RENTON — Declining enrollment across the North Olympic Peninsula means area prep teams are staying put while longstanding district and state tournament rivalries will fall by the wayside as part of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s newly adopted 2024-2028 classification cycle.
No area team will change classifications during the next four prep seasons after the WIAA approved all members for the new reclassification cycle (2024-28) at its executive board meeting Sunday.
These are the enrollment ranges for each of the six classifications and adjusted enrollment totals factoring in the percentage of free and reduced student lunch recipients in each district:
• CLASS 4A: 1,201 students (grades 9-11) or more (60 schools).
• CLASS 3A: 900-1,200 students (73).
• CLASS 2A: 450-899 students (63).
Port Angeles: 714.48; Sequim 588.63.
• CLASS 1A: 225-449 students (55)
East Jefferson (combined enrollment of Chimacum and Port Townsend high schools): 388.
• CLASS 2B: 105-224 students (54)
Forks 170.75
• CLASS 1B: 1-104 students (105)
Neah Bay 62.81; Quilcene: 55.58; Crescent 55.5; Clallam Bay 26.25.
Full enrollment data is available at https://www.wiaa.com/classifications/.
The biggest change that will impact area teams is Bainbridge’s (885 students) move from 3A to 2A — turning the Olympic League into a fully 2A configuration for the first time since before COVID.
There is significant movement at the 2A level in the West Central District as White River (977.13), Enumclaw (975) and Highline (926.27) head to 3A. Current District 2 2A school Sammamish (963) and District 1’s Sedro Woolley (916) also will move up to 3A.
Port Angeles and White River have developed an excellent back-and-forth athletic relationship over at least the last decade, particularly in girls basketball and softball, with the teams competing against each other for multiple district championships in each sport and facing off at state.
The two schools have met six times in district tournament play since 2012 — with each team going 2-2 in district finals, Port Angeles winning most recently in 2020 and 2022 and missing out on the opportunity in 2021.
White River and the Riders also met at state in 2020 with the Hornets getting revenge in a 60-55 win.
Roughriders girls basketball head coach Michael Poindexter said he’s sad to see White River move to 3A.
He’s enjoyed facing Hornets head coach Chris Gibson, a state girls coaches association hall of fame member and is one of four girls coaches to reach 600 wins in his career.
“They have consistently been our West Central District’s best 2A representative at the state tournament, and … they are a friendly district and state rival,” Poindexter said.
“We have immense respect for [head coach and athletic director] Chris Gibson, his values and approach to the game and how his teams play. The post-season rivalry has produced some great memories for players and parents of both teams.”
Neah Bay also will lose its biggest Tri-District Tournament rival with Mount Vernon Christian’s move to 2B.
After nearly a decade of matchups, particularly in girls basketball and volleyball in championship finals, the Hurricanes knocked off the Red Devils girls in the 1B state championship in 2022 before Neah Bay bounced MVC in the semis on its way to its first-ever state hoops championship.
