New league plans would send Bishop Diego football to Marmonte while SB-area public schools would join up with several VC schools

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Major league changes are coming for the 2022-'23 school year if the proposed releaguing cycle is approved by CIF-SS membership.

The Northern Area plan that was voted on and passed by school principals and athletic directors affects almost every football program in Ventura County and in the Santa Barbara-area.

Small school football power Bishop Diego would join the rugged Marmonte League for football-only and that league would also consist of Oaks Christian, Westlake, Calabasas, St. Bonaventure and Simi Valley.

Bishop Diego would easily have to do the most traveling as the majority of those schools are in eastern Ventura County.

The Cardinals would remain in the Tri-Valley and Frontier League in all other sports.

Santa Barbara, Dos Pueblos along with San Marcos would join up with Ventura, Buena, Oxnard, Pacifica, and Rio Mesa to create an 8-team league for all sports except football.

Channel Islands would be added to that group for football-only to create a 9-team league which is a combination of Channel League and Pacific View League schools.

For all other sports Channel Islands would join the Citrus Coast League which is made up of Santa Paula, Nordhoff, Fillmore, Carpinteria, Hueneme and Malibu(Sharks do not play play football in this league).

Santa Ynez, Lompoc and Cabrillo are all expected to leave the CIF-Southern Section to compete in the CIF-Central Section starting in the 2022-'23 school year.

The Canyon League for football would consist of seven schools Camarillo, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Royal, Agoura and Oak Park.

The releaguing cycle is for four years in non-football sports and two years for football.

Schools that are unhappy can appeal this new plan.