Central to join Ozark Conference in 2018

Buy PhotoCentral High School will rejoin the Ozark Conference, restore the league to 10 teams, and potentially resuscitate old rivalries.

Practically, the move will provide, in a word, stability.

Bulldogs coaches sometimes struggled to fill their schedules since Central left the OC 17 years ago to become an independent athletic program. Springfield Public Schools Athletic Director Randy Stange likes the idea of Central teams being able to automatically fill parts, if not all, of their schedules against Class 4, 5 and 6 opponents.

“I think it gives stability to their schedule, no question about that, and I think overall it’s a good fit,” Stange said. “It’s good for the Ozark Conference as well,…