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North Andover, Masco and Wilmington to the Middlesex? It might happen

Apr 30th, 2009 by Hector Longo

Checked into the hot rumors surrounding the Middlesex League’s expansion.
Yes, there is life to the rumor that North Andover, Masconomet and Wilmington might all be involved in the new Middlesex mega-league.

According to sources, there have been overtures from all three CAL schools.
Nothing is imminent yet.
The remnants of the GBL, Medford, Malden, et al, have inquired about the Middlesex as well.
Facts we know:
Tewksbury and Wilmington applied for the Middlesex and were denied late in 2008, but shortly after, the by-laws were changed from the need for a unanimous vote to the need for 7 out of 10.
Wilmington clearly wants out of the CAL, and there are administrative ties to the Middlesex.
Tewksbury, according to one Merrimack Valley AD, is still quite possibly interested in joining its Turkey Day rival.
Let’s be honest, if Wilmington leaves the CAL, North Andover and Masco almost have to follow. Sorry, but it’s brutal honesty that says they’ll enjoy too many walkovers for the kids to even enjoy it.
Newburyport won’t be the athletic powerhouse it has been in the past, the numbers don’t lend it to a resurgence, and Pentucket is Pentucket, a cyclical contender that will rise and fall depending on the year.
Too many Ipswich, Rockports and Manchesters can’t be good for NA or Masco.
So, it makes sense for the Knights and Masco to look elsewhere.
The MVC AD I spoke to noted that without Tewks, again if a move happened, existing feelings of discontent in Chelmsford and Billerica with the league as it would stand might send them looking elsewhere … read in Dual County.
What then happens to Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Dracut, Haverhill and Andover, all public school staples of the MVC?

Coaches in North Andover have reportedly heard the rumblings of a potential move, according to sources, and several aren’t happy.
As a former coach, who used to spend his Friday night’s plunked in the heart of Route 128 traffic on a bus for games down in Lexington (Minuteman) or Billerica (Shawsheen), I can definitely understand that sentiment.

Would NA or Masco ever consider the MVC, perhaps joining the remnants if an all-out dessertion happen?
Most likely no way.
The reason, of course, is two words: Central Catholic.
This growing, budding athletic beast is just too much for these schools to ever handle regularly.
That fact again brings us to the fact that fun and delightful conversation about the MVC and Central, do they really fit together?
But let’s not go there.

HL

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

  • Ken
    Oh, but Hector, you did go there. And the answer is no, they don't belong in the MVC. I've heard from an MVC AD that you yourself have said that!
  • Hector Longo
    I didn't just say it Ken, I believe it and have written it, but it's for Central's benefit. Anyway, if you really are into this conversation, it exploded here over the winter. Go back and you can check it out.
  • Jim Arnold
    Good reporting Hector. Great detail.

    I could see Billerica moving. And Chelmsford is a good fit for Dual County.

    Having Central is like having the Yankees. In theory they belong in the Catholic Conference. With their own state tourney.

    But things would be a lot less fun around here.
    I love Central games. And their insane paranoid alumni.
    It is an integral great part of our community.
  • Mike
    We are just talking Central Basketball here right? What other sport have they won in? Baseball no, Football no, swimming no(not even sure if they have team), tennis no, Softball no.. I guess its just Basketball sooo just move the Basketball program to the Catholic conference and case closed..
  • Big Red
    Are you serious Mike? " I guess its just Basketball sooo just move the Basketball program to the Catholic conference"

    Central Basketball is the reason why the MVC is considered a good high school basketball league. No offense to Lawrence, Andover, and Lowell but let's face it all 3 schools combined has not had the state tournament success that CC has had in the last 10 years.. Those schools want CC in the MVC because it brings legitimacy to the Conference.

    Whatever your agenda is Mike it's time to let it go. CC is not going anywhere.
  • Mike
    Red - You misunderstood what I was saying... I don't want Central to get out of the MVC. I was just replying to Hectors feeling that they should move to a more competetive conference. My point is that Central is only dominant in one sport and competetive in the others. And even Basketball they are dominant in the MVC but statewide? Hec said this years team may be the best ever? They lose to Lyn English by 11 and Lyn English loses to St Johns by 18.. so I guess St Johns could be compared to the 86 Celtics?

    All kidding aside just because they are dominant in one sport people want them out? How about Andover Swim Team should we kck them out because no one can compete with them?
  • CentralFan
    Anyone out there. Why do you think Central does not have the success in the other sports that they have in Hoops? Most CCHS detractors claim they get all the athletes. Perhaps they do. Why don'y they win consistantly in the other major sports. Curious to hear what this blogdom has to say.
  • Jim Arnold
    Well, hockey made Super 8 and almost won it all.
    Football has had a few down years but Central and Chelmsford have dominated sport for 15 years.
    Baseball team is, according to Tribune, prohibitive favorite.
    I would guess that Central is the favorite, in any given game they play in any sport, 75% of the time.
    All of that said, love the place. But I see why Dracut, Billerica, Lawrence... everyone... does not see the field as level.
    My kid grew up in Andover and had a chance sometimes. But kids in most towns don't. Great athletes from every town attend Central. They are exposed to great coaches in a highly competitive environment.
    Most state champions emanate from Catholic schools. Across the board.
    But - so what?
    The positives of Central outweigh the negatives exponentially.
    Although I am not sure how Hector was accepted there.
  • brett
    Enough with the anecdotal! Hec, put together Central's winning percentages for boys and girls sports say for the last 5 or even 10 years and then we can have a good discussion.

    Mike, Lynn English also beat Lynn Tech by 5.
  • Big Red
    Mike,

    I apologize for not misreading your quote but how can you say CC hasn't been dominant in the State Tournament. If you look at it closely that have made it to the district finals 8 of the last 10 years and 3 strainght with Nault as Head Coach. There is not a team in division 1 boys basketball that has the state tournament record that CC has compiled in the past decade.
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