Pioneer Athletic Conference Explained

The Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC) is a high school athletic conference with 12 members. The conference' is affiliated with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and all participating school districts are located within the southeastern quadrant of Pennsylvania. The PAC was founded in 1985 with eight members and was then known as the PAC-8.[1]

Current members

Liberty Division Frontier Division
Phoenixville Phantoms
Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers
Pottsgrove Falcons
Pottstown Trojans
Upper Merion Vikings
Upper Perkiomen Indians

Past membership moves

1985: founding members

The Pioneer Athletic Conference, then known as the PAC-8, was composed of the following charter members:

Founding MemberFormer Conference/League
Lansdale CatholicBicentennial League
Perkiomen Valley Bux-Mont League
Upper Perkiomen
Phoenixville Ches-Mont League
Pottsgrove
Pottstown
Spring-Ford
St. Pius X

1988: Great Valley and Owen J. Roberts join

Great Valley and Owen J. Roberts join the Pioneer Athletic Conference and bring the total membership to ten.

2002: Great Valley replaced by Boyertown

Great Valley left the PAC-10 to join the Southern Chester County League. In the same year, the PAC-10 admitted Boyertown which effectively kept the Pioneer Athletic League at 10-member status.

2007: Lansdale Catholic moves to PCL, replaced by Methacton

On May 9, 2007, Lansdale Catholic administrators announced that they have accepted an invite to the Philadelphia Catholic League. The move is effective in July 2008.[2] On July 3, 2007, Methacton School District was accepted into the PAC-10 after their application was approved by the principals of the existing PAC-10 member schools.[3]

2010: St. Pius X Merges with Kennedy-Kenrick, becomes Pope John Paul

As of the end of the 2009–2010 school year, St. Pius X no longer exists. St. Pius X and Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School in Norristown merged to form a new high school named Pope John Paul II, located in Royersford. This school is already admitted to the PAC 10.

2016: Norristown & Upper Merion join

Beginning in August 2016, the Norristown Eagles and Upper Merion Vikings joined the PAC to make it a 12-team conference. This marks the first expansion of the PAC since 1988.

On January 29, 2015, Norristown Area School District school board voted 9–0 to leave the Suburban One and join the PAC after months of discussion. Middle School sports will begin in September 2015 while the High School will join the league beginning with the 2016–17 school year.[4]

On May 4, 2015, Upper Merion Area School District school board voted 8–1 to leave the Suburban One and join the PAC after many months of discussion. Middle School sports will begin in September 2015 while the High School will join the league beginning with the 2016–17 school year along with Norristown.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.pac10wrestling.net/news_story.htm?id=1483 PAC10wrestling.net > Pioneer Athletic Conference high school wrestling
  2. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/20070510_PCL_to_admit_Lansdale_Catholic_in_08.html
  3. https://archive.today/20071019175807/http://pac10baseball.net/news_story.htm?id=1519 NHSCA Sports Network
  4. http://www.upvnews.com/news/article.ashx?article=13280 Town & Country News
  5. http://www.pottsmerc.com/sports/20150504/upper-merion-area-school-district-votes-to-move-to-pioneer-athletic-conference Pottstown Mercury, 5/5/2015