Special Edition: April

Friday, April 4, 2014 Vol. 97 Issue 8 www.theboosterredux.com

TBR The Booster Redux | Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762

THE KICKOFF...

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very traditional issue we dedicate the back page to sports coverage and it was while trying to find kids to interview about a story focusing on traveling teams when a conversation was sparked surrounding the involvement of our athletes.

Each time our school’s classification changes, the discussion begins on how it will impact the post-season that year. Within our classroom we discussed how Pittsburg participation rates are lower than post-season opponents. This led us to question the current Kansas classification system and why KSHSAA chooses to use this method.

This process took us outside our state and made us examine alternative methods of classifying both public and private schools. The Booster Redux concentrates on football throughout the articles of this issue because the staff believes football’s tournament system is the most simplistic to explain, but finds it is applicable to all activities and athletics. One conversation brought the staff to what we view as a very important issue in our state for all schools and led to the content that is held within this issue.

The story beyond the numbers An extensive look into the classification system, nation wide WRITTEN BY REECE BURNS @reeceburns14

T

o some schools, it isn’t a factor. To others, it means playing schools nearly twice its size. To even fewer schools, it means being at the top of the food chain.

The Booster Redux has conducted an extensive investigation into the logistics behind classification systems across the country and how it affects Kansas and specifically, PHS. The findings range from simplistic to complex.

Pittsburg High School (PHS) has found itself on the border of the 4A/5A class for the past several years. When enrollment is down, PHS finds itself as one of the largest 4A schools in Kansas.

However, when numbers are up, such as this year, PHS is the third smallest school in the 5A class.

Every state has the same basic divisions for classifications. There’s always schools, like PHS, left in the position where it is either too big for its class and winning the majority of the time, or barely have the numbers to compete in its current class, typically resulting in more losses than wins.

“I think population is the way to do it…”

In Kansas, and the majority of states, population determines divisional placement.

Of the 355 high schools in Kansas, 32 are placed in both 6A and 5A classes, 64 in 4A Divisions I and II, 64 in 3A, 64 in 2A, while the remaining schools are left to make up the 1A class.

It may seem like an unimportant factor, but the number of schools that fall in a class and the number of actual classifications is questioned from journalists and coaches alike.

“I think anything besides numbers is just too picky,” said Southeast Head Football Coach Jacob Lott. “I think population is the way to do it, you just really have to figure out where you need to split the classes and the best way to split the classes. I think right now maybe isn’t the best way.”

Sports in Kansas Network Managing Partner/Founder Chet Kuplen shares

DEMOGRAPHICS LEGEND:

what he believes is the better way to incomes will have more opportunities, split the classes. particularly in personal training, which “I think, overall, we may have too can extend from traveling teams, betmany classifications as far as football ter facilities, more coaches and more and basketball go, giving it, what many parental and family support. This may would think, a watered-down effect,” also leave athletes with the chance to Kuplen said. “I just don’t think the set specialize in a specific position or sport. number of schools (32) per classifica“We don’t have a lot of [personal tion is the best option. training]...there’s Why does it have to be some of that developDifferences 32? Because it makes ing in this area, but in kansas an easier bracket, that my understanding of classification would be my guess.” places like that are still Kuplen does, however, pretty costly,” Hobbs sizes agree with the 4A class said. “I’m not sure if 2258 I would send my kids being split because of enrollments. He would there just based off that like to see 48 schools per cost alone. I grew up classification rather than in the Kansas City area 32. and a lot has changed “Basically, it would in the 25 years since bump up the top 16 I went to high school, schools in 5A to 6A, 4A but you hear stories of to 5A and so on,” Kuplen specialization of athsaid. “I think we would letes.” still see a bit of difference Poverty is deterin enrollment, but once mined by the amount you have 800-1,000 kids of students on free and to work with it’s much reduced lunches in a 6A different that 250 trying school.

1336 to compete with 770.”

64 percent of While PHS competes Pittsburg School’s stuwell in Southeast Kansas dents qualify for free (SEK) league compeand reduced lunchtition, it is often a very es. 80 percent of that different ball game once number receive meals post-season arrives. completely free.

