The Central Suburban League (CSL) plans to have a new member for the first time in 25 years. After the 2015-16 school year, Waukegan is scheduled to join the North Suburban Conference (NSC), leading to a potential shift of divisions in the CSL.
According to Athletic Director John Catalano, who is also the current president of CSL athletic directors, Waukegan has considered leaving the CSL for several years. The recent split of the NSC, in which six schools left the NSC to form a new conference, prompted Waukegan’s exit from the CSL and their addition to the NSC.
“Years ago when the CSL was formed, there weren’t nearly as many high schools…so geographically [the conference] made sense,” said Catalano. “Now, for Waukegan to travel to the other schools in the CSL South division, it’s difficult and challenging for them all the time.”
Catalano said Waukegan’s switch to a different conference allows the school to save money on transportation and will save their athletes time.
“Waukegan has been a great partner and a big part of the CSL,” said Catalano. “But [the move] does make sense for them and [CSL athletic administrators] understand why they have decided to move on.”
Waukegan’s departure would leave the CSL with 11 schools. Catalano said the Board of Control, which is made up of the principals of each school in the conference, has agreed to inform schools in the area that the conference is looking for a 12th member.
Football head coach Bob Pieper said it should be interesting to see what school joins the conference and that it is always exciting to play new teams.
Catalano said the CSL is waiting for letters from schools looking to be a part of the conference until April 30. He said the athletic directors will then review the applicants and make a recommendation to the Board of Control, which will make the final decision on May 4.
“Our conference is founded on the principle of an enrollment-based [division], so the six largest schools are in the South division, and the six smallest schools are in the North division,” said Catalano. “We are losing a large school, so ideally [the conference] would love to find another large school. The issue is that there are not a whole lot of [independent] schools looking for a home.”
According to Catalano, there is a possibility of a division realignment if a smaller school joins the CSL.
“[The conference] has always had that possibility,” said Catalano. “Every two years we take official enrollment counts and those determine the alignment.”
Catalano said the addition of a smaller school would cause the largest school in the North division to move to the South division. He said Glenbrook North is currently fourth in enrollment in the North division, so a new school in the North division would cause Niles North to move to the South division.
Senior Peter Koulogeorge said a new school in the North division would mix the conference up and having an opponent the school has not seen before could be a “cool twist.”
Catalano said he is hoping to add a school that offers a broad athletic program and has many levels of play among their teams.
“Seeing new teams on every level and [in] every sport…creates excitement to go play [at a school] you haven’t played before or a team you haven’t played before,” Pieper said.
Koulogeorge said he thinks it would be better for another “solid program” to be brought in so the different divisions can even out talent-wise.
Catalano said the chances of the CSL not finding a replacement school are low and there have been conversations with schools that are interested in applying.
Koulogeorge said the configuration of the conference is very important because teams want to win a conference championship.
“Every [game] in conference is big, no matter who it is or where they’re from,” said Pieper. “If there is a new team on our side of the conference and someone goes to the [South], it’s pretty important to beat them no matter who they are.”