4-time defending 2A State Champion Cahokia would welcome a true championship at anytime and anywhere against anyone (Colin Boyle photo)
Debate, debate, debate… when it’s healthy we all get our way. Or at the very least we can come to some understanding. I know that we are in the midst of the cross country season but I want to take some time and share some findings on the hot topic statewide of a true team state championship.
I certainly have been outspoken on the subject. I threw out the possibility of using double points as a way to thwart any one individual or a select few individuals from taking over a state championship. It was just a thought. I know that several coaches in the fraternity shared their personal thoughts and I respect them. But perhaps what wasn’t touched on was an official voice from the Illinois High School State Association (IHSA). In order to get something done or at least find a way to get something done, it would be prudent to go to the governing body for an answer.
Out of respect to the party that I spoke to I gave them their wish of anonymity. The official (s) agreed to offer up a direct opinion but did not wish to be engaged into the discussion or debate of a team championship.
Here is the transcript:
Tony Jones: What are your thoughts of a true team championship- such as one that has been proposed by some of the association coaches?
IHSA official (s):
My honest answer is that I do not see the IHSA creating another state championship meet for track and field anytime soon. While it may be interesting to some (perhaps to many), such a meet is not necessary as we already crown six team champions each May.
More importantly, I see no need for the IHSA to get involved or to ask IHSA membership to change the Season Limitation by-law. Such a meet could be conducted by anyone that wished to do so just as soon as school is out during the summer contact day period. However, if a member principal would like to write a by-law proposal to extend the end of the T&F season so this meet could occur during the IHSA season, he/she could do so during the Fall Legislative Session conducted every year. The deadline to submit such a proposal for this year would be October 14th. Any Official Representative that can convince the majority of our schools to adopt such a change would make this happen. Voter turnout in the Legislative process is unfortunately generally quite low, so it would commonly only require around 225 schools to agree with you in order to change just about any IHSA by-law. I suggest they may as well ask to increase the number of team dates from 18 to 19 while they are rewriting T&F by-laws, in order to accommodate the additional meet.
Such a meet would be just like the unofficial Indoor Illinois High School T&F Championship meet that is conducted currently (obviously not by the IHSA). It is a legal IHSA meet, but the IHSA has nothing to do with it. As the writer of the [Tony Holler] article states, “We don’t need the IHSA’s leadership to conduct a first-class meet. Sectionals do just fine. Some invitationals are amazing.” He also states, “In some ways, this meet will just be another invitational”. I agree with both statements. Coaches do not need the IHSA to organize and conduct a great meet. I also believe they do not need to wait for member schools to take action to change the length of the IHSA season in order to conduct this meet. They can conduct it the first week of June because most schools are finished for the year, which means they may begin their 25 Summer Contact Day period. Coaches are allowed to work with their student athletes in any manner they wish during this summer contact period of time. Therefore coaching them at a meet during this time would be perfectly legal.
The writer predicts they may see 7,500 fans attending such a meet. That would be amazing, so I believe they should go forward and get this thing put together. There is no reason I can see that should hold them back. If his predictions about current coach and fan support are accurate it will be an immediate success. Using the IHSA as a reason not to proceed seems to me to simply be an excuse for why he/they have not already set this meet up for June of 2015. The writer predicts the meet to be a huge success and a financial gold mine. I say, why wouldn’t they do it? As I said in the first sentence, I do not see the IHSA becoming involved in conducting such a meet in the near future, but I also do not see that as a reason why supporters of this concept would not move forward. As I also said, there are very capable coaches out there that organize and conduct some great invitationals, therefore they do not need the help of the IHSA. If they get this done, I would pay to see it.