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Division switch means tougher games for Monroe

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer 7:26 PM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

For the last four years, Monroe has dominated the Southwestern Buckeye League’s Buckeye Division, particularly in football.

Beginning next season, the Hornets will have the opportunity to see what they can do against the bigger schools in the Southwestern Division.

Monroe, which has won or shared the Buckeye Division title in three of the last four years, will switch divisions with Milton-Union for the 2010 season.

“We’re excited about the move,” Monroe’s second-year football coach Ken Meibers said. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge for our program.”

In the last four years of playing its two annual SWBL crossover games against Valley View and Bellbrook, the Hornets are 3-1 against the Golden Eagles and 1-3 against the Spartans. Overall since joining the SWBL, Monroe is 26-6 against league foes.

“There’s definitely going to be a step up in competition,” Meibers said. “We’ll have to be prepared week in and week out.”

The switch also renews a yearly rivalry with Franklin, which was a longtime member of the former Mid-Miami League with Monroe.

“I’m not familiar with the rivalry,” Meibers said. “But I do know through research that it was always a big game, and we’re excited to be bringing that back to our schedule. It will definitely be a good game for us and for the region.”

The Hornets will open the season by hosting Meadowdale on Aug. 27 and Ross on Sept. 3. Then they have three straight road games at Talawanda (Sept. 10), Franklin (Sept. 17) and Valley View (Sept. 24). On Oct. 1 and 8, respectively, Eaton and Brookville will travel to Monroe, before the Hornets go to Oakwood on Oct. 15. Monroe closes out its regular season with two homes games against Northridge (Oct. 22) and Bellbrook (Oct. 29).

“It’s going to be a big challenge to step up to this level of play,” Meibers said. “The kids know the challenge ahead of them. We’ll take the allotted 28 days off and get back in the weight room on Dec. 14 with lifting four days a week.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.

Southwestern Division

Bellbrook

Brookville

Eaton

Franklin

Monroe

Oakwood

Valley View

Buckeye Division

Carlisle

Dixie