(2-27-24) Just an observation of the final Associated Press Poll for Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Boys Basketball. With the upcoming tournament, the last with just four classes, it was interesting to see that three of the four classes had private schools being crowned. Interesting that several years ago the OHSAA’s competitive balance plan was the ‘perfect’ answer to the situation we were facing. So the plan did it work? Nope….it has just spread the problem like poison ivy.

After this tournament the OHSAA in all of its wisdom will almost double the number of classes from four to seven. The Great Wizard of the OHSAA says that it is in the best interest of the students and it has nothing to do with a money grab (smirk).

So the CB is not working as the plan called for…so expanding divisions will? Here’s an idea, let’s allow the 800 member schools to vote to approve major items like this instead of nine board members and an executive director with his own agenda.

So why in the world did the board members place the item listed below to a referendum vote by the membership…but not vote on the additional divisions? Who knows!!!!!

If passed, Issue 1B would allow a school to apply to the OHSAA within two weeks of the start of the season to move up to Division I in that sport for the postseason tournament. Previously established divisional assignments for all other schools would not be affected if one or more schools move up to Division I, meaning schools would not get moved down a division due to an increase in the number of schools in Division I. If requested for individual sports, all the participants for that school would participate in the same division for that sport. For example, if the proposal passes, some student-athletes for a school could not opt up to Division I while others stay at a lower division.

Doug Ute–

“We’ve had a number of schools ask for permission to do this, but it is currently not allowed per Bylaw 2-1-1. This referendum proposal is the only way to see if the majority of the membership is in agreement that schools should be able to move up if they would like to that season, for any number of reasons.”

Duh Doug!

This has just been an observation….

Did you know?

  • O-G, in D III, is the only public school that is ranked #1 in the final poll…#2 is Lutheran East just 4 points behind.
  • Don’t blame the private schools, they are just following the rules made by the OHSAA