(KMAland) -- It’s the 37th week of the 2024-25 sports calendar, and it’s time for the latest edition of Seven Points! Today in Seven Points, conference realignment revisited, recapping last week's KMAland Senior Spotlights, baseball season is here and I've got five quick questions about the season and a look at what's ahead this week. The Martin Blog is brought to you today and always by Malvern Bank. It has been a topic over the last several years, and it seems to be back in the news. As I reported two weeks ago, Audubon and IKM-Manning have received an invitation to join the Rolling Valley Conference. Audubon was scheduled to discuss the invitation at their school board meeting in April, but that was postponed, potentially to this month. IKM-Manning also discussed potential conference realignment at their school board meeting in April. According to IKM-Manning superintendent Angie Huseman, “the idea for WIC conference membership and expansion was discussed. This was only a discussion item so the Board could think of the questions they needed to have answered before we had an official membership vote, which may occur at the May or June meeting.” Through conversations over the years, Audubon and IKM-Manning’s membership (or not) in the WIC always sounded like a potential jumping off (or not) point of more conference realignment. If the two schools decided to join the Rolling Valley Conference, it would leave the WIC with just seven members. Several months ago, there was discussion within the WIC involving potential expansion. The schools discussed were West Central Valley, Panorama, ACGC, West Monona and Earlham, but those were merely schools that members of the WIC felt fit with the other schools already in the league. Through further discussions with members of the WIC, I learned this discussion was more based on preparedness for what could come down the road. Well, there are some rumbling at the moment that the WIC could be considering two Hawkeye Ten schools as a potential option. That said, I’m not certain the majority of schools in the league would agree to it. Maybe we will find out. Some people agreed, some people disagreed. In order for a new school to be admitted to the conference, the conference would need seven affirmative votes out of nine. Of course, the math changes on that if there are fewer schools in the conference. The addition of Shenandoah and Red Oak has been a contentious point among WIC members with — from what I have heard — the needed seven votes not getting close. Many of the smaller schools in the league believe those schools are “too big,” which is an interesting point considering Shenandoah and Red Oak actually have more in common with several members of the league than those members have with Treynor and Underwood. All of that said, I understand each side and all points made. Everyone wants to do what is best for their school, and I respect that. Still, many of these conferences were made decades and decades ago, and with so much changing over the years, it’s hard to find a league that currently makes sense. What was good for a school or conference 50 years ago is no longer. I wish there was a way we could just start over, but it’s impossible to erase history and the thoughts, feelings and ideas that have come from it. All of that said, I will be keeping a close eye on this in the coming months. •Avery Meyerkorth talked about what has been an incredible run of success for Rock Port athletics. She and her family have played a major role in this, as they won last year’s state track title, advanced to a state quarterfinal in volleyball and were in the Final Four Show-Me Showdown during basketball. And now, they’re a heavy favorite to repeat as state track champs. •Grace Garrison of Van Meter has been one of the most consistent goal scorers in WCAC soccer over the last four seasons. That success has continued in her senior year, and she’s been joined alongside her twin sister Paige in making sure the Bulldogs are among the area’s top teams. She will play soccer at the next level next year with Simpson. •And how about the details of a breakthrough senior year for Creston’s Brayden Schoon, who is a four-sport athlete that has been outstanding all year. He had a big senior year of football (and Iowa Western noticed), made some solid memories in basketball and was a Drake Relays qualifier here in the track and field season. He has a few weeks left of throwing, and then he will turn his full attention to trying to hit some bombs during baseball season. Point 4: Baseball season is here! For many of us, baseball season has been here since January, but the high school baseball season officially begins today in Iowa. It’s Day 1 of practice, and it begins what will be a whirlwind and very fast run through the summer season. •What does Underwood look like after winning a state championship with Garrett Luett and their outstanding senior class? •Who takes over for Aidan Martin as the KMAland hit king? The AL alum had 60 hits to lead (tied) the entire state a year ago. •Who gets to double-digit home runs? Kayden Anderson of Glenwood (now at IWCC) hit 11 in just 25 games last year while Jax Theeler of Sioux City East is back after hitting 10 in 40 a year ago. •Who gets to 100 strikeouts? Another tough one to get to with the smaller schedules (for most teams), but Creighton Tuzzio of Clarinda and Eli Christensen of Ankeny Christian were the only the two to reach 100 strikeouts last season in KMAland. And they’re both gone. •How much fun are we going to have with the WCAC? I would probably say a lot. I’m looking forward to our continued coverage of the WCAC with baseball stalwarts like Des Moines Christian and Van Meter and the rising Pleasanville bunch leading the way. The weekends are beginning to wear me out. Good thing I’m tougher than a two-dollar steak. Have a great week. Send any questions, comments and/or concerns to .
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