PHS must then play Eight percent of stuBlue Valley district dents qualify at Blue 5A schools with nearly twice Valley District schools, its enrollment count.

734 according to the Blue This situation makes Valley District website.

PHS, and schools in the The same website also same situation, a real-life reveals that The Blue Little Engine That Could.

Valley District also sees However, not every seaan average income of son has a happy ending. $101,824 versus the 4A $31,132 in Pittsburg.

“Based on the 249 3A financing, there prob154 2A ably are some advan99 tages that families 1A and athletes have up PHS isn’t the only there,” Hobbs said. school with numbers against its favor.

Lott believes that the financial issue The socioeconomic background of does come into play in all urban versus Pittsburg is shared throughout Kansas. rural areas.

The exceptions to this generality are “It’s completely different areas,” Lott the metropolitan areas such as Wichita, said. “Johnson County and those disTopeka and Kansas City. tricts are the richest in Kansas. In the “As far as Southeast Kansas goes, SEK, the norm is more free/reduced yeah, you’re going to be at a disad- lunch. The further in every direction vantage I feel like,” Northeast Head you go, it flip flops, and I would say it Football Coach Phil Hobbs said. “If you factors into [having advantages or not].” look at the socioeconomic aspect of In the past 30 years, Tennessee found what you probably have at a Blue Valley that 70 percent of championships were school, we know their tax base is higher won by roughly 21 percent of its memand there’s higher incomes there.” bership. The 21 percent all resides in Hobbs believes that areas with higher the same five metropolitan counties,

“Reality is, the world isn’t fair...”

Caucasian

African American

Hispanic

Other

according to an article published by the National Federation of State High School Associations website.

So should the urban versus rural area aspect be factored into how schools are classified?

In the last 15 years, many state activity associations have considered and experimented with different means of classifying, but none have designated any regard to the demographics and settings of a school’s area. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) has only investigated student participation in regards to socioeconomics, but not the potential advantages that may emerge from richer areas.

“We found that the difference in participation was 10 percent for those in poverty versus not,” KSHSAA Executive Director Gary Musselman said. “We didn’t think it made a lot of difference.”

However, public and private school participation can be quite different.

According to an 2010 Wichita Eagle article, the Missouri State High School Activities Association conducted a study which concluded that extracurricular participation rates for students in public schools were at 65 percent. Private schools were typically found to be closer to 100 percent. This is thought to be because private schools are allowed to require student participation in activities.

According to Musselman, KSHSAA reevaluates the classification system every year, but he believes Kansas high schools are satisfied with the system they currently use and nothing can be done to even out the socioeconomic spectrum.

“Reality is, the world isn’t fair, not every school is equally situated,” Musselman said. “In some schools, there aren’t kids getting private lessons, there’s some that are. How does an organization like ours level the playing field? You really can’t, but we will keep trying.”

But a school district in Utah thinks otherwise.

Ogden, Utah’s Superintendent, Brad Smith, introduced a proposal this year that would include enrollment, poverty levels and free and reduced lunch and winning percentages into its classification system.

“Three out of every four kids fall below the poverty line [in our school], and so when you match them to schools who have 20 and 30 percent poverty levels, it makes a big difference,” said Ogden School District’s Director of Athletics Ken Crawford. “[Our kids] are playing those schools who have a lot of advantages like additional training, nicer facilities and more equipment. I think SEE BY THE NUMBERS PAGE 3D

Students receiving free/reduced lunches

Students not receiving free/reduced lunches

Section D

Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief Emily Baden Reece Burns Bethanne Elliott Parker Matthews Katie Phalen Managing Editors Miranda Moore Reagan Rink Alli Baden Morgan Plank Art Editor Alivia Benedict Staff Shelby Bicknell Katy Brown Kylynn Collins Kailey Curtis Molly Graham Josh Jarvis Josh Lee Megan Munger Evan Rajotte Rachyl Russian Erica Seal Caden Yantis Cooper Wade Ivan Walter Adviser Emily Smith The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762 PHS Student Publications Department and newspaper class produce The Booster Redux.

