From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — Neosho officially became the 15th member of the Central Ozark Conference on Wednesday night.
The vote to approve Neosho’s admission was taken by superintendents from conference members at Logan-Rogersville High School.
Neosho will join the conference for the 2008-09 school year. Carthage and Webb City — current members of the Southwest Conference along with Neosho — already have been accepted for COC membership.
By adding Neosho, the Central Ozark Conference will have eight members in the large-school division and seven in the small-school division.
Neosho school and COC officials will have 11 months to work on by-laws and scheduling for the conference switch, said Stephen Kleinsmith, Nixa superintendent.
“It would have been real hard to not continue playing Carthage and Webb City,” said Neosho football coach Ray Godfrey. “I feel bad that we’re not going to be with McDonald County. I hope there’s a way they can get in.”
McDonald County and Nevada are the only members of the Southwest Conference that have not found a new affiliation. Both have reportedly applied for admission to the Big 8 Conference.
From a football perspective, the conference change will alleviate scheduling problems, Godfrey said.
“It’s been difficult to get (10) games,” Godfrey said. “Normally, you’re pretty good with eight games. ... Monett has been a long-standing (nonconference) game and Seneca is a great rivalry game.”
Neosho has played nonconference games against COC schools Branson, Republic, Nixa and Ozark in the past few years.
Sports
August 22, 2007
Neosho newest COC member
Conference superintendents approve adding Wildcats
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
- Both sides of border hope changes make easier entry into Canada
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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