SPSL rejects applications from four Tacoma schools, accepts one

However the South Puget Sound League looks under next year’s new classification cycle, it decided Friday it doesn’t want to include four Tacoma schools.

The SPSL denied the applications for Lincoln, Mount Tahoma, Stadium and Wilson to join its league next school year, Tacoma School District athletic director Sam Reed confirmed on Friday.

But it did accept Foss, currently a 3A Narrows League team, into the 2A SPSL and Reed said Foss plans to join.

What this means for the four remaining Tacoma Public Schools remains unclear. Reed can appeal the decision to the West Central District, which he said he plans to do.

"I can confirm that earlier this afternoon the SPSL denied application for the 4 Tacoma 3A schools (though Stadium is currently a 4A school)," Reed said via text message. "Foss was accepted at the 2A level and plans to join.

"Moving forward there are still a number of options for the other 4 schools and we as a District will be evaluating all those scenarios in the days and weeks to come."

The SPSL did, Reed said, accept two North Thurston Public Schools – Timberline and North Thurston. It also accepted Gig Harbor and Yelm.

He said Bellarmine Prep, Olympia and South Kitsap were denied. The Kitsap Sun reported that both Central Kitsap’s and South Kitsap’s applications were denied.

Of the remaining Narrows League, that would leave three 4A Narrows schools – Bellarmine Prep, Olympia and South Kitsap. Stadium is slated to slide to the 3A classification system based on most recent enrollment figures (grades 9-11). Then there’s Capital, Central Kitsap, Lincoln, Mount Tahoma, Shelton and Wilson.

South Kitsap athletic director Ed Santos told the Kitsap Sun that he plans to appeal to the West Central District.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 1:37 AM with the headline "SPSL rejects applications from four Tacoma schools, accepts one."