Please call us with comments at 620235-3200. The Booster Redux’s purpose is to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain readers fairly and accurately in an open forum.

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Page 2

Friday, APRIL 4, 2014

theboosterredux.com

OPINION

A not-so Cinderella fairy tale High school athletics fall short in uplifting competition

BY BETHANNE ELLIOTT @BethanneElliott I have been following the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this past month, and I’ve heard the commentators mention countless times how the large gap in talent between the one seeds and the 16 seeds no longer exists. As time goes on, the players become more and more alike, making the coveted Cinderella stories seem a lot less magical and a lot more realistic.

So as I sit and watch the college game become more evenly matched, I can’t help but wonder when the same will happen for high school sports. When will the powerhouse big city schools finally lose, breaking their five-year winning streak in the football state championship? Why can’t the small town school beat the big city school, and pull off a Cinderella story?

I may not be an expert, but I am a three-sport athlete who has struggled year after year to make it more than just one game into the postseason. We don’t progress because of big city schools, so I have a few ideas in mind relating to the classification system.

So back to Cinderella; I’m going to talk about athletics in terms of the actual story of Cinderella.

Let’s go ahead and start with Cinderella being a single person against three people. She’s obviously outnumbered by an evil step-mother and two step-sisters. So now let’s say that Cinderella is the small school with little participation in athletics. The stepmother and step-sisters are the big schools with a large participation in athletics.

Just looking at Cinderella and her step-family, she’s already at a disadvantage before even stepping out on the court due to sheer numbers (I don’t remember hearing of anyone winning a game of one-on-three basketball.) Even a team with quite a few talented players is going to struggle against a team with more people, because they have even more talent to choose from.

Next up, let’s talk about what Cinderella is doing compared to what her step-sisters are doing. Cinderella is spending her day doing multiple chores, having to divide up her time between them all in order to get the job done.

All the while her step-sisters are focused on one activity. This makes Cinderella the equivalent to a three-sport athlete, having to pick and choose how much time to spend on each sport throughout the year. All the while, the step-sisters are much like a specialized athlete, focused solely on their one sport.

As a three-sport athlete, I understand exactly what Cinderella is feeling. It can be hard to figure out which sport to spend more time on. Of course, it’s been my choice to play three sports, and I’m proud to say that I do. However, at the same time, it would be

nice to have the advantage of spending all of my time specializing in one sport.

In a bigger city with more people, athletes can more easily choose to focus on one sport without hurting another team that needs them to play -- the team already has enough players. So when we play big-city schools that have teams full of those who specialize, it’s difficult to play up to that level.

Lastly, I want to bring up Cinderella’s financial situation. It’s fairly safe to say Cinderella isn’t the wealthiest girl on the block. But in order to get to the ball, Cinderella needed a little financial help, while her step-sisters didn’t have much trouble because the money was available. Which can often be a problem for smalltown athletes, and not as problematic for big city athletes due to available resources.

However, that’s not to say that every big-city kid has the advantage of wealth or that you even have to have money to be successful. It all depends on work ethic, but sometimes available money can make a big difference.

So what’s next? We could continue to complain about how the top dogs of high school athletics continue to dominate year after year. Or we could look for a solution.

While I’m not entirely sure myself what could be done, I do think that one thing is for certain, and that is that the current classification system needs to be reevaluated. It needs to be broken down and really examined.

Although it’s impossible to really know why some schools struggle athletically while others have a lot of success, I believe we need to look to see if the same factors that went into Cinderella’s story really do go into whether a team finds itself hoisting the state championship trophy above their head or walking to the locker room for the last time when the postseason has only just started.

Looking hard at the factors of the classification system might be a long shot.

However, it might end up working out. I mean hey, just look at Cinderella’s story.

In real life, Goliath triumphs over all Facilities, greater population create advantages for larger schools

BY JOSH JARVIS @JJarvis52 For football, Pittsburg is a 5A school who plays with 4A schools.

