Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s scholastic sports league will go through its second re-organization in four years, under a recommendation approved this week. Rob Manning reports.

Four years ago, school activities’ officials expanded from four levels of competition to six.

That was to hone competitive balance. But some school officials immediately complained that the changes forced some schools to travel too far.

The new system creates “hybrid conferences” to reduce that problem. But the changes actually make travel a bigger deal for some schools.

Gladstone High athletic director, Jere Applebee says his teams will have to play league games against Madras.

He says on one hand, it restores a pre-2005 rivalry.

Jere Applebee: “But as far as dealing with the economic piece – the travel expenses, the safety, going over the mountain – those are the issues that were of concern to everybody in our Capitol Conference.”

Madras officials support the change, because they like the opportunity of again playing Clackamas County schools, like Gladstone, Estacada, and Molalla.