CHESTER — Chester High School announced Friday afternoon via Twitter that it will accept an invitation to join the Cahokia Conference, leaving the Black Diamond Conference.
The statement released by the school cited “the benefits of more localized competition than we currently have” as the main reason for the move, adding “Although we are thankful for the past 10 years as members of the Black Diamond Conference, we believe it is now in our students’ best interest to join the Cahokia Conference.” The school board must give final approval, with the board’s next meeting set for June 18.
Chester High School would like to announce our official Cahokia Conference Statement. Please see attached statement, thank you. @chesterhs139 @county_journal @HeyItsGritty @BDC_Sports @deuceandabuse @writingump @CHSPrincipal17 @STLhssports pic.twitter.com/CbHow4wqgD
— Chester High School Sports (@CHSJacketSports) May 29, 2020
The Cahokia invited Chester, along with Sparta from the River to River–Mississippi, Roxana from the South Central Conference, East Alton/Wood River from the Prairie State Conference as well as independent Okawville to make an 18-team super conference. The Belleville News Democrat is reporting Okawville will accept the invitation after getting board approval Thursday night. Roxana has already approved the move, with EAWR set to decide at a board meeting Tuesday.
The Cahokia would be divided into three divisions based on size–with Roxana and EAWR joining Breese Central, Columbia, Freeburg and Salem in the large division. Chester, Okawville, and Sparta would join Carlyle, Red Bud and Wesclin in the medium division. Dupo, Lebanon, Marissa, New Athens, Steeleville and Valmeyer will make up the small division. Dupo would switch with Okawville for football. None of the other small division teams play football. This new realignment would go into effect no later than the 2022-23 season.
The loss of Chester would leave the Black Diamond with six teams in both the East and West divisions, but with only 9 teams for football, one shy of a closed conference. Flora would likely be a strong candidate to replace Chester.
Yellow Jackets’ Athletic Director Jeremy Blechle joined Darren Kinnard to talk about the move.