I hear about it from people from other Southeast Kansas (SEK) schools. People issue Pittsburg’s repeated success in the SEK to being a 5A school who can easily best the smaller 4A schools. I have heard it from members of the stands at away games and I have the tweets on Twitter for all three years of my high school career.

A similar situation takes place at the state level.

Another year goes by, another big city school, Blue Valley, wins the 5A football state championship.

Now, with the recent “upgrade” to 5A in all activities, everything accomplished at Pittsburg is discredited simply because of the large number of students.

The truth is, however, the number of students participating in athletics at Pittsburg is half that of Blue Valley, 302 student-athletes at Pittsburg compared to their 599.

This past fall, our football team had less than 40 varsity players. Doesn’t sound like a lot for a 5A team with a student body of nearly 800, I know. Despite our 5A school size, only a handful of students wanted to participate in football. According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s (KSHSAA) classifications as it stands now, we are 59 students over the 5A minimum for football.

In our district games, the last three weeks of the season, we played Blue Valley Southwest, Blue Valley West and Blue Valley.

We went into district games with our heads high as undefeated SEK champions. It did not turn out how we expected it, though.

Our 40 played tough against their near100, but lost all three games, ending with a record of 6-3, and with it our playoff hopes.

These were similar results to the previous two seasons. But what was it about these schools that made them unstoppable?

With 92 varsity players, their sidelines were actually a little intimidating. The numbers spanning one through 99, all the while we would be lucky to get a single row of guys. It

was like David going against Goliath, except in this story, David does not prevail.

And, on top of that, our players are going all out on both offense and defense, and fatiguing much easier. Athletes at the Blue Valley schools tend to focus on one sport and one position, giving them more opportunities to train and get better at their sport.

As compared to 4A schools, it was a different story. Not only did we compete with them, we were undefeated. We beat state runner-up Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School by a score of 42-14. The difference is, with Coffeyville its participation was

Not only does money buy better facilities, it also buys better equipment and better coaching.

Of course, the quality of coaching depends on the coach, but the same could be said of the players: it comes down to talent, effort and execution.

Even before students at bigger schools get to high school, money within the family can ready them for the road ahead. Private coaching and traveling teams are commonly utilized to prepare kids, much more than an average city team. However, people in Southeast Kansas are less likely to be able to afford these luxuries.

The average household income of Pittsburg residents is around $31,132. According to the Blue Valley school district website, the average income is around $101,824.

Athletes that are able to afford extra training are more likely to excel compared to those without it.

My point is, the number of students at a school can’t be the sole factor in determining the classification of schools. It just is not that simple. The number of students at a school doesn’t directly relate to the number of participants in athletics and therefore cannot be the only factor in size classification.

If the KSHSAA classification system does not change soon, then I fear the end result will be the same. A Kansas City or Wichita school will win another state championship in football and undersized schools like Pittsburg will fall short in every sport they play.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Room for improvement: THE BOOSTER REDUX STAFF @PHSstudentpub As we have pointed out throughout this issue, the classification system KSHSAA has in place is not perfect. We realize that it is impossible to find a method that will work in everyone’s favor, but we also believe it is time for the current system to be reevaluated.

Much of our staff consists of students involved in other sports or activities that are directly affected by the imperfections of the system. We have come to realize the current classification system has similar effects on other schools, not just ours.

It’s time for a change, and though it may be a difficult road, there are many different options available to level the playing field.

Compared to many other states, Kansas has a relatively outdated classification system. The current system fails to address the varying demographics in Kansas because it focuses solely on

population.

There are major differences between the urban areas of Wichita and Kansas City, versus the rural communities that are located throughout Southeast Kansas and throughout the state. There is no perfect solution, but we think there is something better out there.

Students who come from an economically advantaged family or community will typically also have an advantage in sports. The free/reduced lunch rate is calculated for each school in Kansas every year. This would be an easy statistic to consider when classifying schools and would eliminate the unfair advantage that the wealthier school districts have benefitted from in the past.

