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(Renton, WA) The WIAA released the new classification numbers for the 384 schools that compete in High School sports. Each classification has 65 schools except for the 2B and 1B’s where they have 62. There were a record number of schools that opted up a classification especially to 4A. Opting up means a school that may have a population that puts them in the 2A class can decide to move up to 3A or 4A. This has been most common for private schools. Schools can only opt-up and can not drop a classification.

This is what created quite the game of musical chairs when it comes to forming leagues. Once again, a quick explanation of the system in Washington State puts the power in the districts and schools hands not the WIAA. The WIAA has no impact on leagues or regular season or district play. They run the state tournaments and hand out allocations to the districts and league depending on the number of schools they have in a certain classification. It is up to each league and district to determine their own leagues and to determine how to earn those spots to the state tournaments.

The biggest movement came in District 3 which goes from South King County to Thurston over to Kitsap county. The South Puget Sound League was looking like it was about to turn into a Super Conference with 4A, 3A and 2A leagues. Instead a new North Puget Sound 4A league has emerged and that has attracted several 3A schools to join. Schools will do this mostly for 2 reasons, locations of their competitors to cut down on travel and the belief that the competition level between 4A and 3A schools really isn’t much different. TJ Cotterill from the News Tribune breaks the new league and the new look SPSL down in this story and you can read it here.

Other leagues that have been impacted include the Narrow’s League which has all but been disbanded with most of the 3A and 4A schools leaving for the SPSL. The schools left behind are all 3-A schools Lincoln, Wilson, Mount Tahoma and Stadium. Shelton, Central Kitsap and Capital are also looking for a league. The 4 Tacoma schools, Shelton and maybe Central Kitsap will likely meet next week to discuss a 3A only Narrows League with 6 or 7 schools. Olympia, Yelm, North Thurston, Timberline, Bellarmine Prep, South Kitsap and Gig Harbor will all go to one of the SPSL leagues.

Capital would still have the option likely to play in that league but we have confirmed they are likely to head south to the 3A Greater St. Helens League to join Kelso, Prairie, Hudson’s Bay, Evergreen (Vancouver) and Fort Vancouver. Mountain View could also join the 3A they are appealing the number the WIAA counted claiming there were some students counted that should not have.

Many are wondering why Capital would make this move but the big issue with the Tacoma schools and why they were turned away by the SPSL was due to their lack of non-varsity teams and lack of players in the individual sports such as golf, tennis and wrestling. (We know there is a team aspect to these sports but individuals are the ones who qualify for the state tournaments.) This is one of the reasons why the SPSL denied the Tacoma schools entry into their league. The Tacoma schools, Shelton and Central Kitsap are appealing those decisions and could still gain entry to the SPSL.

There were not many changes from 2A down but a few schools shifted like Columbia River in the 3A GSHL went down to the 2A GSHL where they will join Mark Morris, RA Long, Hockinson, Woodland, Ridgefield and Washougal. The Evco 2A will grow by 2 including the 2 teams that should have been part of the league the past 2 seasons as Aberdeen and Rochester will join Black Hills, Centralia, Tumwater and WF West for a 6 team league. Eatonville considered joining the Evco 2A but instead was accepted into the SPSL 2A.

Other leagues in SW Washington, in the Evco 1A it will be the same with Hoquiam, Forks, Elma, Tenino and Montesano. The Trico 1A will lose Kalama to the 2B where the Nooks will seemingly join the Central 2B but that would add another to an already crowded league making it 11. The Pacific 2B league is also packed tight with 10 teams, they did have 11 but Tacoma Baptist did not opt up from 1B.

Nothing will be official until the board approves it later this month so there is still time for some school to move but for the most part these will be your final numbers. Finalizing leagues will surely come quickly after these are finalized so scheduling can begin for next year.

Here are all the numbers: