Winter meeting have begun at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section headquarters and on Wednesday, Dec. 14 the first of what is likely to be many realignment meetings took place in Lodi. Members of the CIF SJS Realignment Committee met and discussed the future of each of the divisions and leagues for the schools’ 2018-2022 realignment options.

Currently the Valley Oak League has eight teams in it; Oakdale, Central Catholic, Manteca, Sierra, East Union, Weston Ranch, Lathrop and Kimball. For the most part this has been a competitive combination for each of the respective sports. However, there is always room for improvement.

The proposed new look VOL is an intriguing one. Three new teams have been recommended for placement having Beyer, Downey and Patterson join in the VOL, leaving Kimball, Weston Ranch and Lathrop on the move to new leagues. Beyer and Downey have been competing in the Modesto Metro Conference and Patterson has been grinding it out in the Western Athletic Conference. If the realignment is approved Kimball will be joining the San Joaquin Athletic Association and both Lathrop and Weston Ranch would invade the new look WAC. The only returning WAC team under the new proposal is Ceres.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. There are a total of five meetings scheduled for the Realignment Committee.