PLYMOUTH – With Elkhart Memorial consolidating with Elkhart Central into one school the Northern Lakes Conference was left with an open slot and a decision has been made on who will fill that slot and that school is Mishawaka High School.
When the Elkhart School Corporation made their consolidation decision along with the decision for their single high school to be a member of the Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) – the affiliation of Elkhart Central – the NLC was left looking for a new partner to begin competition in the fall of 2020. That replacement process began in the spring.
“Part of the discussion process we had with other schools was that everything would remain confidential to allow them the ability to remain in good standing with their current conference affiliations,” said Plymouth High School principal Jim Condon, President of the NLC. “We spoke to many school’s about the possibility of their interest.”
“Our decision was made on a number of criteria,” he said. “We felt that the school should be a clear reflection of a our conference vision and values, have a past history of success both athletically and academically and we also looked at the geographic location and another factor that we felt was important was the community support for those athletic programs.”
Condon says that the NLC felt that Mishawaka was the ideal fit for those criteria.
“We felt that they were ideal,” said Condon. “Another factor in their favor was that many of our NLC member schools already compete against Mishawaka in many sports and those relationships are already there. We look forward to building those long standing relationships in the future.”
Mishawaka will begin NLC play with the fall season of 2020. Up until spring of that year Elkhart Memorial will remain a member of the NLC.
“We certainly also want to say that we have valued the relationship that we’ve had over the years with Elkhart Memorial,” said Condon. “We wish their staff and the Elkhart schools nothing but the best as they move forward with their endevours.”
