By James Day
Just like presidential elections, whether you like it or not, OSAA reclassification comes along once every four years.
The goal is to realign the state’s high schools into leagues and classifications in an effort to maintain competitive balance. The classification and districting committee, which includes Cascade superintendent Darin Drill, has met three times and has come up with three proposals, one of which will go into effect in the fall of 2014.
There is one new twist to the proceedings in this cycle. The OSAA previously had considered enrollment as the
key figure as it moved schools around the chessboard. Now the organization is taking into consideration socio-economic factors, and enrollment is weighted to reflect home-schooled students who play on athletic teams and how many students receive free or reduced lunches.
The three draft proposals do not include major changes for the Stayton-area’s five schools, mainly just tweaks around the edges. Here is a look at the three scenarios.
No. 1: Stayton and Cascade would remain in Class 4A in this six-class system. The Eagles and Cougars would still compete in the Oregon West Conference, which would add Sweet Home and lose Central. Regis and Santiam would remain in the Class 2A Tri-River Conference, but the league would expand to nine teams with the addition of East Linn Christian, Western Mennonite and Toledo. Scio would stay in the Class 3A PacWest, which would add Bandon and Coquille and lose Blanchet Catholic, Salem Academy and Toledo.
No. 2: In this five-class scenario, the Class 4A Mid-Willamette Conference, currently in 5A, would lose West Albany and Woodburn and add Central, Stayton, Cascade and Sweet Home. The Tri-River would remain in Class 2A while adding East Linn Christian, Toledo and Scio.
No. 3: This one is a bit more complicated. It would be a five-class system except for football, in which half of the 5A schools would move up to 6A. Cascade and Stayton would remain in the Class 4A Oregon West, which would add Sweet Home and lose Central. The Tri-River would add East Linn Christian, Western Mennonite and Toledo, just as it did in scenario No. 1. Scio would play in a reshuffled Class 3A PacWest, which would add Bandon and Coquille and lose Blanchet and Salem Academy.
The committee next meets Jan. 28 at the OSAA office in Wilsonville. The committee also will meet Feb. 19, March 18 and April 8 before it presents a final plan to the OSAA’s Executive Board on Sept. 13. The group’s Delegate Assembly will sign off on the plan in October. For more on the plans and process see OSAA.org.
In other news:
Two members of Cascade’s boys soccer team received all-state mention. Senior goalkeeper Jordan Farr was a first-team selection and senior Ammon Teubner made second team. Farr had 88 saves and recorded 10 shutouts for the Cougars. He also played in the field and collected nine goals and eight assists. Teubner had seven goals and 11 assists.
Javier Topete of Oregon West Conference champion Stayton boys soccer team was named first time all-state for Class 4A.
Senior Kassi Sanders of Cascade was named first-team all-state volleyball for Class 4A.
Regis senior running back Jeremiah Grieser received honorable mention all-state for Class 2A football, and juniors Becca Lorenz and Makayla Lindeman received honorable mention all-state for Class 2A volleyball.
Five members of Scio’s PacWest Conference-winning football team received Class 3A all-state mention. Senior Josh Parazoo was named offensive lineman of the year and second team on the defensive line. Senior Daniel Harper was a first-teamer at running back and linebacker. Junior Nathan Jones also was a first-team linebacker. A.J. Holmberg (tight end) and Hunter Reger (defensive back) earned second-team spots.
