PIAA OKs six classes
High school athletics in Pennsylvania will look drastically different next year after the PIAA Board of Directors voted Wednesday to expand from four to six classifications in football, basketball, baseball and softball.
Both boys and girls soccer, as well as volleyball, expanded from three to four classifications and field hockey from two to three.
The board was expected to vote on the six classifications proposal at Wednesday’s meeting with another reading at its December meeting, but the board suspended protocol and passed six classifications in football – effective next fall – with a vote of 26-4.
After the football vote passed, the PIAA suspended protocol again and expanded the other sports with a 23-7 vote.
Bob Tonkin, the District 9 chairman who developed the comprehensive plan to expand from four to six classifications in football, expressed his excitement for the decision.
“It’s a great day for Pennsylvania athletes in our high schools,” Tonkin said. “We have six (classifications) in football and the other sports expanded. I was surprised that the vote was what it was, but I’m pleased. It’s good for everyone. It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off.”
Tonkin’s plan for six classes in football centered around shortening the season to prevent teams from having to practice and play in bad weather, avoiding disruption of tournaments that begin winter sports seasons and decreased attendance at state playoff games.
The state championship games were played Dec. 13 last year. Only California and Texas played their title games at a later date. The state title games are scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 this year. Now, it is likely football teams will only have one scrimmage and the state championship games will be played Dec. 9-10 next year.
“I know the opposition still exists in District 7 (the WPIAL), but if you look at the big picture, it’s best for everybody,” Tonkin said.
The PIAA Strategic Planning Committee met last month and recommended to the directors it pass the proposal. Since the PIAA football playoffs started in 1988, there has been four classifications and the WPIAL played with four classifications since 1980, with the exception of five classes for two years in the early 1980s.
WPIAL officials opposed the change, citing the loss of Heinz Field for its championship games and natural rivalries. While that could be true, more non-conference games will allow schools more freedom in scheduling.
Trinity athletic director Ricci Rich and Washington athletic director Joe Nicolella see the move as an opportunity to reignite a rivalry between the Hillers and Prexies in football. The two discussed the possibility over the summer and Wednesday’s decision could make those talks a reality.
“If it becomes feasible down the road, we’ll absolutely do it,” Nicolella said. “It’s been years since we played that game and that was always great. The city and both schools got involved. That’s probably a benefit and it’s something that could definitely happen.”
The state began examining a potential move to six classifications last December when Tonkin presented a thorough proposal for six classes in football to the PIAA football steering committee.
McGuffey football coach and athletic director Ed Dalton is pleased with the decision. The Highlanders are expected to move from Class AA to Class AAA under the new system.
“We’re really excited. I think it puts us in a really good position at McGuffey,” Dalton said. “I’m sure some people don’t benefit from it, but I think we really benefit from it. I think the length of the season has a lot to do with it. It does provide some more equity.”
A move to six classifications likely ends the WPIAL’s ability to hold all of its championship games at Heinz Field. WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said earlier this year an expansion would be needed in every sport, which happened during the meeting Wednesday in Mechanicsburg.
“We go to Heinz Field and we maximize what is given to us,” O’Malley told the Observer-Reporter in January. “We can’t play more than four games in one day, and we certainly can’t go in more than one day. We would lose that.”
The move from four to six classifications would likely leave Wash High in Class AA, but with close rivals such as Waynesburg and McGuffey possibly moving to Class AAA, the Prexies could play up in a classification. Nicolella would not rule it out.
“That would have to be a district-wide decision at the administrative level,” Nicolella said. “I know that for years we always played in the upper classification. I know that in track and football, Mt. Lebanon was on our schedule. That would enter the decision. I think it would have to.”
Scott Heinauer, WPIAL football steering committee representative who also is the Mars athletic director and football coach, delivered the news to athletic directors via email, but there were very few details, leaving some uncertainty.
With enrollment figures to be reported to the PIAA later this month and new sections to be made in several WPIAL sports, Nicolella expects the process to move quickly.
“The WPIAL sections in football took on their own identities with the conferences going by names,” Nicolella said. “It’s going to be an interesting six months. I’m sure they’ll get this all together and it will be put on the fast track.”