Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — It’s like the Beatles were singing, “You don’t know how lucky you are boy, to be back in the S.O.C.”
The St. Joseph Flyers were members of the Southern Ohio Conference 1982-89 but as the school enrollment continued to shrink, the school was forced to withdraw and play a controlled independent schedule.
But the addition of smaller schools to the SOC plus shrinking enrollments of current league schools have led St. Joseph to schedule many SOC teams.
With the upgrade in athletic facilities including a new gymnasium in the Catholic Community Center currently under construction, St. Joseph became interested in rejoining the conference.
Those interests were realized on Tuesday when league officials voted to admit St. Joseph as a new member beginning with the 2019-20 school year.
Northwest athletic director and league official Dave Frantz said the two key factors in favor of St. Joseph being re-admitted were facility upgrades and timing.
“They wanted in a few years ago and a few schools in the lower divisions worried about their facilities. Well, they have new facilities,” said Frantz.
With the new enrollment numbers, Beaver Eastern is moving up to Division II in all sports which left a 9-7 split for the number of schools in Division II and I.
South Webster had the enrollment numbers to move down but wanted to remain in the bigger school division due to the possibility of lost revenue from smaller crowds due to loss of established rivalries.
“It would have been unfair to South Webster,” said Frantz.
The addition of St. Joseph gives Division I an even number of eight schools which makes for easier scheduling.
“With an open date like that in the middle of your schedule, it’s hard to fill that spot. St. Joe would fill the void. The timing was perfect,” said Frantz.
The Flyers will compete in boys’ and girls’ basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and potentially golf.
St. Joseph athletic director Greg Bryant said a return to the conference will be a boost to all the athletic programs.
“We’re excited. This will give our kids something to play for,” said Bryant. “It will be a tremendous boost to our scheduling. We’ll have 70 percent of our games within 45 minutes.”
The SOC Division I should consist of St. Joseph, Symmes Valley, Green, Portsmouth Notre Dame, Portsmouth Clay, New Boston, Sciotoville East and Latham Western.
In related news, Western is adding football and will play in Division I. Oak Hill moves up to Division II in 2019.
NOTE: Besides St. Joseph and Symmes Valley, other Lawrence County teams with an SOC history are Chesapeake (1948-54), South Point (1948-51) and Coal Grove (1950-52).