Narrows League’s realignment should create new rivalries

Most sports discussions over the holidays revolve around baseball’s free-agency period or college-football bowls.

And while that’s going on, Narrows League athletic directors are contemplating the makeup of their league.

That might seem strange because the league just realigned with the addition of Shelton from the Class 3A Western Cascade Conference this year, while North Kitsap dropped to the 3A Olympic League.

But enrollment figures run on a two-year cycle these days, which means the Narrows figures to see more changes for the 2010-11 school year.

Let’s hope that conversion begins with an addition over in University Place. The South Puget Sound League used to make sense for Curtis when neighboring Clover Park and Lakes competed against the Vikings.

But those schools exited the SPSL after the 1996-97 school year and Curtis now finds itself traveling to Graham and Federal Way for away games. With many schools in cost-cutting mode these days, regular games against Tacoma schools seem to make more sense.

It’s a move Narrows schools should embrace as well. With the exception of girl’s basketball, which last advanced to the Tacoma Dome during the 2003-04 season, baseball, boys basketball, fastpitch, football, boy’s and girl’s soccer and volleyball have advanced to state at least once since 2005.

That’s competition schools such as South Kitsap could use, particularly in football. With the exception of Olympia, the Narrows has been mediocre in recent years.

Central Kitsap reached the state semifinals this year, but only advanced past the first round once in more than 80 years before.

As recently as two years ago, the Cougars finished 3-7 and no Narrows team besides Olympia won more than six games.

The level of competition has been most detrimental when the playoffs come around.

Olympia hasn’t lost a league game since 2004, but hasn’t advanced beyond the first round since ’05.

South’s last state appearance in 2007 resulted in a 41-20 loss against Graham-Kapowsin.

Curtis’ recent playoff stretch hasn’t been memorable, but the Vikings have won four state championships in 20 seasons. The additional competition should benefit everyone.

Quality competition isn’t as much of a concern in basketball, particularly on the boy’s side where Foss and Lincoln generally are strong, but imagine the confidence the Wolves would hold after wins against those programs, Bellarmine Prep and Curtis. Even with a light nonleague schedule, South would feel confident headed into state.

Besides more competition, the addition of Curtis into the Narrows would provide another intriguing subplot for South: a new rivalry.

They’re close enough — roughly 25 miles apart — and both are the only high schools in their community.

There’s a pride that revolves around the success both programs have enjoyed and their similarities could develop into an intriguing rivalry.

Now it’s time for the athletic directors in the Narrows and at Curtis make this union their New Year’s resolution.

Chris Chancellor can be reached at 876-4414, or by e-mail at sports@

portorchardindependent.com.

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