Monroe and Bedford are staying put – for now.

The athletic programs for Monroe County Region’s two largest school districts are part of the Southeastern Conference.

That 14-team league recently came close to merging with the 14-team Kensington Lakes Activities Association.

The plan received approval from the league’s athletic directors but could not get the required two-thirds vote from principals in a vote on Sept. 25.

“We really wanted the merger,” Monroe athletic director Chet Hesson said. “We were big advocates of it. We thought it offered geographic benefits and competitive equity. It potentially could have been the best conference in the state, bar none.”

Hesson saw the proposed super conference as a perfect match for Monroe.

“For us, being a geographic outlier as one of the la

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