Several local schools have announced a departure from the Section V Federation football scheduling to establish the Wayne-Finger Lakes Independent Football League.
This move follows rising concerns over the loss of competitive spirit, reduced team sizes, and an increase in player injuries attributed to the long-distance traveling required by Section V’s current scheduling protocol.
The Times of Wayne County reports the newly formed league consists of eight teams divided into East and West divisions, with Newark, Palmyra-Macedon, Midlakes, and Waterloo forming the East, and Marcus Whitman, Mynderse, South Seneca, and Clyde Savannah making up the West.
Teams will play against each other as well as against non-league regional schools. Jonathan Mastin, Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics for the Newark Central School District, affirmed the league’s mission to provide a safer, more competitive environment with a regionally based schedule to bolster the football culture in the area.
Despite the shift, the teams remain members of Section V, but their independent status makes them ineligible for sectional play. Mastin told the Times, however, that athletes would still be recognized with All-Star honors, including participation in the Eddie Meath All Star Game and All Greater Rochester recognition. While acknowledging the success of former independent team Batavia, Mastin told the Times the move is intended to focus on recruitment, player retention, and program growth. They hope to return to sectional competition by the Fall of 2025.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].