The O-K Conference, one of the largest and most powerful athletic leagues in all of Michigan, will lose seven member schools starting in the fall of 2024.

Wayland Schools Supt. Tim Reeves confirmed that Sparta, Coopersville, Kenowa Hills, Lowell, Cedar Springs, Allendale and Greenville have asked the conference for permission for an early exit, after this 2023-24 season. Thirty-seven of the remaining 41 schools in the O-K have voted not to allow it, but no matter, they’re leaving anyway,

Reeves said the O-K’s bylaws forbid it, but the seven schools will form the new River Cities Alliance after June 2024.

Area media have reported that the chief reasons for the moves are geographical in an effort to save long bus trips and transportation costs. But Reeves added that the seven were publicly opposed to the latest realignment, which is done every three years to keep the divisions competitive.

Interestingly, Wayland was told its realignment for the O-K Gold Division would include itself, South Christian, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg and Forest Hills Eastern. Three O-K Blue schools will be moving to the O-K Gold, including Hamilton, Holland Christian and Unity Christian. Holland High also joins the new conference.

Kenowa Hills and Cedar Springs, current members of the O-K Gold were scheduled to move to other divisions anyway, but now they plan to join the River Cities Alliance.

The open defiance of the seven runaway schools means athletic directors are scrambling to realign the remaining 41 schools’ schedules. As it stands now, the new Gold Conference does not include those seceding, but it may be affected bother divisions having to make adjustments.

Hopkins has only one runaway school, Sparta, currently competing in the O-K Silver Division, but things could change by next fall.

If Sparta secedes, the Silver will include Hopkins, Comstock Park, Godwin Heights, Belding, NorthPointe Christian, Calvin Christian and Kelloggsville.

The O-K Conference is touted to be 65 years old. It made a major move in 1971 when it was split into three divisions, the Red, White and Blue, the latter of which Wayland was a member. South Christian and Wayland both have been consistent members of the O-K Gold since it was created about 40 years ago.

Hopkins was without any league affiliation until the O-K Silver Conference was created more than 30 years ago.