American Canyon High would be a good fit for the MEL

Size. Does it matter? Does one size fit all? School enrollments often determine how leagues and divisions align.

Realignment has been significant in the Monticello Empire League and the Solano County Athletic Conference over the past 20 years. The most recent move came in 2012 involving Rodriguez going to the MEL and Fairfield going to the SCAC.

The frequent shakeup was partially a result of the fact that three schools were added (Bethel, Rodriguez and American Canyon) and another school (Hogan) closed since 1998. While realigning leagues has been necessary to have scenarios where every school has reasonably comparable enrollment, the angst factor is that it has involved splitting traditional rivalries, such as Armijo and Fairfield to name one.

While there is no immediate talk of more realignment, I have one recommendation -- move American Canyon from the SCAC to the MEL. Various stars would have to align for that scenario to happen but it’s a nice discussion.  

According to calpreps.com, current SCAC enrollments are as follows: American Canyon (1,382), Benicia (1,672), Bethel (2,081), Fairfield (1,463), Vallejo (2,225) and Vanden (1,641).

MEL enrollments are as follows: Armijo (2,262), Napa (2,256), Rodriguez (2,156), Vacaville (1,925), Vintage (2,112) and Wood (1,507).

American Canyon to the MEL would make sense on multiple fronts, regardless of their enrollment being the smallest among both the MEL and SCAC schools. In football, they would have difficulty against powerhouses like Napa and Vacaville but would have a realistic chance to win against everyone else. Plus is watching AC lose to Napa or Vacaville by four touchdowns any worse than watching Vintage or any other MEL team fall by similar margins or greater?

I have no doubt the Wolves would be competitive in most every sport because they already are viable in the SCAC. That would also include the nonrevenue sports like swimming, golf, track & field to name a few because unlike some schools in the SCAC, American Canyon generally has strong numbers in those sports. For road games, the Wolves bring packs of fans (pun intended) to games. The existing MEL schools are known for travelling well so American Canyon joining that league would help on that front. Being in the SCAC hurts American Canyon financially. Benicia and Vanden travel well but Bethel, Vallejo and Fairfield are often outdrawn by visiting teams at home.

I can debunk that argument right now. Benicia was in the MEL from 2000-2002. In football, the Panthers went 5-25 in that span. However, at that time, Benicia football was in a different stage. Since moving to the SCAC, the Panthers have been at or near the top of the league. In every other sport, however, Benicia was competitive. Granted, the MEL was divided into two leagues (MEL I and MEL II). The Panthers were MEL II but in that span won or tied for nine league crowns and was at minimum middle of the road in the other sports. Put Benicia in the MEL now and things likely play out pretty similarly.

The argument in favor of Rodriguez’s aforementioned move to the MEL in 2012 was enrollment. That reason, however, is short-sighted because the Mustangs were dominating in every sport in the SCAC even though they slipped in football. Rodriguez has continued to struggle in the MEL in football but in most every other sport, the Mustangs are fine.

Rodriguez won three straight boys basketball titles and finished second in 2015-2016. They're second every year in wrestling to Vacaville. They've won two straight volleyball titles. They've made the playoffs in boys water polo and in both tennis programs (boys and girls). They've made the playoffs in baseball and softball. They've won badminton every year they've been in the league, their girls swim team won the title last year. In essence, they're competitive in just about everything and a good fit for the MEL. As bad as they've been in football, I see them turning things around sooner than Armijo and give them the best shot at some point in the future of bumping Wood and Vintage for the league's No. 3 spot. If the right talent and coach combo hook up they could challenge Vacaville and Napa.

Bethel and Vallejo saw enrollment spike as a result of Hogan closing might join the MEL because their enrollment has spiked to Rodriguez’s level as a result of Hogan closing but neither has a valid case to join the MEL based on collective success.

Enrollment is a cut-and-dried method with no confusion, but it should not necessarily act as the “end all, be all.” Having covered large and small schools (public and private) throughout my sports journalism career, I get nauseated when I hear the term “big school” or “small school.”

It’s not so much the description as it is the blanket statements sometimes associated with them, like, “they’re a big school, they should be good because they have so many kids to draw from.”

That’s like saying, “This guy makes $100,000 per year, so why can he not afford a European vacation?” Well, it’s simple, people have different spending priorities.

My other favorite is, “they are pretty good for a small school.”

This statement is like a left-handed compliment. I have also heard, “well, it’s hard to succeed when you have so few numbers to draw from.”

To make another money example, there are plenty of people that make less money that have better financial common sense. Point being, there are other factors that determine how good an athletic program is than sheer numbers.

Good coaching, administrative support and community support are also vital factors.

Count me among those who think American Canyon belongs in the MEL. However, getting there is a problem. If the league stays at six teams, someone has to leave. Napa and Vintage are inseparable. So is Vacaville and Wood. Armijo also strongly resisted leaving the MEL in 2012. Rodriguez is not going back to the SCAC. The other option would be making the MEL an eight team league.

AC to the MEL, it’ll take some doing but it’s nice to fathom.