Schools

Changes in Store for Hockomock League

Canton High could see more games come fall.

athletes could be playing more league games come fall. The may be expanding this coming school year. Plans to add Taunton and Milford to the high school athletic league, which Canton High School plays in, are under way.

Canton High’s Athletic said initially, Canton had mixed feelings about the additions.

“Some schools in the league really wanted to expand to make a fuller league of six and six,” Erickson said. “Canton had mixed feelings.”

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However, now that plans for expansion are moving forward, CHS is “happy with that.”

Hockomock League principals voted 9-1 this month to accept Milford and Taunton for the 2012-13 academic year, Sharon Principal Jose Libano said Monday. The vote came during a regular meeting of the Hockomock principals and athletic directors.

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Currently, Milford plays in the Midland Wachusett League's A division, according to the MIAA website. Taunton plays in the Old Colony League's Pilgrim division.

With the addition of two new towns to the Hockomock League, there will be “more league contests,” Erickson said. “Some coaches will be happy with that and some may not be. Nothing is ever a complete fix for everybody.”

This is not the first time the athletic league has seen changes. A few years ago, according to Erickson, the league expanded. Last year, the league added Attleboro, creating a league of five small and five large schools, splitting the league into two divisions.

The two schools invited to join the league need approval from their school committees. Milford is expected to take up the issue at their school committee meeting Thursday night.

Sharon Athletic Director Bob Sondheim said Taunton would join the Hockomock League's big school division, while Milford would join the small school division, based on October 1, 2011 enrollment.

However, adding Milford would move either Sharon, Oliver Ames or North Attleborough to the big school Kelly-Rex division to create two six-team divisions. Those three schools have the largest enrollment in the small school Davenport division, Sondheim said.

Erickson said he is confident the additions will be accepted. “I think it will happen,” he said.


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