Even though KSHSAA has found that poverty rate does not have an impact on participation in sports, that does not mean the wealthier schools don’t have an advantage. A basketball player from an impoverished background can stand on a basketball court just as well as a

similar to ours, about 36 varsity players. After that it comes down to talent, effort and execution. We were the better team that day. Unfortunately, with the larger 5A schools, talent, effort and execution don’t factor in as much as they should.

After the players, next comes the money to equip those players with what they need.

There is no question that the Kansas City school districts have more money than Southeast Kansas.

The disparity is evident during away games. The moment the bus pulls in, it is obvious. From the cars in the parking lot, to the locker rooms to the field, I’m seeing dollar signs.

At a JV game my sophomore year, my teammates and I saw a red Ferrari leaving the Blue Valley parking lot. Our eyes were glued to it the entire time. I could hear my teammates discussing amongst each other, “Did you see that? That’s Blue Valley for you.”

KSHSAA’s classification system should incorporate more factors

millionaire’s child can. The difference is, the millionaire’s child has access to resources and coaches that the other player does not, giving the wealthier teams an advantage.

KSHSAA is not alone in finding a balance between public and private schools. Only 29 states have addressed private schools competing against public schools when it comes to athletics. Whether that means creating a separate private school classification, like in Texas, or instituting a multiplier for enrollment numbers of the private schools, such as in Missouri.

According to KSHSAA.org, a 2007 study found that private schools win a disproportionate percentage of state titles. They also earn a disproportionate percentage of post-season final eight, final four, and championship game opportunities when compared to public schools. Private schools have a clear advantage over public schools when it comes to athletics, and we believe Kansas

should join the movement of addressing the upper hand a lot of private schools have. Historical performance may be another factor that KSHSAA could take into consideration. If a team has won a large majority of recent state championships in a sport, maybe it is time to move up a level. This would level the playing field for all teams, and ensure that every school is truly in the division in which it belongs. Chances are, if a school is dominating a classification year after year, it is either a private school or have a major economic advantage over other schools they compete against.

After doing extensive research over this topic, we as a staff realize that the perfect solution to fit everyone’s needs is impossible to find. However, the current system has been in place for nearly eight decades.

We are not saying we know all the answers. But we do see there is room for improvement, and we’d like to see KSHSAA recognize this as well.

Section D

Page 3

Friday, APRIL 4, 2014

theboosterredux.com

SPORTS

Specialization not recommended for collegiate advancement Parents push activity selection to guarantee playing time, college recruiters disagree WRITTEN BY ALLI BADEN @AlliBaden artaking in only one extracurricular activity is uncommon for an involved Pittsburg High School student. In fact, specializing is not in sophomore Ivan Walter’s vocabulary.

He starts his day off playing the trombone for marching band, then warms up his voice for Encore. Two class periods later, he is writing and designing for newspaper and yearbook. He then finishes his day with football, basketball or baseball practice, depending on the season.

“I just love each and every thing I do, I could not imagine not being in all of these things,” Walter said.

Like Walter, many students participate in multiple sports, clubs and activities that are offered by the school.

“We have built this very good tradition of expecting kids to play two or three sports,” Keith Matlock, head baseball, freshman volleyball and freshman boys basketball coach said.

Of the 302 students that participate in sports, 39 play three sports. Not including those athletes, another 86 play two sports.

Because the numbers are so much larger in Kansas City schools, such as Blue Valley Southwest, specializing is in higher demand there. Of the 599 athletes at Blue Valley Southwest, 391 focus on only one sport. Richard Bechard, District Activities Director for Blue Valley schools, believes it is more common for students in larger schools to specialize.

“With the sheer numbers of athletes in different sports, I think parents get the competitiveness of larger schools and they will have their kids concentrate on one thing thinking that they are not going to make the volleyball team in high school or the basketball team, etc,” Bechard said.

However, head volleyball coach

P

Mary Packard believes specialization does not work in the favor of athletes in smaller schools.

