MPA lists enrollment classification cutoffs; possible moves

Some changes are in the offing for high school teams in several sports, the result of work recently completed by the classification committee of the Maine Principals’ Association.

Proposed enrollment cutoffs for each sport and each class for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years have been forwarded to schools statewide in anticipation of being presented to the MPA’s general membership at its April 26 business meeting for its approval.

The classification committee made its recommendations after several meetings, using April 1, 2006, school enrollments obtained from the state Department of Education.

Among the changes proposed by the committee are revisions to the enrollment cutoffs for soccer, basketball, cheering, baseball and softball. The proposed cutoffs in those sports are Class A: 735 and more; Class B: 400-734; Class C: 201-399; and Class D: 1-199. Those compare to the previous cutoffs of Class A: 725 and more; Class B: 400-724; Class C: 225-399; and Class D: 1-224.

According to information from the MPA, one key proposed change for those sports involves adjusting the cutoff between Class C and Class D to in order to keep Eastern Maine Class D at no more than 24 teams. Once the number of teams in a region exceeds 24 an extra playoff date is required, which necessitates changing both the playoff schedule and possibly the length of the regular season in that sport.

In basketball this year, Eastern D has 24 boys teams even after Greenville was shifted from Eastern D to Western D in that sport before the current school year began.

That means 16 teams will qualify for postseason play and no teams will have a preliminary round bye, as was the case last winter. If there were 25 teams, at least one additional playoff game would be required before the traditional preliminary round could be held.

Among Eastern Maine schools affected by the proposed cutoffs for the next two-year cycle in soccer, basketball, cheering, baseball and softball, Erskine Academy of South China (724 students) and Old Town (624) would shift from Class A to Class B; Central of Corinth (439) would move from Class C to Class B; Lee Academy (219) and Schenck of East Millinocket (203) would move from Class D to Class C, and Hodgdon (196) would go from Class C to Class D.

In Western Maine, Gould Academy of Bethel (237), Hebron Academy (209), Kents Hill (233) and Hyde School of Bath (218) all would shift from Class D to Class C in those sports.

Other changes involving Eastern Maine schools that would result from revised enrollment cutoffs include Brewer moving from Class B to Class A in football and ice hockey; Old Town from Class A to Class B in tennis and golf; Hampden Academy from Class A to Class B in swimming; Orono and Houlton from Class C to Class B in golf; Bucksport from Class C to Class B in cross country; John Bapst of Bangor from Class B to Class C in field hockey; Mt. Blue of Farmington from Class A to Class B in boys’ lacrosse; and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield from Class B to Class C in skiing.

Schools may opt to play in a higher classification than their enrollment dictates. For example, Morse High of Bath, with 720 students, is eligible to move from Class A to Class B in soccer, basketball, cheering, baseball and softball, but athletic administrator Brian Campbell said Tuesday the Shipbuilders plan to remain in Class A in those sports.

Gardiner High, with 721 students, is in a similar situation in those sports, but athletic administrator Karen Perry said school officials had just received the classification information from the MPA and no final determination has yet been made on whether the Tigers would seek to remain in Class A. Schools have until April 1 to make such requests.

Schools now are being asked for their feedback to the proposed changes.