
A basketball realignment might include higher enrollment teams (ML Large) playing each other twice, and teams in the opposing division once. This would create a 16 game schedule, allowing for four non-league games. Who wouldn't want to see Melrose playing in either elite tournaments or more quality opposition?
For example, in volleyball, Melrose will face perennial Division I champion Barnstable and Division II South powerhouse Bishop Feehan this fall.
Drawbacks? Melrose has won the past nine ML girls hoop titles, and if realignment resulted in an 'unbalanced' schedule, some would argue that Melrose 'avoided' playing Reading and Lexington twice.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 11:10 AM 
