The prospect of the OSAA implementing a five-classification system has sounded an alarm for many of the state’s smaller schools.
In a move backed by 94 percent of Class 6A athletic directors, the OSAA classification and districting committee said in its latest update that it is supporting a five-classification model for the next four-year time block that begins in 2018-19.
The pendulum appears to be swinging back from 2006, when input from smaller schools was the impetus for the OSAA expanding from four classifications to six.
“I would hope that, similar to the process 11 or 12 years ago, that there will be another push to make a six-class system that will fulfill the needs of the majority of schools,” said Howard Rub, athletic director at Class 4A Astoria. “I really would hate to see us get away from something that has been good for a majority of the schools.”
The committee said in a release that it supports five classifications because it would reduce travel, provide greater depth and balance for the number of schools in each classification, and make classifications more stable within a four-year time block.
“I think in some instances that will be the case,” Rub said. “But I really think there are some things we can do within the six-class model that can help that, as well.”
Roughly three-quarters of the schools from Class 1A to Class 4A support a six-classification system, as revealed by a vote at last year’s state athletic director conference. Many were caught off-guard by the committee’s stance and are wary of potential changes.
“A lot of people think that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Craig Rothenberger, athletic director at Class 4A Junction City. “I don’t know what drove them. After the last open session, I walked out of there thinking, ‘Boy, there’s a lot of support for six classifications.’”
According to Rub, the committee’s latest five-classification proposal could create more problems than it fixes. He said it increases the disparity in school size within classifications and would make it difficult for some schools to compete.
Newport, with an enrollment of 550, would be in a Class 4A league with schools such as South Albany (1,158), Corvallis (1,117) and Lebanon (1,052). Warrenton, with an enrollment of 228, would be in a Class 3A league with schools such as Tillamook (533) and Astoria (511).
“Those schools won’t be able to sustain football in five years,” Rub said. “There aren’t a lot of things a school of 550 has in common with a school of 1,100. As soon as you keep increasing the number, and then doubling it, the more it’s magnified.
“It won’t necessarily make it better for everybody. I think the number of championships across the board in Class 4A and 5A by so many different schools does show some indication that what was created has worked, in terms of creating better balance.”
Rothenberger said that no plan will make everybody happy, but “the beauty of six classes is that most people came away pretty happy. Everybody had a chance. This puts us back where there will be some schools that their chances are markedly diminished.”
The committee could address football separately. One of the early proposals in the process was a football-only, six-classification alignment composed of special districts, an idea that has more relevance now with the committee leaning toward five classifications.
“Now I can imagine there are some people that are going to want to revisit that, if we are going to five classes,” Rub said. “I’m not a big fan of special districts for our sports in general. I think the more that can be minimized, the better. It’s not the same as when your program is part of a league.”
The committee’s next meeting is April 10. It is scheduled to meet five more times before giving its final recommendation to the OSAA executive board in September.
-- Jerry Ulmer
julmer@oregonian.com
503-816-7323
@jerryulmer