Coach Marks - I greatly appreciate your ideas and concern over the current sectional assignments. I can also empathize because 10 years ago I was also concerned and frustrated with the sectional situation. Wisco is in the same D2 sectional with Port Washington and Shorewood and there was a stretch of several years that all 3 teams were ranked in the top 3-5 going into the Sectional Meet. For a few years, we finished 3rd at Sectionals with no chance to run for a State trophy. It just didn't make sense to me when the WIAA could have done a simple switch, such as move Port north to a different sectional. All 3 programs and coaches talked about this and we raised our concern to the XC advisory board and to the WIAA. Nothing was ever changed.
Sorry for my cynicism but I don't think sectional assignments are going to get changed and improved by the WIAA until a larger group of coaches is convinced that something needs to be changed. Outside of a few programs, like Verona currently, probably care very little to fight for a sectional assignment change. The traditionally strong programs that make it to State year after year won't be that vested in fighting for change. There are many many programs that never make it to State that probably won't fight that hard for change. Those programs in an easier sectional aren't going to want to see sectional assignments change.
My suggestion would be to figure out what programs and coaches would want to fight for this change and have them promote their idea to the WCCCA and the coaching community in their area. A few programs that come to mind would be Verona, Milwaukee King, Homestead, Port Washington, Menomonee Falls, and Marquette.
What other XC programs across all 3 divisions would be willing to fight for this sectional assignment change?
Eric: I agree that it may be unless to fight an organization like the WIAA that put's little creativity and CC knowledge into our sport. Most of their mode of operation is to be politically correct, expedient and make sure they make money. They could still do all those things and have a better tournament for our sport if they wanted to. They had no problem getting the 5K for girls through when they wanted it despited the big divide in the WCCCA about the change. My(and other coaches) idea of going back to the 8 sectionals for D1 qualifying 2 + 4 wildcards is simple, it keeps good geographic representation, and save the WIAA money and does NOT increase the number of total teams at state(which I feel is maxed out now- D2 and D3 could go to 7 sectionals qualifying 2 + 2 wildcards or 6 sectionals qualifying 2 + 4 wildcards. That could do several things besides saving the WIAA money in not having to pay for at least 3 or 4 sectional sites and timing services and finding good course to host. Another benefit is that the sectional race will be larger and more like state and will favor the teams with better depth and balance.(the fewer the teams the less important depth is). Another big one is there should be no sectional with more than 2 incomplete teams!! The selection committee for the wildcards would be the automatic qualifying coaches in each gender and division since they have no axes to grind since they are already in. Each auto qualifying coach would vote for 4 schools in their division and gender who did not auto qualify and after voting the top 4 or 2 schools with votes would be the wildcards. Votes would need to be in to the WIAA buy the Sunday following sectionals.
I also agree that our association is not showing the creativity, strength and cohesiveness that it needs to have to get positive changes done. Until the state meet format is changed it will not be the best meet in the state but a show case of the top 10 teams crushing a group of teams that shouldn't be there.
Coach Marks - I greatly appreciate your ideas and concern over the current sectional assignments. I can also empathize because 10 years ago I was also concerned and frustrated with the sectional situation. Wisco is in the same D2 sectional with Port Washington and Shorewood and there was a stretch of several years that all 3 teams were ranked in the top 3-5 going into the Sectional Meet. For a few years, we finished 3rd at Sectionals with no chance to run for a State trophy. It just didn't make sense to me when the WIAA could have done a simple switch, such as move Port north to a different sectional. All 3 programs and coaches talked about this and we raised our concern to the XC advisory board and to the WIAA. Nothing was ever changed.
Sorry for my cynicism but I don't think sectional assignments are going to get changed and improved by the WIAA until a larger group of coaches is convinced that something needs to be changed. Outside of a few programs, like Verona currently, probably care very little to fight for a sectional assignment change. The traditionally strong programs that make it to State year after year won't be that vested in fighting for change. There are many many programs that never make it to State that probably won't fight that hard for change. Those programs in an easier sectional aren't going to want to see sectional assignments change.
My suggestion would be to figure out what programs and coaches would want to fight for this change and have them promote their idea to the WCCCA and the coaching community in their area. A few programs that come to mind would be Verona, Milwaukee King, Homestead, Port Washington, Menomonee Falls, and Marquette.
What other XC programs across all 3 divisions would be willing to fight for this sectional assignment change?