Wiaa Votes To Expand New Aaaa Classification Puts Area Schools In Quandary

Frontier League schools and other small schools in Eastern Washington are facing a new frontier, one they didn’t expect to see so soon.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representatives assembly shocked local school officials by voting Saturday to add a fifth classification.

“I just can’t believe it passed,” East Valley athletic director Karen Gilmore said. “I’m kind of sitting here in shock.”

Theoretically, the move could split the Greater Spokane League, Frontier League and Northeast A. It appears, however, the GSL will not be affected, although it will be some time before the ripple effect below the GSL is determined.

The unnamed classification, probably Class AAAA or 4A, will go into effect for the 1997-98 school year.

Class B schools, those with 150 or fewer students in grades 10-12, will not be affected. The other classification enrollment ranges are 151-300, 301-600, 601-1,200 and 1,201-up.

Schools can “opt up” to play in a higher classification but cannot move down.

Current enrollment classifications are 151-400 for A, 401-1,000 for AA and 1,001-up for AAA.

Mike Arte, athletic director at Gonzaga Prep, said the GSL would remain together with anyone below the 1,201 mark - North Central (1,191), University (1,071) and Prep (688) - opting up.

Enrollment numbers provided by the WIAA are current enrollment figures. The next count is in the fall of 1996 to determine classification for the fall of 1997.

“We were against (the amendment), ‘we’ as in our district,” Arte said. “It will have no effect on our league. All GSL teams will remain top A.”

The league made that determination weeks ago when all the proposed amendments were discussed for the league representatives who voted at the rep assembly.

The Frontier League would also like to remain together.

“Well, that’s interesting. I knew it was getting a look,” Riverside athletic director Marty Friedman said. “I can only speak for myself. Obviously it has to be considered by the school district and school board, but I’m real happy to stay in the Frontier League and play with that competition.

“A lot of things have to be considered. I’m not sure what way we’d go. It kind of depends on where other people align themselves, what they do.”

EV, which is at 994 and probably would have been an AAA school in 1997-98 before the amendment passed, will start the ripple effect.

“To be real honest with you, we were assuming this wouldn’t pass,” Gilmore said.

To keep the FL intact, Riverside and Pullman would have to opt up, but instead of playing against schools with an enrollment of up to 1,000, the Rams (520 students) and Greyhounds (457) could face competition against schools much larger.

EV could still move up but that would leave Clarkston, Cheney, West Valley and Colville on their own.

If the FL stays together, that leaves four Northeast A schools - Medical Lake, Newport, Deer Park and Chewelah - in the 301-600 classification. Four more, Lakeside, Kettle Falls, Freeman and Colfax, would have to opt up to keep the Northeast A - or Northeast AA - intact.

That could leave Reardan and Liberty, two B schools expected to be over the 150-student limit by next fall, out in the cold or opting to play in a classification that goes up to 600. Under the old formula, they would have joined the Northeast A and be looking at a top end of 400. If the Northeast A stays together, Reardan and Liberty would probably be the only two area schools in the 151-300 range.

Gilmore is unsure what EV will do.

“Four or five years ago when we talked about going up to the GSL early, the coaches were against it and my guess is they would have the same feeling now,” she said. “I think they’ll try to stay with the Frontier League. But that’s just my opinion. It will be (the administration and school board) making the decision.”

WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese, reached at his home in Redmond, was also surprised the amendment passed, especially after it was voted down on Friday, the first day of the rep assembly.

“Actually, I think it speaks to the fact the membership realizes it’s a good plan,” he said. “Something needed to be done and they came together and made it happen.

After all business was wrapped up Saturday morning, Colbrese said the matter was reopened. Leading the discussion was Cascade-Leavenworth athletic director Gary Brunelle and Bellevue Christian athletic director Bill Wilson, he said.

“What tipped the scales is that everyone knew that if this didn’t pass this time they were looking at five years (before a new plan could be put into effect) and by then it would be miserable,” Colbrese said.

Schools are growing so rapidly, according to Colbrese, the range for enrollment is too wide.

The effect of the new plan won’t be known for some time. The next enrollment count to determine classification is this fall.

, DataTimes MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: MOVING UP A CLASS How the local schools will be classified in the 1997-98 season after the WIAA voted Saturday to add a fifth classification. All GSL schools are expected to stay together.

AAAA (1201-up) AAA (601-1200) AA (301-600) A (151-300)

Mead (1,803) E. Valley (994) Riverside (520) Lakeside (276) Shadle Park Clarkston (690) Pullman (457) Kettle Falls (211) (1,387) Ferris (1,326) Cheney (677) Medical Lake (396) Colfax (174) Rogers (1,290) W. Valley (625) Newport (342) Freeman (208) LC (1,226) Colville (621) Deer Park (341) *Reardan (145) C. Valley (1,207) Chewelah (321) *Liberty (138) N. Central (1,191) U-Hi (1,071) G-Prep (688)

*Reardan and Liberty are in the B classification, but are expected to be over the B limit by the fall of 1996.