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OSAA committee keeps schools in limbo Monday May 8, 2017 at 7:22 PM May 8, 2017 at 7:22 PM Kris Henry Mail Tribune @Kris_Henry At the risk of sounding impatient, the Oregon School Activities Association needs to settle on a classification model for the four-year time block that begins in 2018-19 and be done with it already. That seems to be the sentiment for athletic directors in Southern Oregon, many of whom expect change and merely just want to know where they stand moving forward. The OSAA’s classification and districting committee has convened nine times in the past seven months, with three more gatherings scheduled before the group is charged with making its final recommendation to the OSAA Executive Board on Oct. 16. In all, 15 classification model drafts have been made. The committee seemed to settle on a five-classification system but did an about-face following its April 24 meeting and announced Thursday it now favors the status quo of six classifications — albeit with shakeups in alignments for several schools. “We’d just like to get it solved and figure out what we’re going to do,” said Eagle Point athletic director Seth Womack on Monday. Added St. Mary’s AD Jamie Young: “We’ve always known that whatever direction it’s going to be we are probably going to be in a different league with some different opponents and probably some larger opponents for us. It’s just been a matter of let’s find the best balance of schools that gives us the best opportunity to be relevant, but those groups have changed so much, whether we’re talking five or six classes, since this process started.” A five-classification system, supported almost universally by schools in Southern Oregon but not statewide, was believed to be in the cards until last week when the committee wrote: “Based on testimony and written correspondence over the past several months, it’s evident that a majority of schools believe that a six-classification approach works best for the students, schools and communities in our state.” In the update, the committee also noted that membership schools “appear to be split, at best, on the different approaches” and the overall belief is that “membership doesn’t appear ready to make the wholesale changes across the board that would result from a change to five classifications.” In surveys of member schools other than at the 6A and 1A levels, athletic directors supported remaining at six classes by wide margins for 5A (22-3) and 4A (32-6) and carried the majority at the 3A (21-19) and 2A (19-7) levels. It was noted in the update that although 6A schools didn’t take a formal vote, that level was “virtually unanimous” in their support for a change to a five-classification system. Odds are a six-classification system now will be the go-to model. Probably. “I wouldn’t be shocked at anything at this point,” said Womack. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they changed again.” Young, however, said he expects this latest update to stand in terms of numbers of classifications but not necessarily for the final districting placements or average daily membership (ADM) figures that will be used to determine who fits into each classification. “I think the closer we get (to the final recommendation in October) and further along in the process we get, those classification proposals will most likely be a little closer to what ends up becoming reality,” he said. “I just hope there’s some consideration for how they look at (ADM) numbers and how that plays out for everyone. Looking at it you want kids to have a great experience and safely be able to compete and have that competitive balance across the board.” In the most recent draft, the current 6A Southwest Conference — which includes North Medford, South Medford and Grants Pass — would remain largely intact save for the dropping of Willamette to the 5A level. As has happened in the past with the OSAA being out of touch, the model calls this the Southern Oregon Conference but it’s doubtful the grouping would alter from its SWC template. In the new 5A draft, the current Midwestern League — which includes Ashland, Crater and Eagle Point — would inherit Willamette but lose Marist to the 4A level (although it seems likely the Spartans will request to play up given their historic 5A success). “We’ve dealt with this now for four years playing with the Eugene schools and apparently we’ll just continue to do it,” said Womack. “For us, we would’ve preferred being in the five-classification system just because it would’ve kept us more local with the Klamath Falls schools and Phoenix and Ashland. We spend thousands of dollars each year in travel and our kids and teachers who are also coaches are out of school for numerous hours traveling to Eugene. I don’t think a lot of people realize the amount of travel that it really is for us down here, and just those costs are pretty high.” Some tweaking would ultimately have to happen considering the model calls for this 5A grouping to be called the Southern Oregon League, with the current Mid-Willamette Conference grouping dubbed the Midwestern League for some reason in the recent draft. That, in itself, shows you the lack of detail and forward thinking that inexplicably pops up each reclassification season by the committee at large. What school wants to re-do all their banners and signage when it’s not necessary? The 4A landscape in the recent draft creates a much different Skyline Conference than most are familiar with as Cascade Christian and St. Mary’s will be tasked with stepping up a level to join Phoenix, Henley, Klamath Union and Mazama — who each essentially have double the ADM totals than the Challengers and Crusaders. “Obviously we want our kids to be safe and to compete at that level there’s some obvious concerns,” said Young, who doubles as St. Mary’s football coach. “In many sports I think we would be just fine, but I think we’re going to need to improve our programs and be realistic about the numbers needed to compete.” Football is the obvious challenge for the 3A schools moving up a level, with St. Mary’s only recently getting its program back on solid footing under Young. Playing 4A-sized schools a couple weeks out of the season — as has happened over the years for Cascade Christian — is much different than the weekly challenge that will be required due to league placement. That said, the scheduling benefits and less travel cost/school time lost would benefit both 3A schools, making the move to 4A a catch-22 for them. “Obviously that’s a big thing, but if I had to pick between safety and competitive balance, and maybe that equating to a few hundred extra miles over the course of the season, I think I’d choose that every time,” said Young. In the aforementioned 4A scheme, North Valley and Hidden Valley would be bounced to the Far West League. Among other changes set in place by the new draft model, Rogue River would remain at the 3A level but be part of the Umpqua River Conference (because that just rolls off the tongue) and Illinois Valley would drop down to the 2A Sunset Conference. Class 1A schools Butte Falls, Prospect and Rogue Valley Adventist are largely unaffected. Through it all, however, Young said he does feel for the task the classification and districting committee faces. “I think everybody wants what’s best for their kids,” he said. “They want to see as even of a playing field as they can get and honor past rivalries — those things are important — but there’s also so many differences from geographical locations of schools to makeup of populations that I don’t know if everyone is ever really aligned with how they think it should go.” — Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry