The 2011 basketball divisions have been finalized.  As of September 1, member schools had the opportunity to opt up a division from where their enrollment might normally place them.  Three schools took the opportunity to opt up for tournament play in 2011.  On the boys side, Milwaukee Washington (enrollment 889) has opted up to Division 1 for the 2011 tournament series.  On the girls side, Nicolet (enrollment 1176) and Pius XI (enrollment 993) have also requested to move up from Division 2 to Division 1.

The division breaks for the 2011 tournament series are as follows:  Division 1 - schools with enrollments 1200 and above (77 boys teams and 79 girls teams); Division 2 - schools with enrollments of 600 to 1200 (89 boys teams and 88 girls teams); Division 3 - schools with enrollments of 328 to 600 (97 boys teams and 94 girls teams); Division 4 - schools with enrollments of 200 to 327 (104 boys teams and 99 girls teams); and Division 5 - schools with enrollments of 200 and below (120 boys teams and 118 girls teams).

During the first two weeks of September, schools in Divisions 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be voting to determine whether or not to seed their half bracket.  If 25% of the schools in a given half bracket are opposed to seeding the entire group, it will be seeded in regional groupings as identified on the brackets posted below.  Results of the voting will be released when finalized.

Here are the brackets for both the boys and girls in their respective divisions:

Boys - Div 1  |  Div 2  |  Div 3  |  Div 4  |  Div 5

Girls - Div 1  |  Div 2 |  Div 3  |  Div 4  |  Div 5

The WIAA membership has placed several rules in the Rules of Eligibility which affect the non-school participation of WIAA member athletes during the school year. The first, during the season of the sport:  It is the philosophy of this Association that a student owes loyalty and allegiance to the school and team of which he/she is a member during the season of a given sport. A student becomes ineligible in a sport for the remainder of the season for competing in a nonschool game, meet, or contest in the same sport during the season of practice and competition established by the school.  (ROE, page 37, Art VI, Sect 1, Par A)

The WIAA Rules at a Glance (III - Students)

D. NONSCHOOL PARTICIPATION

Rules indicate athletes may not participate in non-school competition during the school season, in the same respective sport. WIAA rules do not prevent athletes from practicing with non-school teams or from receiving private skills instruction during the school season. However, they may not participate in any nonschool competitions or races, including scrimmages, against other teams. This restriction applies to normal non-school games as well as “gimmicks,” such as reduced numbers competition (3-on-3 basketball, 6 player soccer, etc.), specific skill contests (punt, pass, and kick, shooting contests e.g., free throws, 3 point), fun runs (including “banditing”), etc. Additionally, a student who was a member of a school team during the previous year may not delay reporting for the school team beyond the school's official opening day of practice in order to continue non-school training or competition. (RE – Art. VI)

For more information, visit the Non-School participation web page.

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Football

Athens at Assumption

August 26, 2010

I would like to commend Coach Riley Thomas (Assumption) and
Coach Jim Dobbs (Athens) on having their players ready to play last
Thursday.  I thought long and hard on sending this note in because it was
the first game of the season and thinking that my view was different because
it was the first game.     Read More

Chequamegon @ Marathon

August 27, 2010

I just had to express my crew's thoughts from the Football
game we worked 8/27/10 @ Marathon. In my 20 years of officiating I don't
think I've EVER had the pleasure of working in an atmosphere like that
provided by the Chequamegon coaching staff!!  Read More