In two years, the Suburban League will be expanding its number of schools and will also add two divisions and a new format for league champions.

The league will gain Aurora, Barberton, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent Roosevelt, North Royalton, Stow, Twinsburg and potentially one more school. Cloverleaf and Green will be leaving. The league will split into two divisions: one big school division and one small school division. The big school division will consist of Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Nordonia, North Royalton, Stow, Twinsburg and Wadsworth. The small school division includes Aurora, Barberton, Copley, Highland, Kent Roosevelt, Revere, Tallmadge and one school to soon be named. School athletic directors and league directors made the decisions to change the league.

Revere High School Athletic Director Bill Schumacher described how the divisions will affect schedules and champions.

“The plan is [that] schools will not play [cross division games]. If [a school] wanted to play a school from the other division, they can… In some sports, like wrestling, cross country and track, there will be an end of the season Suburban League Tournament that will consist of all the schools… [There will be] two league champions, one for each division,” Schumacher said.

Schumacher said that football scheduling may change due to the expansion, with game schedules for football teams changing from season to season. That means the Revere-Copley rivalry football game could be moved from the last game of the season. Revere Football Head Coach, Mike Murphey, commented on the divisions and the Copley game being moved.

“[The separated divisions are] a step in the direction that proves that enrollment equals competitive balance… [As for the Copley game] I want it to be the last game, but it is up to the other schools to understand the importance of the rivalry,” Murphey said.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Athletic Director Dan Kalinsky talked about his school’s excitement to join the league.

“Brecksville-Broadview Heights is extremely excited to join the Suburban [League} in 2015.  We anticipate renewing old friendships and rivalries and creating new ones.  The Bees look forward to the competition the Suburban League will bring and the quality schools we will be competing against,” Kalinsky said.

The league expansion will take effect in the 2015-2016 school year.