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Superintendents in WPIAL prefer six classifications

2 min read
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Tim O’Malley may not get his wish. After the WPIAL’s executive director voiced his disagreement with an expansion to six classifications, it looks like his member schools may be in favor of change.

The WPIAL sent surveys to its member schools and 84 percent of member superintendents completed the survey – an overwhelming amount compared to other surveys the district has sent out. Sixth-three percent favored the six-classification format that the PIAA plans to use. The PIAA expanded to six classifications in football, girls basketball, boys basketball, baseball and softball.

There has been talk that the WPIAL could play its regular season and playoffs with four classifications, but put a system in place to qualify six for the state playoffs. That could allow for four football championship games at Heinz Field, would likely not require new championship venues for other sports and quite frankly, it would create less work for the folks at the WPIAL office.

Based on the results of the surveys, the WPIAL has a tentative plan in place for the expanded classifications , but will wait until the PIAA releases its playoff brackets that designate the district deadline and district qualifiers. Since the WPIAL needs to know that schedule, it cannot lay out playoff scenarios until the information is received.

The next PIAA board meeting is Weds., Jan. 27. One of the bigger issues that is holding this up is the start dates for each classification’s playoffs, particularly in football. I’ve heard that the PIAA playoffs in 6A could start one week earlier than the other classes. I’m not sure how much truth that holds, but it shows how many questions are still floating around.

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