The full press release from KSHSAA regarding the rule changes is available on the Register’s Facebook page along with the updated sections of the KSHSAA Handbook.
The much-debated vote to change the classifications for high school teams has taken place with the proposals passing.
The new classifications will have a large impact on Iola as they have competed in Class 4A Division 2 in many sports in recent years, but with the new rules, Class 4A Division 2 has been eliminated.
That means Iola will be designated as either a Class 3A or Class 4A school based on enrollment going into the 2018-19 school year when these changes will take effect.
For the Mustangs and Fillies, the new rules could affect different sports in different ways.
Football has the best chance of dropping down to Class 3A where a majority of Class 4A Division 2 will be moved to.
“I think so,” Iola coach David Daugharthy said when asked if this is a good thing for his team.
Class 6A and 5A will remain relatively unchanged with 32 teams remaining in each class. Class 4A Division 1 will be rebranded as Class 4A.
Class 4A Division 2 — where Iola is placed — will become Class 3A with the 16 largest current 3A schools joining them.
“There will be some good schools coming up with schools like Wellsville,” Daugharthy said.
“The biggest change for us will be the postseason, if I am understanding correctly, currently we have three district games and now we will have five. The top four will advance to play each other for playoffs spots against the seeds from another district. The bottom two will play the other district’s five and six seed too, but can’t advance. Those one vs. four and two vs. three seed matchups would be the Week Nine games and the winner of those will go to the playoffs.”
Class 2A will include the next 48 largest 11-man football schools with the remainder being 1A.
According to Humboldt football coach Logan Wyrick, his team won’t see much change. “We’ll be middle of the pack size-wise in 2A. The biggest plus is that there will only be 48 teams total in our division instead of 64.”
Eight-man football will remain unchanged.
