Rivalries Could Change With New PIAA Classifications
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - In a move that changes the landscape of high school sports, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association approved a measure that would expand high school football classifications from four to six.
The board of directors voted 26-4 on Wednesday for the change to take effect in the 2016-17 school year.
The board also voted overwhelmingly to expand boys' and girls' basketball, baseball and softball to six classifications. Boys' and girls' soccer and volleyball will increase to four classes, field hockey will bump up to three, and boys' and girls' lacrosse will jump up to two.
Bob Hartman, the District 11 chairman and Whitehall athletic director, said the move will give more schools and communities a chance to play for championships, which could encourage the schools to be more engaged in sports.
"I think when schools and communities and kids get a chance to play for championships, it makes that school and community a better place to be," Hartman told The Morning Call of Allentown. "It's more exciting. The halls are better. There's more spirit. There's probably better discipline, and school's more engaged. I really find it hard to believe that that's a bad thing."
The football season will be shortened by a week because of the move. Districts will have the option of playing two scrimmages, or one scrimmage and start playing games the second week.
North Hills High School is in Quad A. But how much longer with be anyone's guess.
"It creates a more level playing field, if that's what they're after," said North Hills Football Coach Pat Carey. "We're not against that, but again it's out of our control."
The changes won't take effect until next school year. North Hills and North Allegheny have always been rivals, but once the changes go though, North Hills, which is smaller, could become a Class 5A school. North Allegheny could be in the 6 Class.
"You've had parents at North Hills that have always played North Allegheny every year, and now their kids play and their grandchildren play," said North Hills Athletic Director Kevin Deitrick. "You certainly don't want to lose local rivalries."
The WPIAL was opposed to the change in part because the change could affect team travels and plans to poll coaches and school superintendents about the change. But it's the loss of traditional rivalries that seems to have ruffled the most feathers.
"That's what drove the sled initially," said WPIAL Director Tim O'Malley, "was the need to expand so they could reduce enrollment gaps and make it more fair for all the schools."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
