Adrian Madison leaving TCC for LCAA
MADISON TOWNSHIP -- The Madison board of education voted earlier this week to withdraw from the Tri-County Conference following the 2022-23 school year and will join the Lenawee County Athletic Association starting in the fall of 2023-24.
With Adrian Madison’s departure, the TCC – for now – is down to six schools and just four 11-man football teams. Meanwhile, the move to the LCAA helps keep that league at eight.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Madison athletic director Kris Isom. “Change is not always easy, but necessary.”
Madison will move into the spot that Brooklyn Columbia Central has now. Columbia Central is leaving to join the Cascades Conference along with Leslie and Jonesville and, possibly, one more school from the Big 8 Conference.
Madison started talking about options for a new league only a few months ago, around the time that the school’s enrollment announced for 2022-23 by the Michigan High School Athletic Association showed it at above 400 for the first time.
“It was a very tough decision to leave a conference that we have been dedicated members of for so long,” said Maidson Supt. Nick Steinmetz. “We are grateful for the TCC and all of the schools that we have competed against throughout the years and look forward to what the future holds.”
It was only a few months ago that the district started discussing the option of staying in the TCC, joining the Cascades Conference or joining the LCAA. A formal invitation came only from the LCAA.
Isom said she didn’t make a recommendation to the board Monday but presented the options as she saw them. There was no one from the public at the meeting to comment one way or another.
“I presented options and I told them they had to make decisions based on what’s in the best interest of Madison in the future, not right now or not with their heart,” Isom said. “It’s emotion for me. I’ve been a part of the TCC for a lot of years. We are celebrating 50 years of the TCC next year. But it’s not about what is the best decision for me, but what’s the best decision for Madison.”
Isom said it was her impression that board members felt the TCC was not going to be able to stay together long term.
Britton Deerfield athletic director Erik Johnson called it a tough day for the TCC.
“I understand the position of Madison schools,” he said. “As a TCC group, it will be hard to lose the leadership of Kris Isom. She is a remarkable person and AD.”
Johnson said the league is determined to find a new direction and stay together.
“I know our current athletic directors are passionate about the TCC and its survival,” he said.
Officials from other TCC schools have been in talks with other schools and leagues, including the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC) about scheduling crossover and non-conference football games, or merging leagues altogether. The TAAC includes Ottawa Hills, Emmanuel Baptist, Oregon Cardinal Stritch, Northwood, Maumee Valley Country Day and Toledo Christian.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Adrian Madison leaving TCC for LCAA
