The Capital High School athletic teams are one step closer toward becoming a member of the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League, while Mountain View and Hudson’s Bay are waiting for their appeals to be heard before knowing where they will play for the next four school years.
Capital, out of Olympia, was accepted back into District 4 of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s athletic districts. That clears the way for the Cougars to join the 3A GSHL.
Ray Cattin, Kelso’s athletic director and the president of the 3A GSHL, said it is “probable” that Capital will join the league.
“We’re just waiting to know for sure what our league looks like before official action is taken,” Cattin said. “We have to wait until they settle all the stuff with Bay’s appeal and Mountain View’s appeal.”
The WIAA’s executive board will meet Sunday and Monday to hear appeals from throughout the state regarding reclassification. Mountain View, a Class 4A program, is appealing its enrollment numbers in hopes of becoming a 3A program. Hudson’s Bay, a 2A program the past two school years, was ruled a 3A school last week. The Columbian confirmed that the Eagles are appealing, trying to stay a 2A program.
As of right now, next year’s 3A GSHL has four confirmed teams: Evergreen (down from 4A), Fort Vancouver, Kelso, and Prairie.
Depending on the appeals process, and Capital’s acceptance into the league, that number could grow to as many as seven. The 3A GSHL athletic directors expect to discuss all the possibilities after the WIAA’s executive board meeting.
Cattin said while there are logistics to be worked out if Capital joined the 3A GSHL, he said there are a number of positives associated with the move.
“Postseason allocations. That would be the No. 1 thing,” Cattin said.
The more teams in a district — or in this case, a league — the more allocations for state competition.
“Secondly, they’re pretty good at everything,” Cattin said of the Cougars. “They’d be adding to the quality of our league.”
As reported last week, the 4A GSHL will be a six- or a five-team league, depending on Mountain View’s appeal. Battle Ground, Camas, Heritage, Skyview and Union will remain in the largest classification in Washington high school sports.
The 2A GSHL will welcome Columbia River, which elected not to opt-up to remain a 3A program. The 2A GSHL also is waiting on the Hudson’s Bay appeal to determine how many teams in its league. The 2A GSHL will have seven or eight teams.
