Its been over a year since the announcement that Reeds Spring and Hollister (along with Marshfield, Catholic, Rogersville, and Nevada) were joining the Big 8 Conference. Play in the newly expanded League will begin in August.
Current Big 8 Members Monett, East Newton, Lamar, McDonald County, Seneca, and Cassville will be joined by Nevada to make up the West Division of the new league. Former COC foes Reeds Spring, Hollister, Catholic, Marshfield, and Rogersville will welcome Aurora and Mt Vernon to the East Division. But what does this mean for scheduling? Well, for different sports it means different things. For the purpose of this I will stick with the Fall Sports.
Football will be played within the divisions. You play everyone in your division every year. To complete your nine game regular season schedule each team will play THREE “cross-over” games. Now, its important to know that the cross-over games are to complete the schedule only. They will NOT count in the Conference Record. Each Division will crown its own Champion and will have its own All-League Team.
This first season the Wolves will host Nevada and Cassville, while traveling to Seneca for its cross-over games. Hollister will host East Newton and McDonald County and will get to drive to Lamar for their three additional games. Next year they schedule will remain the same but will flip-flop home and away. The schools will then go to the next rotation of opponents.
Softball will have the opportunity to play a true round-robin. With more games and less schools playing (Hollister and Mt Vernon play their softball in the Spring) there is a chance to play everyone. Thus, a true league champion will be crowned.
Volleyball looks to be playing three cross-over games as well. But unlike football, they will reserve an open date at the end of the season. On that date the two divisions will matchup with the team that finished in the same position from the other division. Thus claim a true Big 8 Champ.
Basketball in the winter and Baseball in the spring will be doing something similar at the end of their seasons a well, but we will look at Winter and Spring sports and the changes in their schedules a little later…
Other than League Meets Cross-Country, Girls Golf will see little change. Neither Reeds Spring nor Hollister compete in Soccer so changes there wont effect them.
Its a brand new day in what amounts to a brand new league. Lots to look forward to Welcome to the Big Eight (Fourteen) (+6) or whatever you want to call it.
