Prep realignment weighed for a new millennium

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 10:40 a.m.

Nevada's prep sports scene could have a very different look heading into the new millennium, depending on what happens at two re-alignment meetings slated for this week in Las Vegas.

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) President Jerry Hughes and Clark County School District Athletic Director Larry McKay will meet with representatives from throughout the state to determine what re-alignment plan or plans should be adopted for the 2000-2001 school year.

"There are going to be some changes," McKay said. "We're looking at three or four different proposals, and we'll probably pick one plan to present to the schools and the school board soon."

Among the proposals expected to be on the agenda for today's first meeting are:

* Adding a 5A classification for the state's largest schools. Currently, all schools with more than 900 students participate in class 4A. McKay said this plan doesn't have overwhelming support.

* Re-aligning so that each of the current four classifications contains 25 percent of the state's schools. The current breakdown: 17 schools in 1A, 11 in 2A, 18 in 3A and 31 in 4A.

* Adjusting the enrollment requirement for 4A above the current 900 student line. Such a plan would likely drop Lowry into class 3A and would allow Pahrump Valley -- which could move up to 4A under the current system -- to remain in class 3A.

Friday's second meeting will deal strictly with issues affecting class 4A, namely whether playoff representation should be changed to reflect Southern Nevada's ever-increasing population.

"With the growth in Southern Nevada, there has to be some equity in qualifying for state," McKay said.

Currently, the northern and southern halves of the state have equal representation in all 4A state playoffs, whether it be one team apiece in the football championship or four teams each in the boys and girls basketball tournaments.

With four new high schools set to open in the Las Vegas area by 2000, Southern Nevada will be home to 21 4A schools, compared with only 13 (or 12 if Lowry drops to 3A) up north.

One potential plan would split the state into three 4A zones: Northern, Southern Sunrise and Southern Sunset, in keeping with the south's current divisional system. Each zone would have equal representation in state playoffs.

"Just to say one from the north and one from the south, or four from the north and four from the south isn't equitable," McKay said after meeting with 4A representatives last month in Reno. "We need to get away from that."

One proposal that could take effect as soon as next school year would split the current Sunrise and Sunset conferences into four smaller divisions.

Tidbits

KSFN 1140-AM will broadcast Friday night's 4A state championship football game live, with pre-game coverage starting at 7 p.m. Prime Cable Channel 48 will air the contest next Wednesday at 7 p.m. Former Raider running back Napoleon McCallum will join Tim Neverett and Trip Mitchell in the booth for the television broadcast...

Green Valley golfer Ashlei Pendleton has signed a letter of intent to play at Texas Christian University next year. The senior finished third in the state individually this fall after taking first as a junior in 1997...

The Meadows' two-way star Victor Wright has been named the 1998 2A all-conference player of the year for Division II. Wright, a tailback and linebacker for the Mustangs, rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second year in a row. Teammate Jeff Raskin was named the conference's offensive MVP.