Big news for West Central Area schools - the Knights' athletic program is accepted into the Prairie Conference beginning in 2011

The West Central Area Knights' athletic program was recently accepted into the Prairie Conference beginning in the fall of 2011.

The following sports will switch to the Prairie from the Heart O' Lakes Conference: football, volleyball, girls tennis, boys/girls basketball, baseball, fastpitch softball, and track and field.

Beginning in the fall of 2011, the closest trip for the Knights to play a conference game is Osakis, approximately 37 miles from the high school in Barrett. Currently, the nearest conference competitor is Breckenridge, which is 48 miles from Barrett.

The furthest drive for WCA in the Prairie Conference will be Royalton, which is about 85 miles from Barrett.

Other Prairie Conference teams, including distance from Barrett:
1 - Browerville is about a one-hour drive from Barrett, 60 miles.
2 - Upsala (70 miles)
3 - Swanville (66 miles)
4 - St.John's Prep in Collegeville (82 miles)
5 - Eagle Valley (high school in Eagle Bend, 56 miles)

I'll explain more over the weekend.