4/24/2024
(Renton, WA) At the regular March meeting of the WIAA Executive Committee several issues were up for discussion and many were voted on. The meeting began with a review of all the Winter Championships with each assistant Executive Director in charge of their events giving a brief rundown of each Tournament. Things that worked well were highlighted while pointing out some challenges that each location will look to improve on.
The official process of slimming the number of districts from 9 to 8 began officially with the new District 5 officially nominated Russ Waterman from Eastmont High School as their Executive Board representative. Waterman is currently the District 6 rep but with the re-alignment Eastmont is moving to District 5.
The new District 6 has begun the process to nominate their new representative. All new members to the Executive Board will be ratified at the June meeting.
In other action, the board approved moving back one week in the Girls Slowpitch season to play the State Championship earlier in October than at the end or even the beginning of November. There was a motion to also move back the start of the season to coincide with the start of football. The moving back a week of the State Tournament was approved but starting earlier was denied as members stated with Slowpitch they can easily pick up an extra game or along the way to get their full season in prior to the start of postseason.
The final numbers to determine the size of the State Tournament participants was finalized. Beginning next sports season, classifications with 84+ schools will get a 24 team tournament. Classifications with 68-83 will get a 20 team tournament changing from 69-83. Classifications with 44-67 schools, a change from 50-68 will get the traditional 16 team bracket. 30-43 play in a 12 team tournament, changed from 30-43 and the 8 team tournaments are for classifications 18-29, differing from last year’s 20-36.
And several tournament sites have been locked in for the next 2-4 years. Locations include State Football where the University of Washington has put in a bid for the next 2 years. Final details and terms are still to be worked out but it appears Montlake will be the home for State Football Championships for the next 2 years. In a side note the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to continue being the presenting sponsor for the State Football Championships.
The other locations finalized included all the current golf and tennis sites listed for this year’s events will all re-new for 4 more years. Those locations are Golf: Indian Canyon (Spokane), Creek at Qualchan (Spokane), Liberty Lake (Liberty Lake), MeadowWood (Liberty Lake), Eagles Pride (DuPont), Hawks Prairie (Lacey), Tumwater Valley (Tumwater) and Riverside Golf Club (Chehalis). Tennis: Yakima Tennis Club (Yakima), Nordstrom Tennis Center (Seattle), Vancouver Tennis Center (Vancouver), Kamiakin High School and the Pacific Clinic (Kennewick.) State Cheer will continue at Battle Ground High School and Gymnastics will remain at Sammamish High School.
Slowpitch stays at Yakima’s Gateway complex as does the B’s Fastpitch tournaments. The other 3 locations for Fastpitch stay the same with 4A and 1A at Columbia Playfields in Richland, the RAC for 3A in Lacey and 2A at Carlon Park in Selah. Fall soccer will be at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Memorial Stadium in Federal Way and Mt Tahoma High School in Tacoma. Spring soccer will be at Sparks Stadium and Renton Stadium.
Both swim meets will remain at the King County Aquatic Center with a new staff coming in there are no expectations that anything will change. And track and field received bids from only Mt Tahoma high school for the 4A, 3A and 2A meets and Eisenhower high school will host the 1A, 2B and 1B meets.
To read the full report of each WIAA Executive Board meetings you can find full minutes and notes on the WIAA website.
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