Posted on: Friday, August 6, 2004
Hawai'i high schools classified by divisions
| • | High schools classifications |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The last major step before the start of the Hawai'i prep sports year took place yesterday when schools were classified by divisions for football, girls basketball and softball at a Hawai'i High School Athletic Association meeting.
Schools were placed into Divisions I or II by league representatives at the O'ahu Interscholastic Association office at Radford High.
The high school sports season kicks off Aug. 20 with preseason football games.
The OIA is the only league that will require a schedule change in girls basketball and softball because of the classification system.
Each OIA division — Division I East, Division I West and Division II — now includes two rounds with a home-and-home series for the schools.
Division II teams cannot qualify for the Division I state tournament, and the schools, whose classifications were determined by a formula, will remain in their respective divisions for two-year periods.
"We'll just see how it plays out," said OIA executive secretary Dwight Toyama, who created the formula.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu is the only other league that mandates that if a football team is playing in one division, it must remain in that division for the season. But, like last year, ILH Division II girls basketball and softball teams will have an opportunity to qualify for the Division I state tournament.
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League allow all Division II teams to move up to the Division I state tournament if they qualify.
The Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation's three schools will participate in one division per sport, with football in Division II, and girls basketball and softball in Division I.
The classification system was developed to give smaller schools, which are competitive but struggled against more powerful schools, a chance to qualify for a state tournament.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
