December 26, 2024
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IHSA changes classification cycle to one year from two after demand for change from public

Change set to take place for next school year

By Michal Dwojak
The IHSA Class 1A baseball state championship trophy and the medals handed out to the Marquette Crusaders at Dozer Park in Peoria on Saturday.

The IHSA Class 1A baseball state championship trophy and the medals handed out to the Marquette Crusaders at Dozer Park in Peoria earlier this year. The IHSA board of directors announced a change from a two-year to one-year classification cycle after its meeting Monday. (Charlie Ellerbrock)

The IHSA announced it will change its two-year classification cycle to one year a little over a week after a lopsided football championship weekend led to outcry from the public and its member schools. The board of directors announced the decision Monday after its regularly scheduled meeting.

“The IHSA Board of Directors has heard the concerns from the public, and more importantly, from our member schools in the days since the completion of the IHSA’s fall state tournaments,” the statement read. “As a Board, we recognize certain trends and data within IHSA sports and activities that lead us to believe that some changes are necessary.”

The need for change became apparent after most championship games in football this fall weren’t close. Because the IHSA used the previous two-year classification where it averaged a school’s enrollment from 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to determine this year’s classes, some larger schools were placed in smaller classes and played against smaller schools.

DePaul Prep was a key example for change from this year’s title games. The Rams won the Class 4A state championship after it was placed in 4A because of its two-year enrollment average of 833. DePaul’s current enrollment is just over 1,300 students, compared to Mt. Zion’s 732, who the Rams played for the championship.

The IHSA will use enrollments collected by the Illinois State Board of Education in September to determine each school’s classification enrollment for the 2025-26 school year. The board also said it plans to look deeper into all aspects of its classification system and reach a consensus prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year.

“Throughout the fall, administrators from numerous member high schools across the state have engaged with the board,” the statement read. “We appreciate all communication, respect each point of view that has been offered and will consider all ideas that have been provided. The passion evoked by constituents in their communications to the board are tangible proof that high school sports and activities remain a fabric of our high school communities, and that the work of the IHSA is as important today as it was in 1900.

“We remain committed to working with the IHSA member high schools to provide the best experience we can for all who compete in IHSA sports and activities.”