The idea that the boys and girls swim seasons would switch -- raised by WIAA officials earlier this year -- appears if not exactly dead, certainly dormant for a while. WIAA officials, at their regional meetings held this fall, have not exactly been overwhelmed with support for the idea. In fact, just the opposite has occured, as several school district officials weighed in to oppose the idea. Verona athletic director Mark Kryka at one of the WIAA meetings raised the possibility that switching boys swimming from its current winter season to the fall could force the school to drop swimming -- an amazing statement, when you think of it, given the strong tradition of swimming at Verona. Other objections raised at the meetings -- that it would make Wisconsin different than its neighboring states, whose girls and boys seasons now parallel with Wisconsin; and that it could pose schedulding problems with local club teams for schools dependent on community-based pools for practice and competition.
The WIAA raised the possibility in light of litigation in Michigan that has resulted in some sports there switching seasons. The organization has said it wants to head off any possible lawsuits over the placement of sports here in Wisconsin. It has also said it wants to make sure it balances athletic opportunities for boys and girls throughout the school year. Right now, girls swimming competes with volleyball, tennis, cross country, and golf as sports offered in the fall. Winter sports for girls are limited to basketball, gymnastics, and the nascent but growing hockey programs. Swim coaches generally opposed hosting boys and girls swimming during the same time, because of the stress it would place on school and community-based pools for use.
WIAA executive director Doug Chickering certainly didn't sound determined to force the change in recent comments. "If we hear enough opposition to swimming and diving, we might come back with tennis next year," he told the Wisconsin State Journal, citing concerns that participation in swimming might fall off with a season switch. "So maybe we are creating more problems than we solve with this."
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2 comments:
I was misquoted or misunderstood. I do not think Verona would be forced to drop swimming but I do believe that some schools would not be able to support a team. Verona has a large team compared to other school and I am concerned that some of those other schools may have to drop the sport.
Mark:
Here's the direct passage from the Wisconsin State Journal:
"Verona athletic director Mark Kryka said many boys who run cross country in the fall swim during the winter. Kryka feared pitting boys swimming against cross country could force the school to consider dropping boys swimming."
Mike -- did you contact the State Journal after the article was printed to raise your concerns? I will say that I worked with the reporter who wrote the story in question -- Rob Hernandez -- for more than decade, and his reporting is quite solid.
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