June 27, 2022 at 7:53 a.m.

WIAA board approves winter sports changes

Girls' wrestling moves to Kohl center, shot clock proposal not considered
WIAA board approves winter sports changes
WIAA board approves winter sports changes

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control reviewed and acted on coaches' committee recommendations impacting winter sports, including significant Tournament Series changes in Wrestling at its meeting June 22.

Six wrestling coaches' recommendations received approval, effective in 2022-23, including the addition of a 16-competitor bracket to qualify for the girls' state individual tournament to be held in conjunction with the boys' individual wrestling state tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.

The inaugural girls' individual state wrestling tournament was held this past January in La Crosse.

A number of the changes impact the structure of the boys' wrestling tournament series. One implements a super-regional format for the Divisions 2 and 3 tournaments. The format combines two regionals into one in both divisions. Similar to the format in Division 1, the top four individuals advance to sectionals and the top two teams move on to the team sectionals.

Another recommendation approved in wrestling alters the tournament series team format in Division 1. Beginning next season, the top two teams from each regional in Division 1 will advance to the team sectionals similar to the existing Divisions 2 and 3 team format.

Two other wrestling changes were made to the tournament series. One adds an assistant referee at the team sectional final matches, and the other eliminates the coaches' seed meeting for the state team wrestling tournament to exclusively utilize electronic seeding.

The sixth recommendation receiving approval by the board eliminates a WIAA adaptation to an NFHS rule that allowed competitors to lower shoulder straps on uniforms. The NFHS rule prohibits lowering shoulder straps on uniforms, which will be enforced in 2022-23.

In basketball, two coaches' proposals were enacted. The first simply defines a tournament as any event that is bracketed and plays to a winner. The clarification is intended to assist member schools in scheduling multi-team events in relation to seasonal game maximums. The other eliminates the appeal process and creates only one deadline for submitting statistics for the 3-Point Challenge.

It is noteworthy that the coaches' recommendation to allow the use of a shot clock in non-conference games if mutually agreed to by both head coaches was not reviewed and voted on by the board. In 2021, the membership passed a regulation stating all proposed recommendations must be approved by majority vote of the Advisory Council before advancing to the Board of Control. If the recommendation is not supported by the Advisory Council, the Board of Control does not have the opportunity to review and vote on the proposal. The Advisory Council opposed the recommendation by a 13-1 vote on Tuesday.

The state tournament in gymnastics will return to the modified Capital Cup format beginning in 2023. The team competition in both Division 1 and Division 2 will be conducted Friday and individual competition in both divisions will be conducted Saturday.

In addition, the board voted in support of a Sport Medical Advisory Committee proposal to communicate emergency action plan recommendations to host schools in pre-event information and in tournament planning materials.

The board also received a report on updates to the conference realignment process by Jeremy Schlitz and Lance Bagstad of the Conference Realignment Task Force and approved one task force recommendation. Conferences will not be created with less than seven schools unless they are paired with another conference except through the fast-track process, which requires unanimous support from all schools directly impacted by the realignment.

The board approved spring cooperative programs for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, a spending resolution to continue spending until the 2022-23 budget is approved, winter season sports financial statements, and the general fund financial statements and payments for May.

Results of a special election were shared with the board. Dan Retzki, associate principal and athletic director at Green Bay Preble, was elected for a one-year term representing District 4 to complete the term of Dave Steavpack, who is retiring. On the Advisory Council, Andrea Sheridan, district administrator at Athens, was elected to a three-year term representing small schools. Kent Kindschy, district administrator at Turtle Lake, was elected to a two-year stint to complete the term of Cory Hinkel of Luck, who was elected to the Board of Control.

Comments:

You must login to comment.

Sign in
RHINELANDER

WEATHER SPONSORED BY

Latest News

Events

August

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 1 2 3 4 5 6

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.