Albion votes to merge football program with Medina, its longtime rival

ALBION – The Albion Board of Education on Monday evening gave unanimous approval to a merger of its football program with Medina.

The two schools are gridiron rivals going back more than a century. But programs have declining student participation, putting both programs at risk of being able to field teams.

Medina’s Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the merger during a 6:30 p.m. meeting today.

Albion didn’t discuss potential names and uniform colors for the merged team or length of the contract. They details will be worked out in the coming months, said Chris Kinter, a member of the Albion Board of Education.

The two districts need to decide this month if there is a merged program to give Section 6 time to work out the classifications and schedule for the fall football season.

The agreement on Medina’s agenda for today calls for a five-year agreement between the two schools with the team to be called the “Orleans Rivals.”

The schools are to split the costs 50-50 for the first two years for modified, junior varsity and varsity. (Both schools didn’t field JV teams this past year due to a shortage of players.) After two years the costs will be based on percentages of student participation from each district. That percentage cost will then be updated annually.

Student-athletes from Medina and Albion who seek to participate in the football program must try out, according to the agreement. No student will be guaranteed a position on the team or playing time.