THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: New classification numbers could change the IEL a bit

It all depends on Lewiston.

The latest proposal of new classification numbers shows a bit of a change in what size of enrollment goes in what classification, but basically it keeps most of the same schools together in the same classifications.

But there are a few exceptions.

One is right up here among the big schools in North Idaho.

The new proposal keeps Idaho at six classifications, but changes slightly what they are called — 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A, instead of what we have now, which is 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A Division I and 1A Division II.

Here are the proposed classification numbers, compared to what we have mostly had for more than two decades (all are for enrollment in grades 9-12):

6A — 1,400 students and above (is now 1,281 and above in 5A)

5A — 700-1,399 students (is 640-1,280 in 4A)

4A — 350-699 (is 320-639 in 3A)

3A — 175-349 (is 160-319 in 2A)

2A — 90-174 (is 85-159 in 1A Division I)

1A — 89 students and below (now 84 in below in 1A Division II)

This proposal was discussed at the Idaho High School Activities Association board of control meeting earlier this month. A “first reading” on the proposal is scheduled for the June board meeting, and if OK’d, a “second reading” would be held at the August meeting. If it passes then, the change would start with the next two-year classification cycle, which begins in 2024-25.

“Everybody I’ve talked to says it’s probably going to go through,” Post Falls High athletic director Craig Christensen said. “You see a lot of different proposals, but not a lot of them gain traction, but everybody I talked to thinks this one’s going to go through.”

IF IT does, then what?

In North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene (1,548 students reported in November 2022), Lake City (1,542) and Post Falls (1,566) would remain together, in the new 6A Inland Empire League (old 5A IEL).

Sandpoint (1,080), Lakeland (842) and Moscow (768) would remain together in the new 5A IEL (was 4A IEL).

Lewiston (1,372), which is in the largest classification, could drop down, leave Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Post Falls and join Sandpoint, Lakeland and Moscow.

The IHSAA uses two reporting periods to determine a school’s enrollment for the next classification cycle. The IHSAA will take numbers from November 2022 and March of this year, average them out, and come up with an enrollment number, which determines what classification the school is in for the next two-year cycle.

Schools, of course, have the option to “petition up” or “petition down” a classification, based on competitiveness, geography, etc.

If Lewiston comes in close to the 6A number, but just under, what would the Bengals do?

“We don’t necessarily have a preference,” Lewiston principal Kevin Driskill said. “With the current proposal, we are happy with what situation it puts LHS in. I have been on the (classification) committee for a few years now, and schools or factions come up with proposals to fit their school’s needs. Very few proposals fit all needs statewide. I think this proposal is the most equitable that I have seen.”

Needless to say, Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Post Falls are rooting for Lewiston to remain with them, and Sandpoint, Lakeland and Moscow would be OK if Lewiston joined them.

One big reason — more berths to state for the bigger league.

In a four-team league, the second-place team sometimes receives an automatic berth to state — or at the very least, a berth in a state play-in game.

In a three-team league, almost always, only the regional champion advances to state. If the league champ gets upset at regionals (which has happened several times in 4A IEL soccer and volleyball), it stays home from state — tough luck.

Also …

“I was part of that three-team 4A forever, and trying to do regionals with just three teams is just … there’s no easy way,” said Christensen, who was there when Post Falls moved up from 4A in 2006. “Nothing works. You watch the 4As struggle with it the last 4-5 years, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ve been there. We tried everything, whether it be best of three, or this or that … there’s just no easy way. I love the four-team 5A one, because you can do a true double-elimination.”

Kris Knowles, a Coeur d’Alene High grad and former Lake City High boys basketball coach, has been athletic director at Sandpoint High for 11 years. Next year, he takes over as AD at Vallivue High (1,235), a 4A school in Caldwell.

But for now …

“Really, for Sandpoint High School, it’s a win-win,” Knowles said. “I know there’s probably some people and coaches out there … ‘Why do we have to play Lewiston?’ Well, we do really, anyways, in everything (as part of a combined IEL, where all results are used for regional seeding), so you might as well have them in the conference, and make it a really competitive four-team league.”

