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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --March 31, 1999
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - March 31 - The classification breaks for 1999-2000 post-season tournament competition for member schools of the Michigan High School Athletic Association have been announced

Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second semester count date, which was Feb. 24. 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 730 member schools are ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into quarters as possible. This year, it works out that 182 schools are in Classes A, B and C, and 184 schools are in Class D.

Effective with the 1999-2000 school year, schools with 998 or more students will compete in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment limits for Class B are 499 to 997; Class C is 255 to 498; and schools with enrollments of 254 and under are Class D. The break rose six students between Classes A and B; decreased three students between Classes B and C; and there was a five-student increase for the break between Classes C and D.

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. 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 1999-2000, while 18 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, Aug. 15 for winter sports, and Oct. 15 for spring sports.

Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions in 1999-2000 are: Baseball, Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Golf, Ice Hockey, Boys and Girls Soccer, Softball, Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Tennis, and Wrestling. The division breaks in those sports will be announced in April.

Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification for 1999-2000:

Moving Up From Class B To Class A
Battle Creek Lakeview
Eaton Rapids
Grand Rapids Central
Grand Rapids Creston
Romulus
Whitemore Lake-Maxey Training School

Moving Down From Class A To Class B
Allen Park
Charlotte
Fenton
Flint Southwestern Academy
Gaylord

Moving Up From Class C To Class B
Cass City
Detroit Crockett Technical
Goodrich
Montague
Newaygo
Saginaw Buena Vista

Moving Down From Class B To Class C
Ishpeming Westwood
Madison Heights Madison
Muskegon Heights
Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central
Shelby

Moving Up From Class D To Class C
Ann Arbor-Washtenaw Tech Middle College
Dearborn Henry Ford Academy
Detroit-Davis Aerospace Technical
Ferndale-Academy of Detroit
Genesee
Grass Lake
Mio
Mohawk-Keweenaw Academy
Wyoming Lee

Moving Down From Class C To Class D
Colon
Decatur
Reading
Detroit Loyola
Detroit Dominican
Dearborn St. Alphonsus
Crystal Falls Forest Park
L'Anse

Enrollment Breaks By Classes - 1999-2000 (Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A 998 and above (182)
Class B 499 to 997 (182)
Class C 255 to 498 (182)
Class D 254 and below (184)