Niles misses out on moving to Class B by three students

The MHSAA has released its classifications for the 2014-15 school year and there were several changes in southwest Michigan and one school that just missed switching classes.

The Lakeshore Lancers will move up to Class A next season, while Eau Claire and Marcellus will both move up from Class D to Class C.

River Valley will move down to Class C, as did Mendon, which will be in the newly formed BCS Conference next season.

One team that had expected to move down from Class A was Niles. However, the district once again just missed the cut and will remain in Class A.

Niles had 885 students when the second semester count was taken. The cutoff for Class B was 882. The cutline in 2013 was 890.

“Our enrollment number slipped from 908 to 885 this year,” Niles Athletic Director Jeff Upton said. “This is because our senior class last year was 19 students more than this year, and that accounts in large part for our reduced numbers. All other class numbers remain virtually the same.

“I expect our high school numbers to remain stable in the future. When you look at a change of 15 to 20 students, this number can fluctuate on an annual basis.”

The state takes the enrollment of schools as of Feb. 12 for classification purposes. The enrollment figure sent to the MHSAA may differ from the one schools turn in for state aid because it does not include those who are ineligible for athletic competition, like those who turned 19 before Sept. 1 of the current school year.

The district may also not include those attending alternative education if they are not eligible to participate in athletics.
After the school enrollment figures are in, the MHSAA ranks the tournament-qualified member schools by their numbers and then divides them into four classes as evenly as possible.
Next year, schools with more than 882 students will be in Class A, while those between 424 and 881 will be in Class B. Class C will contain schools with enrollments between 214 and 423, while in Class D, the figure is 214 and under.
This year, the enrollment figure between Class A and B decreased 11 students. In Class B and C the number dropped by five, while in Class C and D the difference was nine students.
Schools have an option of playing at a higher classification for a minimum of two years. The deadline for notifying the MHSAA is April 15 for fall sports, Aug. 15 for winter sports and Oct. 15 for spring sports.
Upton is taking the near miss in stride.

“Niles has been a Class A school for so many years, it would be strange to play class B in districts,” he said. “Next year will be business as usual for the Niles Vikings. We look forward to continuing to compete at a high level, as our wrestling team just finished in the final 4, and both our girls and boys basketball teams lost in the district championship games.

“This number classification really only effects basketball and volleyball, as most of the other district tournaments have Niles playing in the Division 2 tournaments. Our coaches and athletes will continue to prepare for success on the state level. Our volleyball and basketball teams will continue to prepare for the Class A tournaments.”

Here is the list of schools who are changing classifications:

Moving Up From Class B to Class A
Fruitport
Hazel Park
Romulus
Stevensville Lakeshore

Moving Down From Class A to Class B
Detroit Denby Tech & Prep
Detroit Osborn
Haslett
South Lyon East
Warren Regina

Moving Up From Class C to Class B
Detroit Benjamin Carson HS for Science & Medicine
Detroit Consortium College Prep
Detroit Henry Ford Academy School for Creative Studies
Hamtramck Frontier International Academy
Harper Woods
Hemlock
Kalkaska
Lakeview
Southfield Bradford
Wyoming Lee

Moving Down From Class B to Class C
Capac
Detroit Plymouth Educational Center
Ferndale University
Grand Rapids Wellspring Prep
Jackson Lumen Christi
Mason County Central
Millington
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central
Napoleon
Roscommon
Ypsilanti Arbor Prep

Moving Up From Class D to Class C
Detroit University YES Academy
Eau Claire
Lutheran Westland
Marcellus
Rogers City
Taylor Preparatory
Traverse City Grand Traverse Academy

Moving Down From Class C to Class D
Detroit Universal Academy
Detroit Winans Academy of Performing Arts
Flint International Academy
Kimball Landmark Academy
Mendon
Mio-Au Sable
Newberry
Pittsford
St. Ignace LaSalle
Three Oaks River Valley

New Postseason Eligible Tournament Schools in 2014-15
Inkster Peterson Warren Academy
Lapeer