FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2002
Contact: John Johnson or Randy Allen
517.332.5046 or www.mhsaa.com
2002-03 School Classifications Announced
EAST LANSING, Mich. - March 28 - The 2002-03
school year classifications for Michigan High School Athletic
Association elections and post-season tournaments in traditionally
classified sports (A,B,C,D) have been announced.
Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second
semester count date, which was February 21. The enrollment figure
submitted for athletic classification purposes may be different
from the count submitted for school aid purposes, as it does
not include students ineligible for athletic competition because
they reached their 19th birthday prior to Sept. 1 of the current
school year and will not include alternative education students
if none are allowed athletic eligibility by the local school
district.
After all the counts are submitted, the 755 tournament-qualified
member schools are ranked according to enrollment, and then split
as closely into quarters as possible. For 2002-03, it works out
that 188 schools are in Class A, and 189 schools are in Classes
B, C and D.
Effective with the 2002-03 school year, schools with 1026 or
more students are in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment
limits for Class B are 492 to 1,025; Class C is 243 to 491; and
schools with enrollments of 242 and under are Class D. The break
increased 18 students between Classes A and B; increased 4 students
between Classes B and C; and the break between Classes C and
D remained the same.
Schools were recently notified of their classification. MHSAA
Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts said that
schools may not appeal their classification if the appeal is
to play in a lower class.
However, if revised enrollment figures indicate that a school
should be playing in a higher class, that school would be moved
up.
The new classification breaks will see 21 schools move up in
class for 2002-03, while 11 schools will move down.
Schools have the option to play at any higher classification
for a minimum of two years, but must exercise the option by April
15 for fall sports, August 15 for winter sports, and October
15 for spring sports.
MHSAA tournament sports conducted in traditional
classifications are Basketball, Girls Competitive Cheer, Girls
Gymnastics, Skiing, Swimming and Diving, and Girls Volleyball.
Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions in 2002-03
are: Baseball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Golf,
Ice Hockey, Softball, Boys and Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Track
and Field, and Wrestling. Boys and Girls Soccer will have 20
percent of sponsoring schools in Division 4 and the remaining
schools divided equally into Divisions 1, 2 and 3. The division
breaks in those sports, except football, will be announced in
April. (Media can visit the respective sports pages on the MHSAA
Web Site to review the divisional alignments) The eight divisions
of the MHSAA Football Playoffs will be announced on Selection
Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002.
Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification
for 2002-03 (Note: This list does not include schools opting
up in class/division for tournaments):
Moving Up From Class B To Class A
Auburn Hills Avondale
Chelsea
Gaylord
Mattawan
Petoskey
Stevensville-Lakeshore
Wayland Union
Moving Down From Class A To Class B
Clio
Eaton Rapids
Grand Rapids Central
Hamtramck
Ionia
Moving Up From Class C To Class B
Calumet
Hemlock
Livonia Clarenceville
Muskegon Heights
Parchment
White Cloud
Moving Down From Class B To Class C
Ferndale-Academy of Oak Park
Flint Beecher
Moving Up From Class D To Class C
Academy of Inkster
Carsonville-Port Sanilac
Detroit Dominican
Detroit Loyola
Detroit-Mich. Inst. For Construction Trades & Tech.
Martin
Mio
Moving Down From Class C To Class D
Detroit Benedictine
Detroit Rogers (Boys tournaments)
Detroit School of Industrial Arts
Johannesburg-Lewiston
New Schools in 2002-03
Canton Plymouth (Class C)
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (Class B)
Walled Lake Northern (Class B)
Enrollment Breaks By Classes - 2002-03
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A 1,026 and above (188)
Class B 492 to 1,025 (189)
Class C 243 to 491 (189)
Class D 242 and below (189)
Farm Bureau Insurance is a year-round MHSAA Corporate Partner