WHSAA Board of Directors Meeting Results

A number of topics were discussed at the Wyoming High School Activities Association Board of Directors meeting.

Subjects ranged from early talks of reclassification, modifying practice rules, figuring out some future state championship locations, and a back-up plan for this year's 3A/4A state basketball tournament.

Basketball: If Casper College wins the right to host the Region 9 women's basketball tournament (starting March 9), there will be some interference with the 3A/4A state basketball tournament.

The backup plan:

Wednesday, March 7: All 3A first round games to be played at Casper College. The Casper Events Center will be used for the state spirit/cheer/dance competition.

Thursday, March 8: All 3A consolation and semi-final games to be played at the Events Center. All 4A first round games to be played at Casper College.

Friday, March 9: All 4A consolation and semi-final games to be played at Events Center. The 3A 3rd place and consolation championship games would be played at Kelly Walsh High School. Teams in the 3A championship games, would have the day off.

Saturday, March 10: The 4A 3rd place and consolation championship games would be played in the morning at both the Events Center and Kelly Walsh HS. Then all the 4A and 3A championship games would be played at the Events Center. Start time of first championship game would be scheduled for 1:30pm.

The WHSAA probably will not be able to decide on if this back-up plan will be used, until the end of February.

Also, talks are beginning about putting in a mercy-rule, similar to Montana.

Football: The board said no to the proposal on starting practice for 3A, 2A and 1A schools, on the Thursday of the same week that 4A starts practice.

Soccer: 4A and 3A will split locations for their state tournament. Rock Springs will host the 4A tournament in 2013, 2014, and 2015, while Jackson will host the 3A tournament in the same 3 years. The contract to hold state soccer at the Big Horn Equestrian Center near Sheridan, expires at the end of the 2012 season.

Also, a representative from the Laramie Soccer Parent Group suggested that the board consider moving boys soccer from the spring to the fall. The concern is dual sport participation rule that the WHSAA currently has.

Golf: State golf for the 2013 season to be held in Casper (4A), Buffalo (3A), and rejected Sundance's bid for 2A, due to getting their submission in after the deadline. Bids for 2A state golf have been re-opened.

The spring golf season will start 1 week earlier, only for the purpose of classroom instruction.

Nordic Ski: State Nordic Ski to be held in Lander for 2013, and Cody for 2014.

Tennis: Proposal to shorten the number of practice days from 9-to-5 defeated.

Reclassification: Talks are underway for the next reclassification cycle which would start in July 2013. The Wyoming Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (WIAAA), is in talks about a proposal for 5 classes in Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Track. Talks are to have more teams in the smaller classes to compensate should another team fold. The idea is for 10 teams in 5A, 9 in 4A, 12 in 3A, 16 in 2A and 24 in 1A. This is subject to change when new school ADM numbers come out in July. Football would be unaffected. 5A would be the current 4A, 4A would be the current 3A, 3A would be the current 2A, 2A would be the current 1A, and 1A would be the current 6-man division.

Also the WHSAA is working on constructing a new building to house head-quarters. It will be in Casper on the East 2nd Street extension area, in the Creekside Professional Plaza. Plans are to be moved into the new building by the end of summer 2012.