And also …

“Having sat in the chair of an AD in the Inland Empire League for 11 years, the challenge of a three-team league vs. a four-team league is vastly different,” Knowles said. “They (the bigger schools) can deal with the three-team league for a while.”

As well as fewer berths to state.

“To go back to three (teams) is really tough,” Christensen said. “It’s going to hurt us on (state) berths — really hurt us in wrestling and track and tennis, swimming, individual sports. For us to win a state championship in wrestling is going to be a lot tougher, because it’s a numbers game.

“Really, we should only get one berth in basketball, soccer, and volleyball with three teams. I know we’re looking at ways to expand the state tournament to maybe 12 teams, and maybe do some more on that play-in Saturday to maybe have some more options for us getting more than one team.”

More on that last part later.

WHAT OTHER North Idaho schools could be affected by the new classification numbers?

Kellogg (327 students as of November 2022), which is in the first of two years in 2A after dropping down from 3A, would be on its way back up to 3A under the current classification numbers.

But under the new proposal, Kellogg would remain with St. Maries (284), Priest River (316), Orofino (254) and Grangeville (232) in the new 3A (is 2A now).

Timberlake (561) and Bonners Ferry (436) would remain together in the new 4A (3A now). Coeur d’Alene Charter (231) is listed as being in the new 3A, but has petitioned up for years, for geographic reasons.

Genesis Prep (144), Wallace (130) and Lakeside (112), now in 1A Division I, would remain together in 2A.

Clark Fork (87 students), whose numbers would move it up to 1A Division I in 2024, would remain in 1A Division II (or the new 1A) under the new classification numbers, where they would stay with Kootenai (54) and Mullan (38).

(And if you’re wondering when/if Post Falls might open a second high school and have two high schools in smaller classifications, which would really muddy up the 5A/4A — or 6A/5A — dynamic, it doesn’t appear the high school numbers are currently growing to the point where a second high school would be needed.)

THE OTHER intriguing discussion item had to do with state berths.

Currently, eight teams qualify for state in each classification. In most classifications, there are 6 or 7 automatic berths, and 1 or 2 cross-district play-in games, giving more non-regional/district champs a chance to make it to state.

The most recent discussion suggested that the top four district champions statewide, based on MaxPreps rankings, would automatically qualify for state. The fifth district champion (in classifications where there are five district tournaments) and the next seven-best teams, based on MaxPreps rankings, would meet in four play-in games the Saturday prior to state.

That would give a few more teams in each division another chance to qualify for state. Which would really help whichever league — the proposed new 6A IEL or 5A IEL — ended up as a three-team league.

“I would hope there would be an avenue,” Christensen said. “But they have to decide how you get to the 12 teams.”

Meaning, not necessarily using MaxPreps, and its unknown algorithm, exclusively.

“They talked about having a committee with ADs and coaches,” who could factor in intangibles like injuries to key players, teams getting hot late in the season, etc., Christensen said. “There’s no perfect system; I wish there was. We’ve got to figure out something that gives everybody a path to compete at state.”

This idea may be further away from fruition; an actual proposal has yet to be brought forward.

This is the second year of a two-year trial by the IHSAA to use MaxPreps rankings to seed state tournaments (not determine state berths, but to seed teams that have already qualified). Most have agreed it’s better than the “old way” of matching up district champs with non-champions from other districts, and hoping the one matchup of two district champs didn’t happen to pit the two best teams in the state against each other in the first round.

The use of MaxPreps in upcoming years is scheduled to be discussed at the June meeting, be it adding or changing the way the rankings are being used — such as using them throughout district tournaments. Now, the IHSAA uses the final regular-season MaxPreps rankings when it seeds the state tourneys.

Those rankings could change based on district results, and could be an advantage or disadvantage in certain districts — teams in some districts could play several postseason games, while teams in other districts might play just one or two.

Sometimes, the numbers don’t lie.

But sometimes, the human element is a good thing.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.