MARYSVILLE — Following a lengthy discussion and a 5-2 school board vote on Monday, USD 364 officially applied Tuesday morning for membership in the Big East League (BEL).
Board members Tyson Anderson, Tony Duever, Travis Pralle, President Craig Harries, and Rose Shelburne voted in favor of the move, while Vice President Buster Schmitz and Liberty Price-Obley cast the dissenting votes.
Path to Acceptance and Timeline
Big East League officials are scheduled to discuss Marysville’s application during a meeting next week. Formal approval requires a two-thirds majority vote from the league’s 11 current member schools. If approved, the Bulldogs could join the conference as early as the 2028-29 school year, or potentially sooner.
Motivation Behind the Move
As a founding member of the North Central Kansas League (NCKL), Marysville currently stands as the smallest school in the 3A and 4A conference and the only 2A football program among its peers. With a multi-year projection of declining enrollment, school leadership weighed the benefits of aligning with similarly sized schools.
While coaches note that the level of competition will remain high, the shift addresses a structural gap in student-body numbers.
- Football Disparity: Unlike larger 4A opponents in the NCKL, Marysville often cannot field two platoons in football.
- Competitive Success: The Bulldogs have recently maintained strong showings in track, cross country, and golf tournaments, while wrestling coaches welcome the fresh opportunities a league change presents.
About the Big East League
The BEL carries a rich athletic history stemming from the former Big Seven and Mideast leagues. Current conference members include:
- Hiawatha, Holton, Jefferson West, Nemaha Central, Perry-Lecompton, Riley County, Rossville, Royal Valley, Sabetha, Silver Lake, and St. Marys.
The conference crowns champions across a wide spectrum of sports and activities, including football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, cross country, wrestling, and track and field, alongside academic and arts events such as scholars bowl, forensics, and art festivals.
