Big East League unanimously accepts Marysville

*The following story is from the Marysville Advocate. All sources and information is from them.*

Marysville was unanimously approved Thursday morning as the 12th member school of the Big East League.

The BEL schools voted 11-0 to accept the Bulldogs' high school program and 12-0 to approve the junior high. There are 12 junior high schools in the league and 11 in the high school division. The high schools are Hiawatha, Holton, Jefferson West, Nemaha County, Perry-Lecompton, Riley County, Rossville, Royal Valley, Sabetha and St. Marys. Atchison is part of the junior high division.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to compete in a new league that has been successful and will prepare us for the postseason," said Marysville athletic and activities director Derek Pretre.

Marysville will join the BEL starting with the 2028-29 school year. The school will have another year in the North Central Kansas League and then make the move when the football districts are redrawn.

The NCKL became affiliated with the Kansas State High School Activities Association in 1966. The BEL was formed in June 2023 when the Big Seven and Mid-East Leagues agreed to combine. Competition started during the 2024-25 school year. The Big Seven was formed in 1926 and the Mid-East in 1948.

When Marysville leaves the NCKL the member schools will be Abilene, Chapman, Clay Center, Concordia, Rock Creek and Wamego. The last change in the NCKL's membership was 2024 when Rock Creek joined at the high school level. The junior high started competing in 2022. Rock Creek had been a Mid-East League member for 30 years, but joined the NCKL when the Mid-East League decided to dissolve.