As athletic conferences are restructured for next school year, competition between schools has extended further than the playing field.

Principals of West Metro high schools voted to appeal the placement of Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School into the conference. The appeal was filed to the Minnesota High School League Sept. 26.

After the High School League restructured conferences last year, former North Suburban conference schools were forced to apply to new conferences. The West Metro conference, which will begin play in the 2014-2015 school year, already rejected Benilde’s application to join, according to athletic director Andy Ewald. The High School League placed Benilde in the West Metro league after all its applications to join conferences were rejected.

Ewald said the principals have decided to appeal because they didn’t feel Benilde was a good fit for the conference.

“The motivation to appeal is the same as when we denied their application.” Ewald said. “We don’t feel like they are a good fit, and we think they belong in another conference.”

Freshman Nils Rykken said he thinks Benilde should be allowed to join the West Metro Conference.

“If they don’t have a conference I think we should give their kids an opportunity to compete,” Rykken said.

Rykken said he believes having a nearby rival in the conference will boost attendance to sporting events.

“I think if someone sees there’s a football game against our rivals, they’ll be more likely to buy a ticket,” he said.

According to Ewald, the appeal hearing will be scheduled after the request is processed. West Metro schools will be allowed to present evidence used in previous hearings, but will not be allowed to present new data. Data the league considers includes the number of students on free and reduced lunch and school diversity.

“We can’t bring up any new evidence, so we’re just going to continue to pound home the points we’ve been using so far,” he said.