State’S A-1 Schools To Split Classification To Be Divided Into Division I, Division Ii

The Idaho High School Activities Association has decided to split the athletic teams from the state’s largest schools into two divisions starting next year.

Association board members on Tuesday voted to divide the A-1 classification into A-1 Division I and A-1 Division II for most sports, based on enrollment. That split already exists in football.

Idaho’s 33 A-1 schools will begin competing in two divisions in basketball, softball, baseball, tennis, wrestling, cross country, track and field and golf during the 2000-2001 academic year. Representation from each district to A-1 Division II state tournaments will be determined at a December meeting.

Under the new system, Lake City, with a four-grade enrollment of 1,256, will join Lewiston in Division I in all sports except football. Coeur d’Alene (1,200) could remain at Division II but will likely move up to join LC.

Sandpoint (1,236) has the option of moving up or staying at Division II. It won’t make a decision until next month.

Post Falls (1,069) and Moscow (869) will be in Division II.

Inland Empire administrators stressed that they will continue with the Border League concept with Eastern Washington’s Frontier League schools. When state-qualifying tournaments roll around, the Division I and Division II teams will go their separate ways.

Classifications for girls and boys soccer, which were finally sanctioned on Tuesday by the association’s 14-member board of directors, have not been determined.

Next fall, high schools will take over management and costs associated with soccer and the activities association will govern the sport and run the state tournaments. Soccer currently is an unsanctioned club sport.

High school administrators proposed splitting A-1 schools in August because enrollment and facilities vary so greatly within the classification. Supporters of the idea believe it will create a more level playing field for prep athletes.

A-1 Division I includes 17 schools with more than 1,255 students. A-1 Division II includes the rest of the existing A-1 schools plus Kuna and Bishop Kelly high schools, which will move up from A-2 next year.

Mountain Home High School athletic director Rich Urquidi supports the change. Mountain Home, with about 1,130 students, found its programs unable to compete with larger schools that have 2,000 students or more.

Urquidi said he hopes dividing the classification “will give more teams a chance to play in the postseason and send more teams to state.”

Timberline High School in Boise, with about 1,200 students in only its second year of existence, also will be A-1 Division II. But it may ask to be allowed to compete in A-1 Division I, at least in baseball and basketball.