D.C. Furies return to DI / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Division I has reorganized into four regions – a process that became more visible when the DI East formed last season. The goal is to bring disparate DI teams into competition with each other, and the hope is that the split season will soften the cost burden associated with longer travel.
The Midwest has been competing as a region for years, and its lone change involves the promotion of the Chicago Lions. The league includes five teams ranging from Detroit in the east and Metropolis Valkyries in the west. The Lions just beat standings leader Chicago 61-5 last weekend.
Albany dropped down to DII and rejoined the New England GU competition, but the East added Atlanta and the D.C. Furies for seven teams total. The Furies had lost its WPL spot to Life West after last season. The Harlequins’ second side competed in its first DII nationals last spring and is looking for an uptick in competition in DI. Atlanta and Charlotte the southernmost teams, Boston the farthest north, and league play begins Sept. 28.
The Texas/Frontier is new and includes six teams: Austin, Dallas, Denver Black Ice, Glendale, Houston Athletic and Utah Vipers. One game has been contested thus far – the Merlins defeated Black Ice 61-19 – and league play will resume on Sept. 28-29.
The DI West hasn’t finalized yet but members should include the teams from the Pacific South – Belmont Shore, Santa Monica, Tempe – and potentially San Diego, which has been fielding a DI side that hasn’t competed toward playoffs. If any NorCal teams bump up to DI (DII national champion Sacramento is the obvious candidate), then this is where they’d compete. Dessypris Thomas expected the DI West schedule to be finalized by October.
With the reorganization, the Gold Cup has been disbanded for the 2019-20 season.
More info to come as schedules finalize and playoff structure takes shape.