WESTBROOK – While nothing is set in stone, it appears last week’s announcement that Westbrook and Marshwood could consider dropping from Class A to Class B in football have local football coaches wondering what their schedules will look like next season.

Last Monday, members of the Southwestern Maine Activities Association voted in favor of a by-law change that allowed schools to remain in the league while playing Class B football.

Westbrook Athletic Director Todd Sampson explained that due to its enrollment, the Maine Principals’ Association classifies Westbrook as a Class B school. However, the SMAA’s previous bylaws dictated that league members to petition the Maine Principals’ Association to play in Class A.

Westbrook has struggled recently in Class A football, but local coaches said that the Blazes’ struggles weren’t indicative of the effort the players and coaches showed on the field and they would be sorry to lose the Blazes as a rival.

“Before Gorham came into the SMAA, Westbrook was considered the rival for Bonny Eagle and we would always play Westbrook on the last game of the season,” said Bonny Eagle Head Coach Kevin Cooper. “We respect the heck out of Westbrook and their record certainly didn’t always reflect how hard the Bonny Eagle/Westbrook game was played by both sides. Coach (Jeff) Guerette has done a great job the past few years building a base for future success at Westbrook and I believe they will be competitive no matter which class they decide to play in. Ultimately I am sure Westbrook will do what is in the best interests of the student-athletes there.”

Gorham Head Coach Dave Kilborn said while he would like to see the Blazes stay in Class A, he knows the school has to what’s best for the players. “It is their decision and they need to do what’s best for their situation,” he said. “I still hope they stay in Class A. We have enjoyed competing against Westbrook over the past several years. We are able to have a very competitive game and maintain our professionalism before, during and after the game. Westbrook has a good football staff that continues to prepare its team on a weekly basis.”

While the change will obviously be felt the strongest at the schools that are dropping down, it will also have a significant effect on the schools already in Class B, which will now see their league reshaped with the potential addition of two new teams.

Aaron Filieo, Cape Elizabeth head football coach, said that he sees change as inevitable as towns change over the years. “It happens, town demographics change over time,” he said. “Westbrook has always been a Class A team to me, but then again Gorham used to always a be a Class B team to me. I think that in general, schools need to do what is best for their students.”

For his part, Filieo said since the future makeup of the Class B Campbell Conference is still uncertain, he’s not sure how the inclusion of a former Class A team like Westbrook would impact the rest of the league. “It depends on who else joins with them and who else might leave,” he said. “Either way, we would welcome Westbrook with open arms. Although they have struggled in the past, I know that Coach Guerette has them going in the right direction.”

As for the question of whether Westbrook would have an advantage playing smaller Class B schools after competing against the larger Class A schools, Filieo said he wasn’t sure if that was an advantage, especially since there are powerful schools waiting for the Blazes in Class B as well.

“I don’t know (if there would be an advantage),” Filieo said. “We have our powerhouses too and programs like Wells and Mountain Valley have extremely strong traditions, outstanding coaching and some of the most supportive communities. Football is football when you get down to those final games.”

Sampson said the public will have a chance to weigh in on the potential change at two public forums on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 9 a.m. At both sessions, Sampson, Guerette, and Westbrook Principal Marc Gousse will discuss the potential change and then take questions from the public. Both sessions will be held in room 114 of the high school.