Lawrence Central and Pike to join MIC in 2014-15

Staff Report

The already powerful Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference is getting a substantial boost in the near future.

According to reports, the conference's principals voted on Thursday night to admit Lawrence Central and Pike for membership into the MIC, replacing Terre Haute North and South.

The changes will take place fully in 2014-15.

The MIC currently includes Warren Central, Carmel, Lawrence North, North Central, Center Grove and Ben Davis.

The MIC principals made their decision at the league's regularly scheduled meeting. During the business portion of the meeting, a motion passed removing the membership of Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South from the MIC. Shortly after, the principals voted to approve membership for Lawrence Central and Pike.

"The schools of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference value the competition and relationships enjoyed with Terre Haute North High School and Terre Haute South High School," the official MIC press release said.

"Both schools are excellent institutions of education. We welcome a new era in the conference with our new member schools and the continued excellence of competition and academic achievement in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference."

With the addition of Lawrence Central and Pike, the conference will remain at eight members.

Lawrence Central and Pike are currently members of Conference Indiana, which required long and expensive bus trips to Columbus North, Bloomington South and Bloomington North.

Indianapolis-area MIC teams were faced with a similar issue, requiring routine bus trips to Terre Haute for conference play.

The new geography of the MIC's revamped arrangement, beginning in 2014-15, should help each member school financially with travel expenses.

According to WTHI-TV Channel 10, Vigo County Superintendent Danny Tanoos told Sports 10 he was "disappointed" with the decision. Tannos also told WTHI-TV that he has not found a new athletic conference for Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South athletics.

Channel 10 reported earlier this week that Tanoos was aware of the developing situation after having a conversation "with the president of the league..." and believed 2013-14 would be the final year of participation for Terre Haute North and South.

North and South have competed in the MIC since 1997-98.

Regarded as one of the biggest and best athletic conferences it the state, the MIC has claimed all but two of the Class 5A football state titles since 1999-2000. The MIC has also netted five Class 4A boys basketball state titles in that time and eight Class 4A girls basketball state titles.

Pike won the Class 4A boys basketball state title in 2000-01 and 2002-03. The Red Devils were state runner-ups in 2001-02 and in 2011-12.

In Class 5A football, Pike was state runner-up in 2007-08 and Lawrence Central was runner-up in 2010-11.

According to the Indianapolis Star, Roncalli and Columbus East are possible replacements in Conference Indiana after the departure of Lawrence Central and Pike.