What coaches are saying about adding a fourth class to hoops, baseball, softball
MURFREESBORO — The TSSAA Board of Control's decision Monday to add a fourth classification in baseball, basketball and softball went beyond simply adding another championship trophy.
Continuing to give eight teams a trip to MTSU'S Murphy Center to win that title in each class was equally important.
TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress previously has told the Board of Control it would need to bring just four teams to the state tournament if another class were to be added, but he said Monday a plan could be made to bring 32 teams in each sport to compete for titles.
That was a sticking point to many coaches in Tennessee since the TSSAA first announced it was going to discuss adding a class.
"I think it's every kid's dream that plays basketball in the state of Tennessee to get to play at Murphy Center (at MTSU) whether they are a boy or a girl," Summit girls basketball coach John Wild said. "If you shrink those numbers to four, I think you are hurting the high school athlete. I think you are taking their dream as a four-year athlete playing basketball in Tennessee."
Huntingdon girls basketball coach David Wilkins agreed that more opportunities to make it to state is important for high school athletes.
“I think it is a good thing for basketball teams because I think it gives us a better representation and more teams the opportunity to play for state championships," he said. "It is a neat experience to get to go to the state tournament."
Not everyone, though, was in favor of an added class.
“The reason why I say it should be condensed is that it makes coaches have to do their homework and compete night in and night out," Memphis East boys basketball coach Jevonte Holmes said. "If somebody outcoaches me, then I didn't do my job. But I like to have the opportunity for a tougher schedule as opposed to it being wide open.
"I guess teams get more opportunities and you have to look at it both ways, but for me, I'd rather have it more condensed.”
An added class has a tradeoff. District sizes will be smaller. That could lead to added travel.
“I think scheduling is going to be more difficult," Rockwood boys basketball coach Paul Kamikawa said. "We're in a nine-team district. I can't imagine us staying a nine-team district. We're probably going to travel more than we use to."
Brian Rush, the Clarksville girls basketball and softball coach, said he too fears having fewer teams in his new district will result in more travel.
"We've been lucky in the past years with six opponents in town and then two outside Montgomery County lines (Henry County and Springfield)," Rush said. "That's been a real blessing.
"But this will come down to those final enrollment numbers. There is a possibility that not much changes in our district."
One coach who is happy with fewer teams in his district is Siegel baseball coach Craig Reavis. His league, District 7-AAA, has grown to eight Rutherford County teams.
“I'm hoping that it does reduce the size of our district so we can go back to a one-division set-up with three-game series," Reavis said. "Plus, it makes it a little easier to get out of district."
Here is a look at other sports in Division I: h Football will remain six classes. h Volleyball will remain three classes, divided by participating schools only.
h Soccer will remain three classes, divided by participating schools only.
h Track and field will have three classes, divided by participating schools only.
h Cross country will have two classes, split as A/AA and AAA based on track and field.
h Golf/tennis will have two classes, split evenly by participating schools only.
h Wrestling will have two classes, split evenly by participating schools only. h Bowling will remain one class. Here is what it will look like in Division II: h Football will remain three classes. h Dual wrestling will have A/AA and AAA based on all schools.
h Individual wrestling/bowling will remain a single class.
h All other sports remain in two classes. Schools with 425 or higher enrollment will be in AA. The new classification cycle begins with the 2021-22 school year. It will be reexamined in two years. The TSSAA must now wait to get 20th-day enrollments from schools across the state. Once those are submitted, the TSSAA can divide schools into all four classes and then start the process of setting districts and regions.
Contributing: Cecil Joyce, Michael Odom, George Robinson, Khari Thompson, George Robinson
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.