By Staff
EAST LANSING -- The 2003-04 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 26. 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 758 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 189 schools are in Classes A and B, and 190 schools are in Classes C and D.
Effective with the 2003-04 school year, schools with 1,042 or more students are in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment limits for Class B are 497 to 1,041; Class C is 233 to 496; and schools with enrollments of 232 and under are Class D. The break increased 16 students between Classes A and B; increased 5 students between Classes B and C; and the break between Classes C and D decreased by 10.
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 13 schools move up in class for 2002 -03, while seven 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 October 15 for spring sports.
MHSAA tournament sports conducted in traditional classifications are Basketball, Girls Competitive Cheer, Girls Gymnastics, Skiing, and Girls Volleyball. Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions are: Baseball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys andGirls Golf, Ice Hockey, Softball, Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving, 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. The eight divisions of the MHSAA Football Playoffs will be announced on Selection Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003.
Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification for 2003-04 (Note: This list does not include schools opting up in class/division for tournaments):
Moving Up From
Class B To Class A
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
Walled Lake Northern
Redford Thurston
Moving Down From
Class A To Class B
Stevensville Lakeshore
Detroit Central
Livonia Ladywood
Moving Up From
Class C To Class B
Plymouth
Dundee
Farwell
Moving Down From
Class B To Class C
Calumet
Riverview Gabriel Richard
Moving Up From
Class D To Class C
Ecorse
Potterville
Detroit School of Industrial Arts
Saugatuck
Pellston
Moving Down From
Class C To Class D
Allen Park Cabrini
Carsonville-Port Sanilac
New Post-Season Tournament Schools in 2002-03
Interlochen Arts Academy (Class C)
Detroit Universal Academy (Class D)
Otsego Baptist Academy (Class D)
Saline-Washtenaw Christian Academy (Class D)
Enrollment Breaks
By Classes – 2003-04
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A 1,042 and above (189)
Class B 497 to 1,041 (189)
Class C 233 to 496 (190)
Class D 232 and below (190)