Featured Athletes /// Tri-County Conference, Fulton HS A New Era at Fulton


Story by: Bryan Hudnell Photography by: Shawley Photography


excited. We're just ready to compete and try to stay a little bit more local and make our mark in central Missouri." The geography alone makes the move appealing. Instead of weeknight


 Fulton will now compete against schools much closer to home. "Our furthest trip will be Osage, which is about an hour," Walk said.


 Central Missouri Conference home. Since joining as a charter member in 1971, generations of Hornets athletes built rivalries, tra- ditions and memories that became part of the school's identity. This fall, a new era begins.         league's eighth member alongside Blair Oaks, Boonville, California, Eldon, Hallsville, School of the Osage, and Southern Boone. The move   souri opponents and creating opportunities for new rivalries across nearly every sport. For activities director Curtis Walk, the transition has been about much more than changing the logos on a schedule. "The ADs of the Tri-County and all the coaches have just been phe- nomenal helping us out in the transition," Walk said. "Our kids are


54 /// September 2026


 and those are two-hour bus rides and two-and-a-half-hour bus rides. We feel like we can compete a little bit better in the Tri-County." Head football coach Roger VanDeZande sees many of the same benefits. "This is a great move for Fulton," VanDeZande said. "It's a much more local conference, schools we have some familiarity with and, in most cases, are closer to our enrollment. I believe this is better for parent and fan interest." VanDeZande arrived after conversations about the conference


 "I was excited to hear we were making the move," he said. "There are such great schools, programs and coaches." The new alignment also creates intriguing possibilities on Friday nights. While Fulton has faced schools like Eldon and California in recent seasons, conference play will provide annual meetings with programs the Hornets have only seen occasionally.


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