West Central leaving HNAC

In a move that was approved by the school board, West Central High School Athletic Director Wes Allen has confirmed the school has petitioned to leave Hoosier North Athletic Conference ending months of rumors and speculation. 
West Central will be in the HNAC for the next two academic years and will join Frontier, North Newton, North White, South Newton and Tri-County in the reformed Midwest Conference at the start of the 2019-20 season.
As a part of the HNAC bylaws it’s a two-year out process explained Allen. “That’s mostly due to ensure that everybody can get a football schedule since it is the hardest sport to schedule and it may take that long to get everything in place. We don’t want to leave anybody hanging in the Hoosier North Athletic Conference and we want to make sure we are taken care as well as the schools coming into the reformed Midwest Conference. I think we have a very good working relationship with all the schools in the HNAC and don’t anticipate any issues,” he said.
After the MWC disbanded, Frontier, North White, South Newton and Tri-County were left to fend for themselves. Frontier and Tri-County joined the Hoosier Heartland Conference with the likes of Clinton Central, Rossville, Sheridan and Tri-Central. Both North White and South Newton were left without a conference and South Newton was forced to schedule seven football games with teams from Illinois. North Newton is the odd team out but is a good fit due to proximity. The Spartans are currently a smaller 2A school and member of the Greater South Shore Conference.
The talks and eventual decision came about after West Central was approached by a former Midwest Conference school, wanting to gauge the school’s interest in reforming the MWC. Allen commented on the decision saying, “After a couple of meetings to discuss the pros and cons, West Central felt it would be in the school’s best interest to make the move.”
Now the work begins for Allen on how to juggle the process of the HNAC and the MWC.
Across the state football and Friday night is king and that challenge isn’t lost on Allen. He hopes to work out a schedule that can make everyone happy.