The Board of Education on Tuesday gave notice it plans to accept the invitation for Shaker Heights to rejoin the Lake Erie League (LEL) beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. The Board unanimously approved the move out of the Greater Cleveland Conference (GCC) pending an impact review in January 2020 of a series of benchmarks, such as scheduling, transportation and costs. The Board will ensure that all Shaker athletic teams understand and are comfortable with this sports league change prior to the start of the 2020-2021 athletic season.
The purpose of this change is to improve overall athletic competitiveness, reduce travel costs, and better support the socio-emotional development of our students. The change allows some sports greater flexibility to schedule out-of-conference games while other sports are not impacted at all. For example, the change will improve:
- Sports Conference Leadership: The influx of new leadership in the Lake Erie League (LEL) over the past few years has resulted in a much higher level of professionalism and cohesion for the league. The league is in a much healthier and stable state than it was in 2012. The potential addition of Shaker Heights and Garfield Heights would further strengthen the league.
- Geography/Travel: A major drawback of remaining in the GCC is travel time. Schools in the conference are located in four different counties, meaning that student-athletes find themselves returning home at late as 10:30 p.m. on a school night. With seven of the eight potential LEL schools located in Cuyahoga County, travel time would be drastically reduced. Travel costs, especially the need for contracting with independent bus services, would also be reduced.
- Diversity/Cultural Sensitivity Issues: Our student-athletes have had to deal with multiple instances where they have been the subject of racial slurs on the athletic playing fields. While our student-athletes have dealt with each of these incidents in a remarkably poised way, it is something that must be given serious consideration when making a decision about conference affiliation. The lack of diversity and cultural sensitivity in some of the communities in the GCC is a real concern.
Some sports are impacted by this change and others sports are not. This change in leagues was recommended by High School Athletic Director Don Readance, who informed and received the support of Shaker coaches for this change to better the sports experience of our students.
The sports impacted by this change include:
- Baseball
- Basketball - Boys & Girls
- Cross Country - Boys & Girls
- Football
- Golf - Boys & Girls
- Lacrosse - Boys & Girls
- Soccer - Boys & Girls
- Softball
- Swimming - Boys & Girls
- Tennis - Boys & Girls
- Track - Boys & Girls
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
The sports not impacted by this change include:
- Field Hockey
- Ice Hockey
- Club Sports
For a brief assessment of how this league change impacts a specific High School sport click here. For questions about a particular sport, please contact the respective athletic coach.