My freshman year at WS, when State Championships rolled around for swim, it was brought to my attention that the VHSL uses a method of separating schools into different competition groups, known as “As”. Let’s just say I was disappointed – not mad – just disappointed.
Here is some context to fill in those of you who are already lost: The Virginia High School League (VHSL) classifies VA public schools into six different groups ranging from 1A, being schools with the smallest enrollments, and 6A, schools with the biggest enrollments. Private schools, religious schools, and homeschooled students belong to other sanctioning organizations; proposals to mandate that the VHSL changes this have been denied.
The current grouping system suggests that VHSL thinks low populated schools don’t have any talented or competitive programs. I will be the first to admit that when our sports teams – say, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball (etc) – play schools in lower “A” groups, our programs often have to put up a tough fight against them.
At the same time, I can understand the logic behind school grouping; tiny schools getting wrecked by huge ones is not a pretty sight. As dramatic as it sounds though, I have an ethical dilemma with the simple fact that recognition for State titles is not always given to the rightful contender.
Stay with me for this example, it may be confusing if you are not immersed in the swimming world, but it clarifies the issue at hand. The sport I know best, swimming, offers recognition to the top six finalists at State Finals; finalists are invited to receive their medal and then stand on the starting block for applause. You see, only a fraction of the finalists who stood on the blocks would have still been standing if every public VA school were to compete at the same state meet. Let it be noted that this is not even including private schooled, home schooled, and religious schooled student-athletes.
It is my opinion as a competitive athlete that those who receive recognition for placing at state-level competition, should have the confidence that they earned their spot and know that they are truly deserving of the award.
However, this is not a platform for something as petty as complaining; I have a solution. Conference championships are replaced by the Regionals we have now, made up of our current official VA regions. Regional championships then become the State championships we have now, formed with the grouping VHSL currently uses.
Then the bear, the State Champs, will be formed from all schools in this great state of Virginia, no grouping, no special categories, just pure competition for number.