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Barberton athletic director Rob Culbertson recently said the Magics will remain independent through 2013-14.

BARBERTON, Ohio – The Barberton Magics expect to be an independent through 2013-14, says athletic director Rob Culbertson.

“Even if we can find a league to go into or if we create our own league, we’re going to be at least two years out,” Culbertson said.

After six years in the Suburban League, from 2005-06 through 2010-11, the Magics are competing as an independent in all sports this school year.

Since that decision was made, Barberton has been linked to the Akron City Series, the Northeast Ohio Conference and the Portage Trail Conference.

After some initial interest, the Magics decided not to pursue the City Series and then in December of 2010, Barberton cancelled making a presentation to the Northeast Ohio Conference executive board.

Barberton was one of four schools, along with Northwest, St. Thomas Aquinas and Lake Center Christian, under consideration to fill vacancies in the PTC, however the conference decided to shrink to 14 schools for 2013-14 and 2014-15 after East Canton and Windham leave following 2012-13.

“Even if we create the league today, we’re scheduled for football through 2013 now,” Culbertson said. “We’re at least two years out for league play. So, that would make it the fall of 2014.”

Culbertson did say that being an independent allows for much more creativity in terms of scheduling.

For example, this Saturday (Jan. 21), the Magics have an afternoon girls-boys basketball home doubleheader. The girls play Shelby and the boys host John Marshall.

Barberton’s highly touted wrestling team has one home meet this season – Jan. 28 against Coventry and Stow-Munroe Falls – but coach Dave Mariola’s squad has been able to pursue more multi-team tournaments and dual-formatted events rather than meeting league commitments.

“We are trying to get into a league, but we’re quietly doing that also,” Culbertson said.