Classification proposals fill MPA’s spring agenda

Maine Principals’ Association members will have a myriad of classification issues to consider as the MPA gathers for its spring meeting later this week at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

The classification committee will introduce recommendations at Thursday morning’s interscholastic management committee meeting that would make slight changes to cross country, volleyball, golf, indoor and outdoor track, and one big change to lacrosse that could generate some conversation.

Among the changes the classification committee will recommend are combining Classes C and D in cross country to make one Class C, dividing the state’s volleyball teams into Eastern Maine and Western Maine for the first time, and slightly shifting enrollment cutoffs for track and field and golf.

There are two aspects to the lacrosse proposal, according to Skowhegan High principal and classification committee chairman Gilbert “Specs” Eaton.

First, the classification committee will recommend that lacrosse be split into Class A and Class B for the first time, reflecting the growth of that sport. Class A would include schools with enrollments of 830 or more, while Class B would be made up of schools with fewer than 830 students.

Second, Eaton said, the lacrosse committee will add a request that schools who fall into Class B not apply to compete up in Class A for the next two years, thus freezing the two classes so they can become stable.

Eaton envisions some discussion of this because the schools that have become state champions since 1998, when lacrosse state titles were first handed out, have all come from schools that would fall into the proposed Class B.

Girls titles have gone to schools such as Yarmouth and Waynflete of Portland, while the boys powerhouses include Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth, and North Yarmouth.

“It should be interesting to see where this goes,” Eaton said. “Many of the stronger programs are going to fall into Class B. A Class B state championship is still a state championship, but … parents and schools want that Class A championship.”

Lacrosse is currently split into Eastern and Western regions. There are 18 Eastern Maine and 21 Western Maine boys teams, and 13 Eastern and 20 Western girls teams. Some Eastern Maine schools with lacrosse include Camden Hills, Messalonskee of Oakland, Lincoln Academy of Newcastle, and Cony of Augusta (boys only).

Enrollment cutoff changes for indoor and outdoor track and field were recommended for better balance at state meets. The same reason was given for shifting slightly the B/C cutoff in golf.

The volleyball proposal involves dividing the state into Eastern Maine and Western Maine for the first time. This move reflects the growth of volleyball in the southern part of the state.

Greely of Cumberland Center, located just a few miles north of Portland, became in 2003 the first non-Washington County team to win the state championship. The Rangers are the two-time defending state champions.

There were 16 volleyball teams participating last fall. Seven of those teams were located in Augusta or south.

Sumner seeking girls hoop coach

Sumner of East Sullivan girls basketball coach Wayne Newenham has resigned and the school is seeking his replacement, athletic director Matt Haney said.

Newenham resigned after the season because he felt he wanted to go in different direction but will continue on as the girls soccer coach, according to Haney.

Newenham, who works with the special education program at the Peninsula School in Winter Harbor, coached the Tigers for two years.

In that time he earned a 20-18 record, which was a huge improvement for the program.

Sumner also qualified for the Eastern Maine Class C prelims in both of Newenham’s seasons.

In 2004, the No. 11 Tigers lost to No. 6 Stearns of Millinocket 72-52. This year Sumner, again ranked 11th, fell to No. 6 Washington Academy of East Machias 53-44.

Even though Sumner didn’t get to the tourney at the Bangor Auditorium, it was a big step for a program which went 4-48 in the three years before Newenham was hired.

“He did a great job of taking them to the next level,” Haney said.

The school would like to have a coach in place in time for summer basketball, Haney added.

The Tigers will graduate just three players, including forward Sandra Klausmeyer, a Penobscot Valley Conference second-team all-star forward and member of the PVC senior all-star game.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.