“I think in our school situation, because of the numbers of kids we have come out for sports, that if we have kids that are specializing in only one sport I do not think we would have enough kids doing all sports. Each team individually would suffer,” Packard said.

Having a smaller amount of athletes play sports can work to be an advantage according to Walter.

“I think I have more opportunities here because there are less kids trying to take spots in each sport,” Walter said.

Besides not having enough athletes to play, Bechard sees drawbacks to playing only one sport for the whole year.

“The other thing that I worry about with specialization is that the young body does not get the appropriate break and rest that it needs. What we are seeing across the country is that kids who specialize are having more athletic related injuries than kids that do not specialize,” Bechard said. “It is called Overuse Syndrome, where kids that specialize overuse certain muscles. They are using the same muscles, day after day after day and they wear out. They need rest, they need a break.”

Junior Patrick Biggs solely plays baseball all year. He dedicates over two hours everyday to the sport.

“I decided that I have a chance to play baseball in college,” Biggs said.

“Specializing gives me more time to refine and get better at skills to help advance myself.”

Packard believes that in some ways specializing can help students advance to the collegiate level but it has to be done the correct way.

“If someone really loves a sport and wants to pursue that in college, there is definitely an advantage if you are specializing but you have to put in that

extra time to get exposure,” Packard said.

And by getting exposure, Packard means doing more than just playing with the school. She would encourage athletes that are specializing to play the sport year-round with club teams or traveling teams. “[Playing on club teams] is really hard where we live, you are limited to where you can play. Where in Kansas City, you have got multiple club teams and multiple facilities that you can go and play and practice at,” Packard said. “So it is a little bit tougher but if they really love it then I think they have a better chance of getting better if they do off-season stuff.”

But when it boils down to it, Bechard believes specializing will not improve chances to advance

to the collegiate level, it will actually do the opposite.

“I have a brother who is a Division I coach and what they find out is that kids that are involved in more than one sport make better teammates at the collegiate level,” Bechard said. “They have to deal with other teammates and other personalities rather than just the same coaches and players all the time.”

Head football coach Tom Nickelson agrees with Bechard.

“I have never had a Division I coach come in and say ‘I just want this kid playing football,’” Nickelson said. “They want them competing in multiple sports. They want them being a complete athlete not just a football player.”

The story beyond the numbers: breaking down the classification system FROM PAGE 1D

this proposal would make a much fairer playing field. It’s about doing what’s right for the kids.”

The proposal was sent into the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) last week. It currently is under review of a UHSAA realignment committee, but Crawford believes the fact that they didn’t just reject the plan is a positive sign.

At this point, Minnesota is currently the only state using free and reduced lunch data to help adjust enrollment numbers. Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Executive Director David Stead says that the MSHSL multiplies the enrollment number of a school by 40 percent and that number is then subtracted from the original enrollment number.

“The biggest schools are never really going to be affected regardless of how many classes you have,” Stead said. “The smallest schools in the state will never be affected regardless of the number of classes you have. The middle schools in an organization may see a difference one way or another. There really haven’t been any significant changes in the number of teams advancing to tournaments and with private schools winning more than public schools.”

Stead says the goal of the system was to standardize a number and system to level the playing field. However, he suggests each state doing what works best for its situation.

“I recommend other states looking at this as one way to do classifications,” Stead said.

“It isn’t the best way, it isn’t the worst way, it’s just a different way that has worked for us. Some states use a multiplier, some states have done nothing.”

Success is the key

The most recent example of classification determination is Illinois and Indiana’s use of what is known as a ‘success factor.’

According to an Indiana High School Activities Association official press release, the Indiana Football Coaches’ Association introduced a proposal that was approved and implemented during the 2013 school year. The proposal added a sixth football class and a two-year tournament success factor.

On a sport-by-sport basis, schools in Indiana will earn one point for a sectional championship, two points for a regional championship, three points for a semi-state title and four points for a state title. The accumulation of six points in a specified two-year period would result in the school competing in a higher enrollment class for the following two years.

