Battle Ground High School is asking the state’s governing body for high school sports to play in a smaller classification for football, a move that could pin the Tigers against teams historically in the 3A Greater St. Helens League.
Matt Stanfill, the school’s athletic director, said competitive balance, participation numbers and safety concerns were deciding factors for the Tigers to file a petition to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to play 3A football. Their case will be heard at the WIAA’s board meeting Jan. 26.
The potential to play 3A football “gives our kids an opportunity to have some success in our program,” Stanfill said.
In May, the WIAA passed an amendment to allow schools in all six classifications to petition to play down one classification in football only. The rationale behind the amendment, the WIAA said, is so teams can seek flexibility in scheduling and have increased competitive equity.
Battle Ground was the only Clark County school to file the petition before the Jan. 10 deadline. Stanfill said the school is “basically a 3A school” after the WIAA first released statewide school enrollment numbers to all member schools in November. Battle Ground’s 1,364 enrollment in grades 9-11 puts it 65 students higher than the 1,299 cut-off for 3A. The school administration added roughly 25 percent of its study body doesn’t participate in extracurricular activities.
While Battle Ground fielded varsity, junior varsity and freshmen football teams in 2019, Stanfill said participation numbers have dipped annually the past four seasons. Last season, Battle Ground finished with 78 players in all four grades, down 30 players from 2016. By comparison, Camas, Skyview, and Union field 130 or more players annually.
Battle Ground is 6-21 in three seasons under head coach Mike Kesler, including two 4A GSHL victories in a league featuring the eventual Class 4A state champions in 2018 and ‘19.
Stanfill views the potential of playing 3A football is beneficial school-wide.
“Athletics can help change the culture on the campus,” he said. “When you have an opportunity for playoffs that are different, you create an energy on your campus. I wish we could do it for all of our sports, but football is the biggest one.”
