Last year rumors of conference realignment were like January snowflakes in Minnesota. They were everywhere.
At various times, Farmington was heading to a new Dakota County Conference, joining the prestigious but crowded Lake Conference or joining the Suburban East Conference.
But when the dust finally settled the Tigers found themselves in the Missota Conference where they resided from 1960-1983 and have been since their return to the league in 1998.
“There was a lot of talk about other possibilities,” Farmington athletic director Jon Summer said, “but nothing ever came to a vote or formal invitation to go anywhere else.
“We are very happy to stay in the Missota. It’s a good conference and a good competitive environment for our programs.”
Although the Tigers, now the only remaining charter member of the original Missota, stayed put, two other conference members moved on.
Fellow charter member Prior Lake joined ranks with nine former Lake Conference schools to establish the new South Suburban Conference and Hutchinson got its long standing wish by gaining acceptance to the geographically friendly Wright County Conference.
Two former Lake Conference schools, Chaska and Chanhassen, move to the Missota for the 2010-2011 school year and according to Summer should help keep the league one of the most competitive in Minnesota.
“Chanhassen has only been in existence a year but both schools had some success in the Lake,” he said. “They are both pretty good sized and should fit nicely with the other six schools.
“One of the biggest advantages of their coming in is that they offer not only most of the same sports we do but also the various levels of competition. Having them also helps us for scheduling purposes, especially in football. It was important to keep us at eight teams.”
The Tiger girls swimming team gets the first opportunity to compete against one of the new league members, traveling to Chanhassen, Tuesday, Sept, 9, for a dual meet with the Storm.
Farmington and Chaska don’t meet until Sept. 28 when the Tigers entertain the Hawks at the Boeckman Middle School courts.
