The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

OHSAA members to vote on new division formula

Three factors would determine a school’s division, but only for selected sports.

Blog: Catholic split from OHSAA?

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Wayne boys win team track title
5/25/12
Bellbrook tennis duo advances to semifinals
5/25/12
Jefferson grad takes lessons from Miami Heat cousin
5/25/12
T-Bolts excited for state debut
5/25/12
> More high school headlines

By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer Updated 1:33 PM Friday, January 14, 2011

It’s not a done deal, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association passed the first step on Thursday of an unprecedented revamping of how it determines divisional alignment for selected postseason sports.

The OHSAA board of directors agreed to present a new bylaw to OHSAA members in May, to be voted upon by school principals.

Affected would be fall sports football, soccer and volleyball, basketball in the winter and baseball and softball in the spring. The new formula would be used no later than the 2013-14 school year.

A school’s division is now based strictly on boys and girls enrollment. The new formula would combine three factors into determining a school’s division. It would not affect Division I programs.

The imbalance of state championships won by non-public schools — mostly Catholic — is at the heart of the OHSAA’s decision. A competitive balance committee was concerned that 43 percent of selected team titles were won by non-public schools from 1999-2010. Of its more than 800 members, private schools make up only 17 percent of OHSAA membership.

Five of six state football titles were won by Catholic schools last season.

“I think that (the OHSAA has) been feeling a lot of pressure from schools,” Alter coach Ed Domsitz said.

“It seems like it peaks about every December, right after the (football) playoffs.”

The formula

This would include three factors — school boundary, socioeconomic and tradition. School boundary is divided into six groups, from non-public with no boundaries to public with no open enrollment.

Socioeconomic is based on the number of free lunches provided. Tradition considers state titles, state appearances and regional finals within a set period.

School boundary and tradition could increase a school’s final figure, while socioeconomic could decrease it.

“I believe the proposal is fair and equitable and we will see some leveling of the playing field,” said OHSAA Commissioner Dan Ross in a statement.

What it means

D-I programs like Wayne and Centerville wouldn’t be affected in football. But it certainly could change Alter’s status. The Knights easily meet the boundary and tradition factors.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything there that favors Alter,” Domsitz said.

“Obviously, if ... we end up playing a school with 1,000 boys, that’s ridiculous.”

Wayne lost to Lakewood St. Edward in the D-I state football final.

“Shoot, we could have two state championships now if it weren’t for private schools,” Warriors coach Jay Minton said.

“It’s been an on-going situation and it’s been coming to a head. They know that they’re going to have to do something.”