By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-Herald

Plateau-area prep athletes, along with their parents, friends and fans, are playing a familiar waiting game.

Two years ago, all waited anxiously while school administrators sorted out the myriad details that accompanied a transformation in the way schools were divided for competition purposes. Eventually, old allegiances were disbanded and new leagues were sorted out.

Most on the Plateau have been happy with the way things fell into place. But, now, school officials are having to tackle the exercise once again and the only certainty is that things are bound to change.

It has been two years since enrollment figures were tallied to determine where schools fall into classifications established by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Last time around, the formula was changed entirely to add balance throughout the state; this year, the only consideration is whether enrollments have grown, or shrunk, and how that impacts Class 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A and B leagues.

In the world of Plateau high school athletics, the change will be significant. This year and last, local teams have competed in the Class 3A division of the South Puget Sound League, which also included a pair of 4A divisions, the North and the South. There are eight teams in each division.

The 3A division now includes the three Auburn schools, Enumclaw, White River, Bonney Lake, Sumner and Franklin Pierce.

The driving force behind coming change is the growth that is pushing both Auburn and Auburn Riverside from the 3A ranks to the larger 4A division. Each 4A division will grow to nine teams, leaving the 3A with just six teams, not an unworkable number but not ideal, either.

“I call seven or less ‘incomplete leagues'” said Tim Tubbs, athletic director at Enumclaw High School. “Eight and nine are the perfect numbers.”

The SPSL's athletic directors have recommended the 9-9-6 configuration to league principals, who have the final say on the matter, Tubbs said. Principals are scheduled to discuss the issue when they get together Monday.

But there are still some wild card items to be considered, Tubbs said.

For example, both Clover Park and Lakes high schools have expressed a serious interest in joining the SPSL and Peninsula High School has made overtures as well. All three are familiar foes, having competed in the Seamount League until two years ago, along with White River, Franklin Pierce and Bonney Lake. The other current SPSL 3A teams were then in the 4A ranks.

When realignment came two years ago, Clover Park and Lakes left for the new 3A Western Cascade Conference and Peninsula joined the Olympic League, a mixed league of four 2A and four 3A schools.

There's talk that Lakes and Clover Park might not be entirely pleased with the WCC, which includes Shelton and Yelm high schools and could possibly take in Olympia High. Both Shelton and Yelm are headed toward 4A status and Olympia is already there.

Joe Keller, the athletic director for the Clover Park School District, which includes both Clover Park and Lakes high schools, said there's still plenty of discussion to be had. While noting that nothing is guaranteed, he confirmed both district schools will be applying for membership in the SPSL.

“We're keeping our options open,” he said. “We have an interest in the South Puget Sound League, just as they have an interest in us.”

Tim Thomsen, athletic director for the Sumner School District, believes the mix of larger and smaller schools in the Western Cascade Conference won't be popular.

“It could drive some schools to look elsewhere,” he said, declining to identify which programs he feels might be seeking greener pastures.

It's widely believed Peninsula High would also be happy to join the SPSL's 3A division.

The Peninsula Seahawks were the odd school out two years ago when realignment occurred. Everything fell perfectly into place to create an eight-team 3A division and that, combined with some schools' concerns about making a trip across the Narrows Bridge, left Peninsula on the outside looking in.

“They're looking for some stability,” Tubbs said of the Peninsula athletic program, noting that the Peninsula philosophy mirrors that of the current SPSL 3A members. Tubbs noted his personal hope that the Seahawks apply for admission.

Thomsen agreed there's still work to do.

“We'll always entertain options and we have a process for considering schools,” he said.

However, time isn't working on the side of the SPSL or any other league, Thomsen added.

“We need to get our schedules set,” he said. “Fall schedules would normally be established and adopted at this point, so we're already a month behind.”

To avoid this type of juggling act every two years, Thomsen said, he and others will be making a proposal to the WIAA that enrollment reports be issued every four years, rather than two. That proposal will be made at the WIAA representative assembly in April, he added.