Apr 3, 2015 6 min read

Arguments against expanding to six classifications in PIAA-sanctioned sports continue to grow, causing a stalemate at a recent meeting.

The football steering committee met with the strategic planning committee last week to discuss the potential move and no consensus was made. Between increased travel and possible elimination of Thanksgiving Day games on the east side of the state, obstacles continue to pop up for the plan, which was formulated by Bob Tonkin, District 9 chairman.

Though the two-hour meeting did not end with a decision, an agreement was made to investigate a new formula for classifications.

Dr. Bob Lombardi, PIAA Executive Director, said the group will calculate enrollment figures that would include only 10 percent of a school district’s students enrolled in charter, cyber, home or alternative schools. Right now, all of those students are counted against a district’s enrollment, causing some students to be counted against two schools.

The two committees will discuss eight enrollment proposals revolving around the 10 percent solution, as well as a possible “super class” that includes enrollments above 700 or 800 students, at their next meeting in late May.

“There seems to be an inequity in the way we class,” Lombardi said. “There’s a feeling out there that those kids being counted on a public school’s enrollment is inflating the student population and putting them in a class where those kids aren’t playing. They estimated that 10 percent are actually participating.”

Tonkin presented a comprehensive plan to the PIAA in December, which focused on expanding football to six classifications in hopes of shortening the season and would start for the 2016-17 academic year. The 2015 PIAA football championships are scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 next season.

Despite the focus on football, representatives across the state want change across the board, which would expand classifications in basketball, baseball, softball and possibly add an additional class in soccer.

Lombardi said a change in track and field classifications would not be feasible and the wrestling steering committee is not interested in expansion.

The Pennsylvania Football Coaches’ Association is in favor of change. Tonkin, District 9 football committee chairman, presented the plan to the directors of the PSFCA, who approved an expansion with a 30-3 vote in favor Jan. 23.

“It seems that across the state, coaches, athletic directors, schools and so forth want changes,” Tonkin said. “The 31 people that are on the board of directors are the ones who have to be convinced that change is good. Let football lead the way and then let’s look at everything.”

Scott Heinauer, WPIAL football steering committee representative who also is the Mars athletic director and football coach, disagrees. He believes expansion will need to be “seriously considered” for every PIAA sport, but cites increased travel as the largest obstacle.

In the projected sections for WPIAL football with six classifications, some section rivals are as many as 80 miles apart and rivalries would be split, including North Allegheny and North Hills. According to Tonkin, one argument that has surprisingly dissipated is a possible elimination of the WPIAL hosting its championships at Heinz Field.

“A lot of districts have already said they’re against this thing already,” Heinauer said. “I think the biggest factor is, for me, it’s travel. (Mars travels) a lot in our conference right now. Some of these schools are going to have to travel even further. You have the band, cheerleaders and parents traveling, so there is a lot to consider.”

This is the second time a six-classification proposal received strong consideration. In 2009, a plan passed two readings at the PIAA level before being voted down by a 15-13 margin at the final stage.

The committees will meet in late May and the proposal will need to be passed to move to the board of directors for final approval, but the deadline is approaching and it could require multiple readings to move to the board of directors.

PIAA member schools must submit their enrollment figures in October for the next cycle.

One district chairman on the strategic planning committee recommended the groups table the proposal for another two years, while having meetings to work out the details. Even if the new enrollment figures are approved next month, each district representative will likely need to reach out to athletic directors, coaches and school administrators to gauge interest.

“I don’t know how it’s going to be done and be done the right way for the deadline in October,” Heinauer said. “I’m not thinking it can be done. Think about all the people that are involved in those sports and you are going to make a decision that will definitely affect the landscape for years to come.”

The PIAA drew criticism last month when Martin Luther King and Roman Catholic, two District 12 schools, played each other in the PIAA Class AAAA boys basketball title game at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Last week, the strategic planning committee recommended the state tournament brackets return to a true East vs. West format in 2016-17.

The proposal, which passed the committee with an 8-5 vote and was created by a basketball steering committee member from the western part of the state, moves to the board of directors next month.

Under the current format added in 2004-05, which was installed because more member schools competing in basketball occupy the eastern part of the state, eastern teams occupy part of the west bracket.

“We’ve heard that ever since we went to proportional representation that people don’t necessarily want to see two teams from the same district playing in a championship game. But when you have the disparity of number of schools we have in classifications, that can sometimes occur,” Lombardi said.

Private schools counted for half of the finalists at the PIAA basketball championships and the increasing number of private schools across the state has many people asking for a solution to a perceived competitive advantage.

Some raise the idea of a private school-only classifications or a possible figure to increase those schools’ enrollments to place them in higher classifications.

Private schools joined the PIAA in 1972 after the state legislature approved their inclusion when Allentown Central Catholic asked to join. Though there are talks of changing athletics at charter schools to get students to participate for programs in their home districts, Lombardi is not about to enact drastic change against private schools, unless the legislature decides it’s necessary.

“It’s usually a basketball issue more than anything else,” Lombardi said. “I can’t sit here as the executive director of the association and champion something that’s going to segregate our membership. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. We’re not going to violate an act of legislature.”