Northeastern Wayne Schools has committed to joining a new athletic and academic conference.
The Knights’ future plans were discussed during NWS’ monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Northeastern Athletic Director Ryan Halloran reported that during an Oct. 13 meeting of Tri-Eastern Conference members, he informed fellow athletic directors that the Knights are accepting an invitation to join the new Eastern Crossroads Conference. All middle and high school athletic and academic teams will be part of the new conference.
Eastern Hancock Schools Athletic Director Aaron Spaulding announced the creation of the ECC on Oct. 2 and said that New Castle, Shenandoah, Lapel and Eastern Hancock had committed to join. Centerville and Delta also received ECC invitations, but haven’t announced their decisions.
Centerville-Abington Community Schools has a regularly scheduled board meeting Wednesday, Oct. 22, but it’s unknown if an announcement about staying in or leaving the TEC will be made that night. CACS Superintendent Mike McCoy previously told WWN that the decision could impact a majority of its students, so officials would analyze all potential aspects of making a change.
Halloran said he shared ECC’s invitation with Superintendent Jennifer O’Brien and Northeastern High School Principal John Markward, and NWS’ head coaches were consulted again before the Knights’ decision was made.
O’Brien told WWN that she’s excited about these new opportunities, and thanked Halloran for his efforts.
“I feel he’s done his due diligence in looking at the best opportunities for Northeastern and our students,” O’Brien said.
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Some transition games will take place before the new conference is fully implemented for the 2027-28 school year, said Halloran, who noted Northeastern is trying to honor its existing contracts. It’s possible football could change sooner if remaining TEC schools find additional opponents.
Halloran confirmed all of the new ECC members have junior varsity teams, which will increase competition opportunities for more Northeastern students. Some TEC teams haven’t had enough athletes to offer JV teams in all sports.
Board members asked several questions, such as how developments will be communicated with families and what happens if Centerville and Delta both decline to join.
In that case, Halloran said ECC could operate with the five members who’ve already committed, and teams would add more non-conference games to their seasons. The TEC has had good rivalries over the years, and Halloran said he wants to keep those going.
Regarding family communication, Halloran and Markward are open to sending out a “Frequently Asked Questions” guide with the information they know, and/or offering a parent meeting later. Markward and Halloran also will answer questions from individuals when contacted through the school.
More information will become available as the writing of ECC’s new bylaws begins in November.
Two area residents spoke when community comments were allowed after Halloran’s presentation.
Rick Fletcher commended school officials for analyzing various options, and said it’s the right time to make changes. Despite great TEC friendships and rivalries, Fletcher said he supports the risks that Northeastern will take to play some larger schools with more athletes to increase competitive opportunities. He said Northeastern dressed 35 football players this year while Lapel and Delta each had nearly 80.
Speaker Kent Carson favored the TEC staying together, suggesting some rule changes related to game spreads, running clocks and allowing JV players more varsity playing time that he believed could have helped.
Fletcher said he understood why Carson wanted TEC and nearby Mid-Eastern Conference members to play their most similar colleagues in their 2A or 1A enrollment classes. However, he noted TEC members recently voted down proposed changes 5-4 and it was time to move on.
A version of this article will appear in the October 22 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.