The reclassification numbers are out, but not really, and certainly not officially.
Last month, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association gave athletic directors the preliminary enrollment numbers for member schools that will lead to reclassification.
After a series of events, the WIAA will reveal the final reclassification information in January.
The first numbers are to give schools, leagues, and districts and idea of what to anticipate, to be prepared for a variety of options.
At first glance, the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League should remain the same: Battle Ground, Camas, Evergreen, Heritage, Mountain View, Skyview, and Union.
However, the rest of the leagues in Southwest Washington look to have changes, some, perhaps, drastic.
Could there be a 3A GSHL with only three teams? Will Columbia River become a 2A school? Will Hudson’s Bay return to 3A?
Athletic directors will not know for sure until the process plays out.
Ideally, the WIAA wants to have the same number of Class 4A teams as 3A teams. But it is not so simple as taking the biggest 65 schools, for example, and place them in 4A and the next 65 in 3A. Many smaller schools “opt-up.” Schools cannot opt-down, but any school can opt-up. (As example, Seton Catholic and King’s Way Christian — both small private schools — opt-up to play as Class 1A programs.)
The WIAA also gives schools the opportunity to challenge those initial enrollment numbers.
This entire process is ongoing throughout December and into January.
Meanwhile, leagues and districts are trying to plan accordingly. If “this” league has “x” amount of teams, how will it work in the various sports?
The final numbers will determine the classifications for the next four school years, beginning with the 2016-17 year.
More college recruits
Caleigh Lofstead of Camas has signed with Vanderbilt University to compete in pole vault on the track and field team.
“She’s a big piece of our vault group and will have immediate impact as she gets on campus,” said associate head coach Clark Humphreys on Vanderbilt’s website. “I’m really looking forward to working with Caleigh.”
Hockinson will have another Division I athlete as well. Rylee Seekins has announced her intention to sign with the University of Portland for women’s soccer. Football and soccer players must wait until February to sign letters of intent.
Meanwhile, Brooke Shirley, a soccer player from Battle Ground, said she intends to play for Hamline University, an NCAA Disivion III program in St. Paul, Minn.
