Time to get ready for more class expansion in IHSA sports

The big news out of the Illinois High School Association's office last week was the decision to move forward with a drug testing program for high school athletes.

What got little notice was the IHSA's survey that favored class expansion in boys and girls track, wrestling and boys and girls soccer.

Before we explore class expansion in those sports, we should make it clear that IHSA surveys, while not binding, are a general guideline for the IHSA's board of directors when final decisions are made. The IHSA is a member-driven organization and the board generally sides with the membership's wishes on most issues.

Forget the fact that only 54 percent of IHSA member schools responded to the most recent survey.

"The ones who cared enough to give their input have pretty clearly said they want expansion in those sports and the board listens to those results," said IHSA executive director Marty Hickman. "Sure, we're disappointed about the 54 percent. In 2005, we had 57 percent participate in the survey for class expansion. We send e-mails and faxes and the bottom line is, just like any election, you're going to participate or not."

The survey itself is generated by the IHSA staff and approved by the board, according to Scott Johnson of the IHSA.

"The questions were formulated by the staff (and approved by the board) to gather opinions on the topics discussed at the Town Meetings," Johnson said. "The staff and board decided which topics needed to be emphasized at the Town Meetings.

"That wouldn't preclude questions being developed through other channels and ending up on a survey after being approved by the board. But that's how this one worked."

In track, 62 percent of those responding were in favor of expanding to three classes. Track was actually a no-brainer. That sport was to have expanded to three classes this year but there were some snags in figuring out how to run a three-class state meet so the expansion was tabled.

But now, the IHSA has a plan for state and expansion will likely take place next year.

Hickman said the plan is to have a three-day state meet, where one class (on a rotating basis) will run prelims on Thursday, the other two classes Friday and then all three finals will be held on Saturday.

Expansion in wrestling drew a 69 percent favorable response. The staggering number is that potential Class 2A schools voted 65-5 in favor of expansion. Potential 3A schools were 51-50 against while potential 1A schools were 49-23 for expansion.

"I think it's good for the sport. The more kids who get the opportunity to be a state champion the better," said Burlington Central athletic director Dan Cliffe, a former state champion wrestler in his high school days at DeKalb.

"I think when they develop it you'll see Class 1A stay as it is now and the rest of the schools will be split evenly. I don't have any information from the IHSA, I'm just guessing based on the information I have, but I believe the total number of state qualifiers would increase."

And if that happens, expansion would be just fine with longtime Dundee-Crown coach Al Zinke.

"I'm in favor of it but it all depends on at what expense," said Zinke, who won his 500th career match last weekend. "If there are other sports going to three classes it's really unfair for wrestling not to be. Anytime you give kids an opportunity to win a state championship … how can you say that would be a bad thing? There will be 14 more kids who can say they are state champions and to me that's a positive."

One thing that remains to be seen is how a three-class state tournament would be formatted, and that's one of Zinke's concerns.

"As long as we don't lose anything along the way I'm in favor of it," said Zinke, who will retire after next season. "If only two kids from each sectional were to make it downstate instead of three, then that would be difficult."

Crystal Lake South athletic director Jim Stuglis, a former wrestling coach, is against expansion.

"I'm just afraid wrestling will get too watered down with expansion," Stuglis said.

The IHSA would likely have to run a three-day meet if wrestling does in fact go to three classes. Cliffe and Zinke recalled in the mid 1980s when that's how state ran, although then it was dual team and individual combined on one weekend.

This season, there are 407 wrestling schools in the state, 113 in Class A and 294 in Class AA. It makes sense that Class 1A would basically be those 113 schools now in Class A, while 2A and 3A would become classes with roughly 150 schools in each.

Boys and girls soccer expansion leaves a little more to the question side of things. In the survey, 66 percent of those who responded were in favor of expansion and there was no one class against it, as there was in wrestling and track.

But soccer also has less schools participating, meaning the "watered down" argument has more credibility. Boys soccer is close to wrestling - there are 398 boys soccer schools. But there are only 355 girls soccer schools. The survey question was not asked separately -- it was one question asking if schools favored expansion in boys and girls soccer.

"In all honesty I can see both sides of it," said Huntley girls soccer coach Kris Grabner, who played in the boys soccer tournament in the 80s during his days at Alton High School. "It seems we're getting to the point where we're giving trophies to everybody, but I also see the side that it isn't always fair for the smaller schools. It's a tough call that I go back and forth on."

Expansion in IHSA sports is not new, of course. Five sports -- girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball -- are in their first year of a four-class system while boys golf went to a three-class system this past fall.

"Football expansion came and it worked," said Larkin athletic director Jim Juliano. "I see it as an opportunity for those schools that are on the cusp of the bigger class. It may give them a better chance to go downstate and win a state championship. I look at that as a positive thing."

The schools, those that chose to participate in the survey anyway, have spoken, and as Hickman said they have made it clear they favor class expansion.

Times do change, don't they?