If Albion and Medina football merge, new name could be ‘OC Rivals’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Eric Valley, Medina’s athletic director and head football coach, shares his reasons for supporting a merger with Albion for football at the modified, junior varsity and varsity levels. Next to him, from right to left, are Board of Education members Donnell Holloway, Jennifer Buondonno, Kristin Grose and Annette Allis.

MEDINA – The head football coach and athletic director at Medina made his pitch to the Medina Board of Education for a partnership that once was thought unthinkable: joining the Medina and Albion football teams.

The two school have been bitter rivals at football going back to the 1890s. But the rivalry has faded in recent years as both schools have struggled with student participation to field teams.

Now the two schools are discussing a merger of their football programs at the varsity, junior varsity and modified levels.

“Yes, it’s our rival but it makes a lot of sense for us,” Eric Valley, the Medina coach and athletic director, said during this evening’s Medina Board of Education meeting. “The opportunity is great.”

Joining the programs would give them enough athletes for teams at varsity, junior varsity and modified levels, Valley said. They would have enough for scrimmages and majority of players wouldn’t have to play both offense and defense, nearly every play of the game. The players could be at their own grade levels and not be needed to move up. Playing at their own grade level, and not necessarily both offense and defense will be safer for the players, Valley said.

Medina has had partnerships with other districts before, with Lyndonville and Barker both having students on the Medina Mustang team. Albion and Medina are discussing creating a new program that would have a new mascot and colors.

Valley and Medina Superintendent Dr. Mark Kruzynski have met with their Albion counterparts – coach David Skrip, superintendent Mickey Edwards and athletic director Lauren Kinard.

They support a merged program but it will go to their boards of education for a vote with Albion to make a decision on Feb. 9 and Medina to follow on Feb. 10. If they approve it, Section 6 will also need to give its OK.

Courtesy of Eric Valley: A name and colors aren’t finalized, nor is the merger, but the uniforms could have maroon colors with two shovels on the helmets to represent the two communities that both grew after the digging of the Erie Canal.

The merged team would likely be in the Class B division. Right now Albion and Medina are both C schools.

The following schools currently compete in the B division: Pioneer, Lake Shore, West Seneca East, Lackawanna, East Aurora, Iroquois, Lew-Port, Williamsville South, Dunkirk, Ocean, Maryvale, McKinley, Amherst, Depew and Cheektowaga.

Teams need to have a minimum of 16 players. The projected participation for 2026 with a merged team includes 29 at varsity, 40 at junior varsity and 35 at modified.

Valley wants to building a new program while maintaining a connection to each community. That’s why he endorses calling the team the “O.C. Rivals.” Caledonia-Mumford and LeRoy merged their programs this past season and they called their team the Rivals. They had been bitter rivals for generations.

The Medina and Albion high school football rivalry dates back to the 1890s, making it one of the oldest football traditions in the country.

Valley showed a look for the team’s uniforms and helmets. The logo includes two shovels that Valley said show a connection for both communities to the digging of the Erie Canal, which initially was completed in 1825.

Valley went over other highlights of the merged program:

• Each school host two games at all levels
• Each school host their own homecoming
• Sectional playoff games will alternate from year to year between schools
• Practices will be split as evenly as possible between the two districts (likely alternating each week)
• Each district will be responsible for hiring coaches to represent their district per their collective bargaining agreements
• Each level will have coaches from each district
• Tentative plan is for 5-year commitment for the merger
• Each district will be financially responsible for transportation, equipment, training services, coaching, supervision, police and ambulance coverage
• Districts will split the cost of new uniforms, decals and helmets

Other issues to consider: cheerleading squads, booster involvement, fundraising, record books, traditions, and dual participation athletes.

A group from Albion and Medina discussing the merger like the name “O.C. Rivals” for a merged football program. They prefer to create a new look and name for the team, rather than trying to combine the purple and white for the Albion Purple Eagles, and the red and blue of the Medina Mustangs.

Medina board members who spoke at the meeting voiced support for the merger.

“The merger is a step in the right direction,” said Donnell Holloway.

He would like to see Medina’s youth program also be revived to help prepare kids to be part of the modified, JV and varsity programs.

He commended Valley and Dave Skrip, the Albion coach, “for putting whatever rivalry aside and doing what’s best for kids.”

Dr. Steven Blount, a board member, said he favors offering students a more competitive program, but he said he was a little leery about a five-year commitment to a merger.

Valley said the five years will help spread out the initial financial costs for new helmets and uniforms and provide some continuity while giving the new program a better chance to succeed.

He anticipates the students from the two schools will be great teammates and develop lifelong friendships.

Board member Annette Allis welcomes the chance for the two schools to field a combined team.

“The merger seems like a good idea,” she said. “We’re all the Orleans County community.”