The success factor, like many aspects of the classification systems used, can be viewed critically. Most coaches, however, seem to agree that a success factor seems like more of a punishment.

“It sounds too extreme for me,” Lott said.

“To me, it sounds like you’re punishing a school for winning.”

Northeast High School Head Football Coach Phil Hobbs agrees with Lott’s view, but does not necessarily think the method is completely bad.

“It’s like if you’re a student and a teacher gives some work to do and you get done early, it’s like [the teacher saying] ‘okay I’m going to give you some more work,’” Hobbs said. “Some of these schools that we see having a lot of success, could compete probably, not year-in and year-out like they did at their smaller class, but they could get every now and then that success, so there may be

some merit to [the success factor system].

But again, it’s nice to build those dynasties as a coach.”

Musselman says he and KSHSAA have looked at the success factor system “very intimately” but does not see it as the optimal way to classify. He believes the upperclassman, who played the majority of the time, will leave the teams in the hands of either able or unable heirs.

“The kids who won the championship are gone so [the team] could be messed up,” Musselman said. “The lag time aspect has never made sense.”

Private vs. Public: “...I really think we could’ve played some bigger schools…”

Another method that has been around longer than success or poverty factors is the private-school multiplier.

In the case of private versus public schools, states with a multiplier would count the number of students in a private school as more than one, usually a predetermined number.

The reasoning behind multipliers is the belief that the funding, participation and socioeconomics are more stable in private schools. In some states, the percentage of private schools winning state titles is alarmingly high, when considered how many private schools actually determine the make up of sport associations.

According to an article on athleticbusiness.com, 26 percent of California schools are non-public, but in 2012 the same 26 percent won 53 percent of state titles. Alabama’s 12 percent of private schools won 36 percent of all titles.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) currently uses a 1.35 multiplier. Missouri private schools were winning 33.2 percent of state championships while only making up 12 percent of the competition pool.

Frontenac Head Football Coach Mark Smith grew up playing for St. Mary’s Colgan, a parochial school in Pittsburg. Now he must face them every year with his public team.

“In my opinion, I don’t believe [private schools] have an advantage,” Smith said. “Looking back, I really think we could’ve played some bigger schools when I was there.”

MSHSAA originally had issues when its multiplier came into

60%

effect in 2002. Lawsuits followed.

Defending its case, MSHSAA won the lawsuits when it was found that only 65 percent of students in Missouri public schools participate in extracurricular activities, while private school rates were typically nearer 100 percent because of the ability to require students to participate.

While the multiplier was intended to level the playing field, in 2010 it was observed that the original 33.2 percent had only dropped to 33 percent. It was for this reason that the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) neglected to adopt a similar policy.

“We had no interest in the multiplier,” Musselman said. “The Missouri director said it didn’t change much, [the same schools] still won championships.”

Generally, coaches don’t wish to be given a crutch to lean on. PHS Head Football Coach Tom Nickelson isn’t one to blame the existing system.

“It’s going to be unfair to somebody,” Nickelson said. “It just so happens that due to the count we were the smallest, and once again, if you’re looking for an excuse, you’re going to find it. I don’t let myself, any coaches or any athletes use [our classification] as an excuse.”

The area coaches concur with Nickelson; they don’t want to ask for help. They can still

compete in a flawed system.

“I’m not one of those people who talk about just bumping [a team] up,” Lott said.

The idea that his team may have to play a much bigger school than his own gives Coach Hobbs motivation.

“For me, it’s just a matter of getting better if we want to compete with them,” Hobbs said. “These are the rules we have to play by now, so let’s just get better and try to go beat them.”

With no quick-fix solution for Kansas in the foreseeable future, Nickelson is going to roll with the situation.

“If you’re good enough to win, you’ll win no matter what classification you are in,” Nickelson said.

What can be done?

It seems as if no state has the answer. Every association director interviewed stressed the importance of meeting each state’s specific needs.

However, the few states that are beginning to try new techniques of classification should bring the need for change to the other states’ attention. While change is never easy, it seems the current classification system is the elephant in the room. No one seems to like the elephant, but in some states, the elephant is being ignored.

