The winds of change have just blown through Yorkton.
It was made effective Monday morning around 11 a.m. (Saskatchewan time).
Things are going to be a little different for YRHS football.
Last year it was the Regina league.
Next season it will be the Moose Jaw league.
"It's just been rumours so far," insisted YRHS football program leader Roby Sharpe.
"This is the rebirth of rural football," suggested YRHS principal Mike Haczekewicz.
The Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) senior football program has officially withdrawn themselves from the Regina Intercollegiate Football League.
They, along with the Weyburn Eagles, are now members of the Moose Jaw High School Football League.
"We are moving," confirms coach Sharpe. "We are the newest members of the Moose Jaw league."
According to reports published back in early January in the Regina daily, Weyburn left the RIFL a long time ago.
Both coaches (Weyburn's Darren Abel and YRHS's Sharpe) expressed concern with the mounting costs as well as a severe lack of home games when the RIFL established their schedules.
"The playoff structure was the biggest for me," Sharpe told a small group of media Monday morning.
"I pleaded my case a lot of times," Sharpe went on to explain, adding that the school didn't get support from the RIFL.
"Well, it's our league and this is the way (it's done)," he was told by RIFL officials.
The Eagles joined the RIFL in 1976. It was agreed that the league would cover the expenses for Regina schools to travel to Weyburn for league games.
According to Weyburn, that agreement was altered in 2006 when the league asked Weyburn to increase its spending in order to remain a member. Weyburn decided it was best for them to move themselves to the Moose Jaw league.
YRHS has done the same.
"We will never have home field advantage in this league," Sharpe told the L-P. "That's just not right."
On Monday, Sharpe was thrilled about the news.
YRHS athletics director Darren Wandy shared similar enthusiasm.
"It's awesome. It's a big deal," he said before adding that Regina's league likely "don't care about YRHS (and Weyburn) leaving."
For more photos see the Photo Gallery!
