Content area
Full Text
One has been around for more than a century. The other is a relative newcomer, coming on the scene in 1965.
It is a May-December union that was a no-brainer.
The Central Valley School District, the consolidation of the former Monaca and Center school districts, became a reality this school year, but the high schools remained separate entities. That ends next month.
Goodbye, Monaca.
Goodbye, Center.
Hello, Central Valley.
The consolidation was made for a plethora of academic reasons, all good. But in the rich athletic environment that is Western Pennsylvania, in general, and Beaver County, specifically, it is impossible for two high schools to morph into one without someone saying, "Their sports teams are going to be really good."
A lot of times that is wishful thinking.
But, when it comes to Central Valley, which will compete at the Class AAA level, the teams might be good, indeed.
Just look at the schools' baseball teams this spring. Center is 16-3 overall and won the Section 1-AA title with an 11-1 record. Monaca is 12-5 and finished the regular season in second place in Section 3-A with an 8-2 mark. Both have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs that begin next week.
In football, Center was 9-2 and tied Beaver Falls and Aliquippa for first place in the Class AA Midwestern Athletic Conference, losing in the first round of the Class AA playoffs. Monaca finished 5-5, tied for third in the Class A Big Seven Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
"We've had some good teams, and they've had some good teams. When you put them both together,...