I was all set to write about dumb baseball predictions I am never right about, but that was until the newest NIAA realignment plan came out of the board meeting earlier this week in Las Vegas and its time to go on my soapbox.
Back in 2012-13, the NIAA realigned a number of Las Vegas schools from Division I to Division I-A as part of competitive balance. My running joke is it was the race to get away from Bishop Gorman, a private school, that is winning just about every sport in southern Nevada.
In that original plan, 10 schools with larger enrollment formed the Division I-A along with mainstays Virgin Valley, Boulder City and Moapa Valley.
The move wasn't accepted by all, thinking it was a slap in the face to many of the Las Vegas schools. It would be an insult for those schools to win state championships against smaller schools in Nevada.
I guess that is why we have Division I-A and not Division II, because we didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Schools in northern Nevada could not have cared less what the league was called. I personally like we are the lesser of the big league, so don't make fun of us.
Seeing that a state championship is possible for them in the I-A and that the plan has worked, Las Vegas schools in the I-A have increased their participation numbers and their winning records. Many schools who have had a tough time competing in Division I are happy to qualify and move down. I guess swallowing your pride didn't take long.
Faith Lutheran, who has bounced between Division I and I-A over the past few years, has enjoyed the move the most. The Crusaders have won state championships in girls golf in 2012 and 2013, football (2013), volleyball (2013), girls basketball (2013), baseball (2013) and girls track and field (2013).
Lowry was second to Faith Lutheran in girls golf in 2013 and the Crusaders football team beat the Buckaroos in football in the state semifinals last fall.
Desert Pines and Clark have won the last two boys basketball state championships in Division I-A. Lowry probably had its best basketball teams the last two years and came up short against the much larger schools. Desert Pines and Clark are not I-A teams. The Buckaroos had to play perfect to win those games. Nothing against the Winnemucca boys, but they are not as athletic as the boys from Las Vegas. Lowry had to play smart basketball to be able to play against those teams.
Maybe I am voicing sour grapes, and the schools with smaller enrollments have to get better. I don't think so. The Fallons, Lowrys and Elkos don't have the luxury of grabbing kids in a school that have enrollments of 2,500-3,000 students.
Track and field is another sport for the most part that smaller schools will have trouble competing. Moapa Valley usually has 100 kids in its program, but that is down to about 70 this year, knowing they can't compete against Mojave, Western, Clark, Desert Pines and Cheyenne.
On the girls side, the larger schools really haven't made an impact, with Boulder City and Faith Lutheran dominating sports down there. Desert Pines, with a losing record, made it into the state basketball tournament this year, but its dreams were dashed by Lowry, who went on to win the state title over Boulder City.
The newest plan adopted on Monday is to have at least four schools drop down. Right now Del Sol, Rancho, Desert Oasis, Spring Valley and Sierra Vista are below the 15-point threshold to move down to I-A.
I know a majority of Nevada is Las Vegas and the NIAA is trying to please the folks down their. The NIAA is already hated by Bishop Gorman and everyone else hates Gorman.
How about this: Let the schools in Las Vegas create their own league. There is no reason to pamper them. For once, how about helping out the rural schools that have tradition and built sports in Nevada.
Virgin Valley, Moapa Valley and Boulder City are trademarks in southern Nevada. The moves by the NIAA are going to eventually crush these schools.
The NIAA needs to take care of Lowry, Elko, Fallon, Spring Creek and Fernley. Maybe you let South Tahoe and Truckee play in California.
Wooster currently plays I-A football and I in all other sports. It's time for the NIAA to force the school to make a decision. Last November, North Valleys thought it could prance into the Division I-A, but that was met with a quick no by administrators. The Reno school still wants to drop a division, but it will take a lot of convincing to do so.
On the other hand there is no point in making a fuss. You pay dues to the NIAA annually and they tell you who you play and you will like it. That is a part of life in Nevada and that will not change.
Winnemucca Publishing sports editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached via email at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
