New sports league idea being explored

Could there be a new athletic league in Lake Roosevelt High School’s future?

It’s possible that someday the Raiders will be part of a proposed “Columbia River League.”

But there’s a long road awinding before that could become possible, Athletic Director Richard Black told the school board Monday night.

In spite of all the things Lake Roosevelt and others proposed for the league would have to do, the school board was enthusiastic about the idea.

Nevertheless, Black was cautious. “When you start pulling schools out from other leagues, you open up the chance that it would cause those leagues to fail,” he said.

Proposed for the league in addition to Lake Roosevelt would be Liberty Bell, Manson, Soap Lake, Waterville, Bridgeport, Entiat and Pateros. Later, such schools as Wilbur and Almira-Coulee-Hartline could be considered.

“There’s been some talk between schools,” Black said. “I have talked with several, and most seem interested.”

First, the schools would have to get the idea past the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the governing body. The first reaction Black said he had heard was somewhat favorable.

‘I think we could try it for one season in football and see how it goes, and then expand it if it goes well,” Black said.

Anyhow, the idea will be brought up when athletic directors from the region get together next week.

One of the favorable things about the proposed new league is that all teams would be within two hours of each other, cutting down on traveling time and expense.

Lake Roosevelt athletes currently travel as far as Oroville and White Swan, which is at least three hours away.

For now, forming a new league is just an idea.