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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- April 3, 1998
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford -- 517.332.5046
EAST LANSING, Mich. - April 3 - There's a different look to
the tournament classification for members of the Michigan High
School Athletic Association, as nine of the Association's tournaments
will be classified in nearly equal divisions in 1998-99.
The enrollment breaks, which historically have placed all schools
in Classes A, B, C, and D for Representative Council elections
and MHSAA tournaments in all sports, are now complemented by
breaking schools into divisions in nine sports, where the number
of divisions is contingent on the number of schools actually
sponsoring the sport.
Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second
semester count date, which was February 25. 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 729 member schools are
ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into
quarters as possible. This year, it works out that 181 schools
are in Class A, 182 in Classes B and C, and 184 schools in Class
D.
Effective with the 1998-99 school year, schools with 992 or more
students will compete in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment
limits for Class B are 502 to 991; Class C is 250 to 501; and
schools with enrollments of 249 and under are Class D. The break
rose 16 students between Class A and B; decreased six students
between Class B and C, and there was a five-student decline for
the break between Class 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. 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 20 schools move up in
class for 1998-99, while 16 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.
Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions in 1998-99
are: Baseball, Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Golf, Boys and
Girls Soccer, Softball, and Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Tennis,
and Wrestling.
Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification
for 1998-99:
|
Moving Up From Class B To Class A Moving Down From Class A To Class B Moving Up From Class C To Class B |
Moving Down From Class B To Class C Moving Up From Class D To Class C Moving Down From Class C To Class D |
Schools Opting To Play At A Higher Class/Division (As of 4/1/98)
Birmingham Seaholm (From II to I - Boys and Girls Soccer Only)
Bridgeport (From III to II - Wrestling Only)
Charlotte (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Detroit Southwestern (From B to A - All Sports)
Flint Kearskey (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Flint Northwestern (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Flint Southwestern Academy (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Grand Rapids Central (From B to A - Boys Basketball Only)
Grosse Ile (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher (From IV to III - Baseball and Softball Only)
Inkster (From B to A - All Sports)
Lansing Catholic Central (From IV to I - Boys Tennis Only)
Lansing Sexton (From II to I - Girls Tennis Only)
Midland Dow (From II to I - Boys Tennis Only)
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (From C to B - All Sports)
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (From IV to III - Wrestling Only)
Mt. Clemens (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
New Boston Huron (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Orchard Lake St. Mary (From B to A - Boys Skiing Only)
Riverview (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Romulus (From B to A - Girls Basketball, Boys Golf, Boys and Girls Cross Country Only)
Romulus (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Saginaw (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Saginaw Buena Vista (From C to B - Boys and Girls Basketball, Football, Girls Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Track Only)
Sault Ste. Marie (From B to A - Ice Hockey Only)
Trenton (From II to I - Boys Tennis Only)
Enrollment Breaks By Classes - 1998-99
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A 992 and above (181)
Class B 502 to 991 (182)
Class C 250 to 501 (182)
Class D 249 and below (184)
Enrollment Breaks By Divisions - 1998-99
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
| Sport | Baseball | Softball |
Golf |
Golf |
|
|
|
|
|
| Div. I | 1053 & above (158) | 1053 & above (159) | 1201 & above (129) | 1385 & above (65) | 1309 & above (92) | 1275 & above (95) | 1416 & above (87) | 1417 & above (81) | 1234 & above (111) |
| Div. II | 568 to 1052 (158) | 568 to 1052 (157) | 704 to 1200 (129) | 901 to 1384 (65) | 864 to 1308 (91) | 790 to 1274 (96) | 991 to 1415 (86) | 1022 to 1416 (82) | 743 to 1233 (111) |
| Div. III | 299 to 567 (158) | 299 to 567 (158) | 400 to 703 (129) | 900 & below (65) | 502 to 863 (91) | 789 & below (95) | 643 to 990 (86) | 710 to 1021 (81) | 479 to 742 (111) |
| Div. IV | 298 & below (159) | 298 & below (156) | 399 & below (130) | -- | 501 & below (91) | -- | 642 & below (86) | 709 & below (81) | 478 & below (112) |