HUNTINGDON – All Clearfield Area High School athletic teams, except football, will be participating in the Mountain League beginning with the 2010-11 school year.
Athletic director Jon Mikesell reported the league\’s expansion to 12 schools became official Wednesday when representatives of the 10 District 6 schools unanimously voted to accept Clearfield and Juniata as new members during a special meeting in the Huntingdon Area High School.
Mountain League by-laws stipulate newcomers must be accepted in pairs so that each of the two divisions will have an equal number of schools.
Last week, the Juniata County School Board, with a 4-2 vote, approved the measure to seek membership in the Mountain League.
The Clearfield Area School Board had acted earlier this year to seek membership.
Clearfield (District 9) and Juniata (District 3) are the first members from outside District 6.
Clearfield will join Philipsburg-Osceola, Tyrone, Central, Huntingdon and Central Mountain in the Northwest Division.
Juniata moves into the Southeast Division with Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Indian Valley and Lewistown.
Mikesell explained football was not included in the otherwise all-sports league at the present time because the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is considering an increase in classifications for the gridiron playoffs from four to six.
What action, if any, the PIAA takes at its meeting later this month will determine whether the Mountain League adds football for 2010-11.
In 2009-10, all Clearfield teams will be competing in the same leagues and conferences as this year, Mikesell said.
