The Grand River Conference has voted to end Polo’s membership in the league at the end of the school year.

Polo’s eight counterparts released a statement Friday, Sept. 19, saying that questions about the ability of Polo to field an 11-man football program led to the 8-1 vote. The schools say that those questions were the sole determining factor, adding that: “Polo has been a valued and respected partner within the GRC for many years, and their athletes, coaches, and community have consistently represented themselves with pride and class.” They also added that the decision followed, “careful and collaborative discussions among conference leadership, athletic directors, and school administrators.”

When asked for a statement by KMMO Sports, Polo R-VII Schools Supt. Kyle Ross said that the district would not comment at this time. Last winter, the Polo school board authorized Ross to apply for membership in other conferences, in the event Polo needed to pivot to eight-man football. In March, Polo had received an invitation to join the Harrison-Daviess-Caldwell Conference as a full member. The HDC does not offer an eight-man football championship.

The full statement from the Grand River Conference is posted below.