Big Nine decides for 14-team league with 4A, 3A divisions
The Big Nine Conference principals voted Wednesday to convert the former 4A league into a combined 4A/3A league split into two divisions by classification.
The decision came a day before the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association-mandated deadline for schools to declare which of six high school classifications they will compete in starting in fall of 2006. The league, which also added West Valley of Yakima and Hanford on Wednesday, would consist of seven 4A schools and seven 3A, if Sunnyside accepts an invitation to join.
The Big Nine principals’ mandate did not cover the details of running the new league, so the league’s athletic directors will start that process Monday with a scheduling meeting.
That’s where Southridge athletic director Steve Biehn, the former league president, sees some pitfalls.
“My concern is this is palatable as long as we continue to play those 4A schools in games that count,” Biehn said. “If we can’t work this out, we might want to have the conversation again on where we want to go with this thing. We’re comfortable with the decisions that were made, but we still have concerns over the realities of the scheduling piece. Monday’s big. I think we’re good, but I would hate to say it’s a done deal until I walk out of there Monday.
“I think we can make it work. And I think the principals will give us enough direction to tell us how to make it work.”
The Big Nine’s decision means the Greater Spokane League will probably consist of eight 4A schools and three 3A schools.
If the Big Nine had decided to stay 4A only, Mt. Spokane athletic director John Miller had earlier expressed the opinion the school would have opted up to 4A. Otherwise, he expected the school to stay in the 3A ranks.
A 4A-only decision by the Big Nine would have denuded the Columbia Basin of 3A schools, leaving only East Valley and North Central to combine with West Valley (Yakima) and Sunnyside for one berth in all state postseason play. The four schools would have then probably been playing first-round state tournament games at least half the time on the West Side.
“It’s great for our league,” GSL secretary Randy Ryan said of the Big Nine’s decision. “It allows us to maintain our strong relationship with the Big Nine and keep the popular regional tournaments on the East Side of the state.”
With 15 4A teams, the GSL and the Big Nine should combine for four postseason berths (out of 16) each year. The 10 3A spots should guarantee at least two postseason spots, with the Big Nine getting a majority of the regional spots, not unlike the current GSL/Mid-Valley setup.
Under the Big Nine reorganization plan, the Mid-Valley league will disappear.