MARYSVILLE, KS – A pillar of the North Central Kansas League (NCKL) may soon seek new horizons. At a recent school board meeting held in the Bulldog room of the activity center, USD 364 Athletic and Activities Director Derek Pretre presented a detailed proposal for Marysville to potentially join the Big East League within the next year or two.
The move would mark the end of an era for Marysville, which is one of only three original members left from the NCKL’s founding in 1966. However, as enrollment gaps widen between Marysville and its current league rivals, school officials and coaches suggest that history may no longer be enough to justify staying.
The Enrollment Factor
Currently, Marysville is the smallest school in the NCKL. By the 2026-2027 school year, it will be the only member classified as 2A in football and 3A in most other sports. In contrast, Marysville would enter the Big East—an 11-school league formed by the merger of the Big Seven and Mid-East Leagues—as the sixth largest school.
Varsity baseball coach John Haefele expressed that it is time to change league affiliations due to the large enrollment disparity, noting that Marysville has approximately 60 fewer students than the next smallest school in the NCKL. While he welcomes tough competition, he argued that it is difficult when the team struggles to remain competitive, citing a 4-45 record against NCKL opponents over the last five seasons.
Competitive Advantages
Athletic Director Pretre and several coaches emphasized that changing leagues would not decrease the level of play, but would instead offer competition that better aligns with Marysville’s size.
- Wrestling: Coach James Landoll believes the switch would benefit the program by replacing individual duals with a league tournament near the end of the season, which would open up the regular season for other tournament opportunities.
- Track and Field: Coach J.I. Hornung explained that winning NCKL meets requires large numbers of kids placing in events. He believes that in the Big East, Marysville’s depth would be more comparable to other schools, allowing for a more consistent chance to compete for league titles.
- Basketball: Girls’ coach Ben Wertenberger highlighted the benefit for younger athletes, noting that the population difference in junior high is currently so dramatic that it can be difficult for students to overcome a discouraging start to their athletic careers.
A Geographic and Cultural Match
The Big East League has already expressed interest in the Bulldogs. Nemaha Central Athletic Director Kelly Williams confirmed that Marysville’s size, culture, and community fit the membership dynamic of the Big East. He noted that their admittance would bring the high school membership to 12, which is ideal for scheduling and provides a better geographical match for the league’s western and northern schools.
Respecting the Past, Looking to the Future
While boys’ basketball coach Scott Brown acknowledged a sense of allegiance to the NCKL because of its history, he admitted that the primary draw of staying is the ability to play the role of the underdog against much larger schools.
Ultimately, Coach Hornung suggested that just as the leaders in 1966 joined the NCKL because they thought it was best for the students at that time, a move to the Big East would be made with the same goal of benefiting current and future Bulldogs. Because Kansas schools operate on a two-year scheduling cycle, the board has a window of time to finalize a decision before the next redraw of activities and sports.
The Marysville Advocate contributed to this report.
