Future conference affiliation for Charles City remains up in the air after their application to join the North Central Conference (NCC) was voted down.
The Comets are currently in the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC), which will likely dissolve after the 2024-25 school year after fellow NEIC members New Hampton, Waukon and Cresco-Crestwood were invited to and voted into the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC), starting with the 2025-26 school year. Plus, Waverly-Shell Rock will exit the NEIC this June 30th.
Last month, the Charles City School Board voted to apply to the NCC, which consists of Algona, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Clear Lake, Hampton-Dumont-Cal, Humboldt, Iowa Falls-Alden, Fort Dodge/St. Edmond and Webster City.
Activities Director Dana Sullivan says the Comets has received a denial letter that, despite a 6-2 vote among current NCC members in favor of their application, it failed because NCC by-laws allow for only one dissenting vote. She adds that the letter does not indicate which schools voted against Charles City’s membership.
Sullivan says she continues conversations with trusted advisors seeking guidance for the Comets’ conference future. She’ll also be reaching out to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
Sullivan told the School Board last month that the NCC appeared to be the best fit in terms of school sizes and competitiveness, but UIC was also a consideration.
For now, the NEIC, which also includes Decorah, will go with just five teams for the 2024-25 school year. The Vikings have applied to join the UIC, which will vote on their application in April.
