The issue of letting high schools determine where they want to play sports in Nevada has been an issue in the past, but not a huge one.
I bring this topic up after the conclusion of the NIAA board of control meeting in Reno.
White Pine was allowed to move to the Division III South, leaving a void in the conference schedule for Pershing County.
The Bobcats will play only soccer in the Division III North.
Hug High School in Reno and Rancho in Las Vegas were before the board to ask to be moved to independent status in certain sports. It was met with a mixed decision.
For quite a few years, Hug has struggled with its girls sports, rarely making it to postseason play. The only exception was basketball a few years ago, when a number of good players came through the program.
This past spring, Hug disbanded its varsity softball team due to a number of reasons. Its volleyball team struggled through the fall as well, going winless on the season.
Hug asked the NIAA if they could play as an independent in both sports and build the programs back up. They were denied because the NIAA doesn't like to have schools dictate in which division they want to play in. Me, I don't have a problem with Hug being an independent in those sports. To me, the Hawks should be playing all their sports in Division I-A. If the volleyball and softball programs were allowed to be independent, they would play against schools in Division I-A and Division III.
However, the NIAA had a different take on Rancho, who was asking to play football as an independent for the next two seasons. Their move was approved. I may be comparing apples to oranges, but it all comes down to the sport. Not to sound mean, but football is going to trump softball and volleyball every time. My logical thinking is it came down to a safety issue.
Opponents have outscored Rancho 1,004-82 in the last two seasons. Rancho hasn't scored more than 15 points in a game since 2011, and the Rams gave up 70 or more points four times last fall. Rancho had 43 main injuries in the last three years, including 27 concussions.
Those are hard numbers to ignore, but with scheduled games against Division I-A schools, who knows if it will get better for the Rams? Hopefully, this gives them a chance to get back on their feet.
If it all works out, Rancho can look at the success the Wooster High School football team in Reno has achieved. Wooster was once a powerhouse in the largest league in Nevada under Joe Sellers. The Colts would not bat an eye to beat someone by 65 or more points and say they are sorry.
But, as the Reno/Sparks area grew over the last 20 years, the Colts saw its enrollment dwindle and its best athletes went to different schools.
Wooster hit the bottom of the barrel a few years ago and played as an independent in the Northern 3A (now Division I-A). The Colts were not eligible for postseason play for the first couple of years, but it didn't matter, as smaller schools were beating them handily.
In 2009, Wooster went 0-10 and lost to Sparks, Spring Creek and Elko. Its closest game of the season was a 35-34 loss to South Tahoe.
The Colts became independent in 2010 and went 2-8, followed by a 1-8 and 2-8 season in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Wooster turned the corner in 2013 and went 4-5, missing out on the playoffs.
How many more years do you let them play in Division I-A? The Colts are a member of Division I in all other sports. The NIAA has to make a decision in which division to put the school. Perhaps in two years, the football program goes back to Division I or all sports play in Division I-A.
Last fall, North Valleys High School in north Reno was asking to drop to Division I-A. Members of Division I were ready to help them pack and move. One problem, they were greeted by Division I-A administrators with a big 'I don't think so.'
North Valleys enrollment was over 2,300 this past school year, but the school says just a handful of athletes play sports and most of them are three-sport athletes. Sorry, I don't feel sorry for you with that kind of enrollment. There must be some way to create some support there.
Tony Erquiaga can be reached at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net
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