Proposal seeks to address perceived competitive imbalance in Kansas high school sports

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A proposal from the Kansas State Excessive College Actions Affiliation (KSHSAA) is seeking to tackle what appear see as an imbalance between private and non-private faculty athletics.

Earlier this 12 months, a majority of KSHSAA member colleges accredited the multiplier, now being heard by the state board of schooling. The multiplier would apply to non-public colleges which have received 5 or extra crew state championships, throughout all sports activities, within the final 5 years.

If that’s the case, they might transfer up no less than one class within the KSHSAA classification. So, in impact, a 4A non-public faculty would transfer as much as 5A. Presently, the classification for each faculty, private and non-private, is predicated solely on scholar enrollment.

Simply exterior the Kansas Metropolis metro space, Paola Excessive College Principal Jeff Hines mentioned he’s been digging into this for no less than a decade and has knowledge to again up there’s a difficulty.

“Personal colleges in our state make up lower than 8% of membership however they’re successful practically 40% of the championships,” Hines mentioned. “It’s best to count on 8% of the faculties to win roughly 8% of the championships.

What Hines described as a aggressive imbalance in favor of some non-public colleges led Hines to hunt options. He helps KSHSAA’s multiplier that’s at the moment proposed.

“That is the furthest we’ve ever gotten when it comes to addressing aggressive imbalance and hopefully making a postseason match sequence for scholar athletes and exercise individuals within the state of Kansas that’s actually equitable for all,” Hines mentioned.

With the proposal, choose non-public colleges which have received 5 state crew championships throughout all sports activities within the final 5 years would start with a 1.0 multiplier, transferring the college as much as the following highest KSHSAA class which tops out at 6A. There are different elements that might be weighed, together with one other championship issue that might multiply it greater. There are additionally separate, geographic inhabitants and socio-economic elements that might enhance the multiplier.

“For greater than half of the non-public colleges in Kansas, they wouldn’t be impacted in any form or kind by this proposal,” Hines mentioned.

One of many non-public colleges is Wichita’s Kapaun Mt. Carmel Excessive College that might transfer up from 5A to 6A.

“The success of 28 youngsters over 5 years who need to win two ladies golf championships, two boys golf championships, a bowling and a tennis (championship) out of about 2,000 youngsters that participated (over that 5 years) at Kapaun, it appears pointless that we might be moved on the multiplier,” mentioned Kapaun Mt. Carmel Athletic Director Marty Straub.

Straub mentioned that is primarily in response to a handful of Kansas Metropolis space non-public colleges which have dominated state championships.

“Ultimately, it’s actually concerning the youngsters. It’s not concerning the ego of the adults, and I believe all these arguments ended up being targeted extra on the frustration of adults,” Straub mentioned.

He mentioned the problem with the perceived aggressive imbalance is with a handful of colleges.

“In the event that they aren’t following the foundations, if they’re recruiting, if they’re utilizing undue affect, if they’re doing these issues, the remainder of the state shouldn’t have to hold that burden,” Straub mentioned.

For passage, the multiplier wants approval kind the state board of schooling which plans to take it up at their September assembly. The Kansas legislature would additionally must log out earlier than this might take impact and state lawmakers don’t return till January.

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