Change of Game

For years, the teams and classifications of Nevada high school sports remained the same. But as schools across the state continue to grow, the Nevada Interscholastic Athletics Activities Association has had to change the classifications of some schools to ensure fair competition.

"Every four years, the NIAA Board of Control realigns the athletic classifications in the state," said NIAA Assistant Director Donnie Nelson. "The Board of Control also helps in devising tournament schedules and things of that nature. This realignment determines which league schools compete in."

One of the most controversial issues this year in the realignment process has been the addition of Pahrump Valley to the Southern 4A division. Pahrump Valley, which for years has competed in the Southern 3A, was moved up to the 4A based on its student population. Pahrump, which has been competitive with the 3A teams across the state, now has to deal with playing in the same division as 4A powerhouses Bishop Gorman, Durango and Spring Valley, which average about 1,600 students per school.

"Pahrump petitioned to stay in the 3A but the Board of Control chose to put them into the 4A because of their numbers," Nelson said. "Under the rules of the NIAA Handbook, Pahrump Valley is a 4A school and that's what influenced the board's decision."

Another hot-button issue facing Southern Nevada prep sports has been the survival of the Southern 3A. This season, the Southern 3A will consist of four teams: Boulder City, Faith Lutheran, Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley. After the 2008-09 season, Faith Lutheran is leaving for the 4A, which means Boulder City, Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley will be left together as a three-team league.

"In the realignment process, a committee was set up, which recommended that several 4A schools move down to the Southern 3A," Nelson said. "Several Southern 3A teams vetoed this idea, however and now they are stuck with a three-team league."

One of the possible solutions in rebuilding the Southern 3A was to keep Pahrump Valley and add Southeast Career Technical Academy in the league. But the league's schools voted it down based on the numbers of these 4A schools.

Ray Mathis, athletic director for the Clark County School District and an NIAA board member, looks at the Pahrump Valley-Southern 3A issues as one that affects all of Southern Nevada.

"Pahrump Valley was a good 3A school, a competitive 3A school and I don't know how competitive they are going to be at first in the 4A," Mathis said. "Obviously for the 4A schools in the CCSD, this presents problems for us because we now are going to have additional costs. And our 3A schools are now going to have to travel more to build a schedule."

Mathis made it clear that all states deal with these issues.

"When we go to our national convention, every state deals with the issues of alignment, budget constraints and competitiveness," Mathis said. "What it comes down to is the board does its best to ensure kids are in a league where they can be competitive."

Despite these issues, members of the NIAA are excited for the future of Nevada prep sports but also are aware of the problems that may arise.

"The state of the NIAA is in a constant flux," Nelson said. "Our talent and our participation keep getting better but budget problems and other factors are constant issues."