PRIVATE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS 53%

50% 40%

33%

31%

30%

26%

20%

12%

13%

Missouri

Nebraska

10%

Percent of state championships won by private schools

California Percent of public schools in the state

Section D

Page 4

Trevor Kent

Friday, APRIL 4, 2014

theboosterredux.com

Daeshia Turner

Taylor Muff

SPORTS

Elijah Harris

More than sheer numbers Freshmen numbers dwarf upperclassmen, help level the 5A playing field WRITTEN BY PARKER MATTHEWS @pspongebob @ he debate over whether quantity or quality is better has a reach over all aspects of life. Even in sports, quantity or quality can cause an uproar.

While quality of athletes may place a team advantageously over an opponent, quantity of athletes provides many more advantages. From easier substitutions to a larger pool of athletes to choose from, numbers can decide the outcome of a game even before the first whistle is blown.

“If you had a choice, you want to have those high numbers,” said head football coach Tom Nickelson. “We don’t have the ability to do some of the same things as [larger schools] numbers wise. They have kids specialize in one spot, just as a hope to get out on the field.”

KSHSAA classifies schools each year for every sport excluding football, which is reclassified on a two-year cycle. To accommodate for the two-year cycle, only the freshmen, sophomore and junior classes are tallied. All other activities total freshman through senior grades.

For high school sports in Kansas, classifications are based solely on the population of a school. While this simple formula is an easy way to divvy up the schools, when it comes to playoff time, it can hurt

T

“It isn’t very beneficial to us to be where more than help. we are, because we’re right on the edge of “I want to see them change [the system].

5A/4A,” junior Alex Barnes said. “We were I think it would be better to reorganize it the smallest 5A in the state. It’s not the and make the classifications all equal, with best, but you have the same numto make due with ber of schools,” what you’ve got. It said volleyball is what it is.” head coach Mary This year, class Packard. sizes at PHS are For now, PHS significantly difis classified as a ferent. The fresh5A school, but Seniors men class consists the football team of 232 students; consists of only sophomores, 42 upper class 185; juniors, 196; athletes. On the Freshmen seniors, 157. On other hand, Blue Juniors top of the low Valley Stilwell, senior numbers also a 5A school -- that are not and a team the included in the Dragons faced count for clasin District play Sophomores sification -- the for football, has high freshmen a roster of 98 numbers hardly upper class athaccount for varletes. sity play time.

For the 2012 However, PHS will and 2013 footATHLETIC PARTICIPATION only be the fourth ball seasons, the

BY CLASS smallest 5A school 5A cutoff was in the next two-year cycle.

564-1005 students. Blue Valley Stilwell “The high numbers in freshmen didn’t registered 960 students; PHS tallied 565 really help us. It’s nice to have a high num-- which placed them as the smallest 5A ber, but we usually don’t move them up,” school in the state.

WHO MAKES UP YOUR TEAM?

14%

21%

23%

42%

Nickelson said. “We only had about five [freshmen] suit up for varsity, because the small senior numbers.”

Typically, freshmen will not see much varsity time due to a lack of experience.

However, this year has strayed from the normal path. Four freshman football players of the 35 freshmen have either earned varsity time, or stepped up to fill a void left by injury. Freshman Trevor Kent is one of the four to earn varsity playing time.

“The large freshmen numbers helped out the season because with more guys on the team it helps push players to get the starting position, which in turn helps make them that much better. It also lets you practice against actual guys and gets closer to what a game is like,” Kent said.

“Hopefully, one day we won’t have to have so many guys play both ways. They can practice just offense or defense and get better in their position.”

The larger number of freshmen athletes directly impacts freshmen playing time.

For example, the track team currently has 90 participants, and 36 are freshmen.

Compared to last year’s 15 freshman of the roughly 60 participants.

“Just having the high-freshmen numbers gives us more athletes to choose from between the varsity and jv levels,” said head track coach Gary Ausemus. “I think it increases our potential to do well because there are more people to push each other.”