WIAA board approves spring sports changes

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control approved coaches advisory committee rule change recommendations in softball, lacrosse and track & field at its October 31 meeting.

Beginning in June 2025, the state softball tournament will expand to a four-day format to address early start times and the time-constraint concerns of conducting seven games in a single day. The revised state tournament schedule will begin Wednesday and run through Saturday. The Division 1 quarterfinals will be conducted Wednesday. Thursday’s schedule will feature the Division 5 and Division 4 semifinals followed by one Division 1 semifinal. The other Division 1 semifinal will be played Friday morning with Division 3 and Division 2 semifinals to follow. Saturday’s schedule of championship games will remain unchanged.

In track & field, the state meet list of qualifiers will be expanded beginning next spring. The board approved a recommendation to increase the number of extra qualifiers from eight to 10 in all events with the related increase in qualifying medals. As indicated in the season regulations, extra qualifiers will include individuals and relay teams with marks or times that rank in the top 10 performances of all sectionals combined.

That change would have helped Rhinelander last spring as despite setting a school record in the 300-meter hurdles (46.70 seconds), sophomore Aila Bergman finished fifth in her sectional and missed out on a trip to La Crosse by 0.02 seconds with the ninth-fastest time in the Division 2.

The board supported one recommendation in lacrosse. Beginning next spring, the highest-seeded team will host the sectional final, but if the higher seed is unable to host, the game will be moved to a neutral site.

There were five conference realignment fast track plans approved by the board, effective in 2025-26. Chetek-Weyerhaueser exits the Heart O’ North Conference and enters the Dunn-St. Croix for all sports except football. Unity will move from the Lakeland Conference to the Heart O’ North. The Stevens Point Area Senior High School (Wisconsin Valley Union) girls’ hockey co-op will enter the new Northern Girls Hockey Conference from the Eastern Girls Hockey Conference, and Adams-Friendship joins the South Central Conference in girls soccer after the Mid-Western Wisconsin Conference dissolved. In girls’ golf, Kiel will enter the Glacier Trails Conference after competing as an independent.

In other action items, the board approved the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fall sports co-ops, which includes 167 programs. The 14 new co-ops for 2025-26 are Providence Academy (Green Bay)/Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran in boys and girls cross country; Clayton/Prairie Farm in girls golf; Ashland/Drummond, New Holstein/Brillion and Wilmot Union/Catholic Central in boys soccer; Portage/Poynette in girls swimming & diving; and University Lake School/Lake Country Classical Academy in girls volleyball. The board also approved the 2026-27 and 2027-28 football-only co-ops, including Ithaca/Weston, Kenosha Bradford/Reuther Central, Ozaukee/Random Lake and Randolph/Cambria Friesland in 11-player football; and Clayton/Prairie Farm and Mellen/Butternut/Mercer in 8-player football.

Among the discussions with the board were a review of the 2024 Area Meetings, including feedback on the Google polls to identify potential assets that would currently benefit members, an inquiry to identify school assistance that can be derived from a WIAA Foundation, determine any ongoing concerns with proposed Name, Image and Likeness language, and an addition of a checklist resource for schools in determining whether or not to submit a Residence and Transfer Waiver Request.

The board was introduced to several possible constitutional amendments that will be reviewed to determine if they will be advanced to the membership for a vote at the annual meeting. Amendments under consideration pertain to maximum contests for ninth graders, the future status of the middle school membership, requirement for ejected fans to complete a free online sportsmanship course before attending a home contest, and updated Name, Image and Likeness language, as well as an editorial item addressing the timeline for membership elections. A final determination of the constitutional amendments that will advance to the annual meeting will be decided by the Board of Control at its meeting in March.

Dr. Timothy McGuine from the UW-Madison Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitations Department presented on the availability of athletic trainers and provided updates on research studies focused on a variety of turf concussion risks, protective equipment and emerging sports, as well as a position statement on emergency action plans and the use of energy drinks by young athletes.