Pacific Conference is reborn, 5A shrinks in latest OSAA drafts
Set on a six-class system, the OSAA classification and districting committee now is focusing on drawing up league alignments for the four-year time block that begins in 2018-19.
The committee released two drafts this week. In both, it lowered the Class 6A/5A cutoff to 1,195 from 1,301 in the previous draft in an effort bolster the league alignment in 6A.
Sandy, Hillsboro, West Albany and Willamette – slated for 5A in the previous draft – would shift to 6A, giving the highest classification 57 schools. On the flip side, that would leave Class 5A with a mere 28 schools, a concern that the committee addressed in its latest update.
“Testimony from 5A representatives indicated that the 5A Athletic Directors acknowledge that 28 total schools is small but they believe it is viable,” the committee said.
The Pacific Conference, which was dissolved in 2014 to create bigger leagues in Class 6A, appears to be on its way back in an attempt to design leagues with better competitive balance. In both of the new drafts, it was included as a seventh 6A league.
The committee will meet three more times – June 20, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25 -- before giving its final recommendation to the executive board Oct. 16.
A look at the Class 6A and 5A league alignments under the latest two drafts:
Text by Jerry Ulmer; photos by Billy Gates, Pete Christopher, Carolynn Strode, Erik Anderson, Brad Cantor, Serena Morones, Hayes Gardner, Michele Bunch and Kent Frasure