WIAA approves re-classification numbers for next four-year cycle: What it means for South Sound schools
The WIAA approved re-classification numbers for the next four-year cycle (2020-24) on Sunday evening. In total, 46 schools chose to opt-up in classification while the WIAA District Directions and the WIAA Executive Board approved the classification appeal of 10 schools and accepted the petition of nine schools petitioning down in football only.
Some of the changes for South Sound area schools include:
- Bethel High School (Spanaway) moves up to Class 4A and is set to join the 4A South Puget Sound League. Sumner High School will opt up from 3A to 4A and will remain in the league. There’s a possibility of the 4A SPSL splitting into two divisions, with Bethel’s addition making it a 10-team league.
- The 4A North Puget Sound League is set to become a split-classification league, with Kentridge, Federal Way, Kentwood, Kennedy Catholic, Mount Rainier, Tahoma and Decatur remaining in 4A, while Auburn, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer drop to 3A. Enumclaw, which is dropping all the way to 2A, will no longer be part of the league.
- The 3A South Sound Conference will remain mostly intact. Shelton will drop down to 2A and is set to join the 2A Evergreen Conference, while River Ridge (Lacey) moves up from 2A and will replace Shelton in the 3A SSC. Shelton will likely join the 2A Evergreen Conference.
- Enumclaw, which had opted up from 3A to 4A during the last re-classification cycle, drops down to 2A this time around and is set to join the 2A SPSL, where a reunion with natural rival White River will be in order.
- The 2A SPSL will become a nine-team league. The 2A SPSL north schools (Renton, Lindbergh, Tyee, Highline, Evergreen and Foster) will leave the league to join the KingCo. Eatonville drops to 1A and will likely join the 1A EvCo. Enumclaw, which is dropping down from 4A, will join the 2A SPSL.
Find the full statewide re-classification list with enrollment data at wiaa.com.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
Jon Manley
The News Tribune