It was coincidence Spokane’s road to the Greater Ozarks Conference began shortly after the Lady Owls’ volleyball team was swept by Fair Grove in the Class 3 District 10 final last fall.
But there was a link between the two.
Reflecting on the Lady Owls’ 33-win season, Spokane AD Joel Carey wasn’t convinced the SWCL served coach Erin Mitchem’s team well for the post-season.
“Going against Fair Grove, I don't know if anybody was prepared for them this year,” Carey said of the eventual Class 2 state champs. “We had a record-breaking season. But when you play for a District championship, you better be prepared. We weren't as prepared as we could be because we had played a lot of Class 1 schools that make up the SWCL.”
Earlier this month, the Greater Ozarks announced its formation and list of charter schools that includes SWCL members Spokane, Billings and Crane, along with Greenwood, New Covenant, Morrisville and Pleasant Hope.
“When you look at the competitive nature of the (Greater Ozarks), we're going to see consistency in athletic programs and more of a competitive nature, I believe,” Carey said. “There will be some growing pains. But this conference is going to be good for the schools and communities.”
A domino effect came into play around SWMO after the departures of Reeds Spring, Forsyth, Hollister and Springfield Catholic from the Big Eight to join the Mid-Lakes and the creation of the Ozark Mountain Conference. Realignment ensued in the COC, while the OC will soon see its demise.
The only effect the reshuffling among the bigger schools had on the Greater Ozarks was they showed change could indeed occur.
“In late October or the first of November, we were contacted by an area school and asked what we thought about (the Greater Ozarks),” Carey said. “We were not looking to leave the SWCL. But the opportunity presented itself to be with schools more our size. There will also be more academic opportunities in this conference. Also, it will cut our travel time. So, it was almost a no-brainer. It's a win-win.”
Carey related feedback he’s received at Spokane regarding the Owls joining the Greater Ozarks has been good from the get-go.
“Before we took this to (Spokane's school board), we surveyed our coaches and asked if this was something they would be comfortable with for our programs and if not, we were not going to pursue it,” Carey said. “All the coaches were on board and gung-ho about it. The community is also behind it.”
It was also a joint decision for Spokane, Billings and Crane to join the Greater Ozarks.
“We got our administrative teams together and visited about it,” Carey said. “We didn't want just one or two of us to leave. We thought it would be a great move for all three of us together.”
Pleasant Hope will be the only Greater Ozarks member to have a football team and no other school is likely to strap on shoulder pads anytime soon.
“One of the questions I asked (Greater Ozarks schools officials) is if football is in the long-range plan of the new conference because it's not in the long-range plan of Spokane,” Carey said.
Spokane will serve as host of the Greater Ozarks’ first conference track meet.
Carey doesn't think there is any viable chatter of Greater Ozarks expansion.
“You hear things, but right now we're going to stay at seven,” he said. “Any schools that would be interested would have to petition (to join) and be voted on by member schools.”
Unless the SWCL reinvents itself or dissolves, its remaining members will be Galena, Blue Eye, Southwest and Purdy.
