Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310220270
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PAGE: S-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The principals of the Blue Ridge District didn't know about the move, which was being orchestrated behind their backs. It would have come about had a certain move happened in another part of the state involving the balancing of Group AA regions I and II.
Then it all fell apart so quickly.
Earlier this fall, the Virginia High School League agreed to form a committee to study the imbalance of Group AA teams among the regions with the idea of correcting it in two years. After Radford and John Battle dropped to Group A this fall, Region IV was left with 12 teams compared with 29 teams in Region III.
There is a similar disparity between regions I and II in the northern and eastern parts of the state. Region I, which is losing Tabb to Group AAA, will have only 13 teams compared with 27 in Region II, which will add new Liberty High School located in Fauquier County.
Then the Battlefield District of nine teams decided it might be ready to move as a league to Region I. That would have made the split 22-18 in favor of Region I, but it would have been more equitable.
"This is coming out of Region II, and I agree it's a good thing to do," said Rustburg principal Hugh Pendleton, a member of the Virginia High School League executive committee. "If Region II and I [had] agreed that this [moving the Battlefield District] was a good thing to do, there were enough votes in Region III to go along [and change the Blue Ridge District]."
The Blue Ridge District principals have opposed such a move since it was first mentioned last year. The sticking point is the lengthy travel distances. The Blue Ridge principals also point to all the Group A-sized schools in Region III. If they weren't playing Group AA sports, then regions III and IV wouldn't be that out of balance.
There are nine Group A schools in Region III. Two others are in Region IV after the drop of Radford and John Battle. Put those schools in Group A, the split would be 18-10, which is still very uneven.
All Region III schools want more balance. There's no agreement on how that might be done, but moving the Blue Ridge seemed a convenient way to reach that goal last week.
For the Battlefield and Blue Ridge districts to move, it would have to be approved by all Group AA schools. Pendleton felt there were enough votes to make the move if Regions I and II were for it along with the Piedmont and Seminole districts, that would have a big advantage if the Blue Ridge were shifted to Region IV.
Pendleton reasoned that the study by Group AA schools in the next two years would have changed the Blue Ridge anyway. So if the Battlefield District wanted to move, why not get it all over with now?
"I told them [regions I and II], `Do your homework, but I won't get people here [regions III and IV] excited until you get your ducks in a row,' " Pendleton said.
Then the Battlefield District and Region II suddenly backed away from making their move.
"There were a lot of factors that some of the schools [in Region II] might be Group AAA [in size two years from now]. Take two or three schools out, you have changed what the districts will look like," Waynesboro principal Thomas Muncy said of the Region II reversal.
Culpeper principal Bill Pearson said, "At this point, we won't do anything. We agreed to take a look at it for the next two years. The Battlefield District was agreeable [to move], but opposed to doing it next year.
"They want to take a look at the entire state and not rush into moving into Region I if there's another way of coming up with some equity."
Louisa County principal Greg Smith was aware of the pains that Blue Ridge District administrators would feel if their league was suddenly shifted to Region IV. Smith played football at William Byrd. He graduated in 1981 and, at 30 years old, is one of the state's youngest high school administrators.
"I talked with [Byrd principal] Bob Patterson this summer. He didn't want to join Region IV. You want to stay in an area that is close where you have certain ties and relationships with people you play against," said Smith. "When you make big changes [like switching regions], it's not easy.
"You always try to avoid those types of big changes. I think it's better to study it. But there has to be some change, just to make it so that there is equal representation among all regions."
Blue Ridge principals were in shock that they weren't apprised of a possible move.
"I'd have been insulted if they had moved us - and probably quite angry," Northside principal Donna Henderson said.
She found out about the move the day after it was killed from Alleghany's Phil Douglas, whose school, along with Rockbridge County, would face the harshest travel distances had the Blue Ridge been put in Region IV.
"It was not acceptable. That's not where Alleghany wants to participate or does the Blue Ridge District," Douglas asserted. "I would have thought that within the region, they would have given us the courtesy of calling. We've heard about this in past years, but it hasn't come about."
Douglas says the Blue Ridge District would have taken any "appropriate action" necessary to block such a move. Legal action was not ruled out.
"The Virginia High School League or any member school doesn't want to go to court to solve a problem. One of the problems now in the restructuring of the Virginia High School League is coming about because we can't take care of our business as principals," Douglas added.
He is referring to the first vote to be taken this week changing the VHSL from a legislative form to executive form of government so that not every school will have a vote on every proposal or issue.
Douglas noted Region III principals had just met and nothing was ever said about moving the Blue Ridge District.
Patterson, the past president of the VHSL, said, "The proper thing to do is study the whole thing and determine how many schools we have in single A, double A and triple A. Map that out all over the state, and then make some decision. You might possibly consider changing the numbers [for each classification]."
Patterson's proposal makes the most sense. A quick fix to balance the Group AA schools would have been inappropriate for the problem is very complex and may ultimately involve schools in all three classifications. Fortunately, the Battlefield District's decision not to move stopped what would have been a travesty.
by CNB