IHSA Announcements

December 7, 2006

EIU to Host Track and Field and Girls’ Badminton State Finals

The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors announced at its regularly scheduled meeting that Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, will serve as host to both the IHSA Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field State Finals through the 2011-12 school term.   The university was also selected to host the Girls’ Badminton State Finals for a five-year period through the 2010-11 school term.

“We are extremely pleased with today’s announcement,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman.  “Eastern Illinois University has been a tremendous friend of the association for a number of years, and their commitment to putting on a first-class event for over 30 years has made our track and field state final the premier high school track meet in the nation.  And equally impressive is the same demonstrated level of commitment shown by the university with the girls’ badminton state finals. We look forward to continuing our relationship into the next decade with EIU.”

EIU has hosted the track state finals since 1974.

Other Action

  1. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to approve meeting dates for the 2007-08 school term.  As required in the IHSA Constitution, the Board will meet 10 times during the course of the school term.
  2. The Board affirmed the association’s continued membership with the Coalition for Illinois High Schools, an advocacy group committed to making Illinois high schools a leader in secondary education.  Dr. Hickman will continue to serve on the Coalition.

 

Discussion Items
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items that the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action.  Following is a report of those items on this month’s agenda:

  1. The Board heard a report from the Ray Wicklander and Tim Kiley of Great Lakes Advisors, reviewing the performance of the IHSA’s pension portfolio.
  2. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Anthony Holman concerning the Wood Bat experiment the association will conduct this spring.  To date, some six conferences from around the state will participate in the experiment, which is designed to collect data in three main areas:  bat breakage rates, offensive production, and batted ball injuries. 
  3. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Directors Scott Johnson and  Anthony Holman concerning plans for the 100th Anniversary of the Boys’ Basketball tournament, which is slated for March of 2007.
  4. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson concerning the recent work of the IHSA’s Sports Medicine Committee with regards to steroid education/testing.
  5. The Board heard a report from the executive director concerning attendance and key items of discussion from this year’s A.D. Division Meetings and IHSA Town Meetings/Principals Rules Meetings.
  6. The Board heard a report from the executive director regarding the action taken by the Legislative Commission with regards to this year’s by-law proposals.
  7. The Board heard a report from the executive director regarding problems encountered by the association during this year’s football playoffs with regards to the starting times of contests below the state final.
  8. The Board heard a report from the executive director concerning the up-coming Eight States meeting to be held later this month in Chicago.  Executive Directors from eight Midwest state associations will meet to discuss current issues within the NFHS.
  9. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Dave Gannaway regarding plans for this year’s wheelchair basketball event in Peoria during the Boys’ Basketball State Finals.  Mr. Gannaway also shared with the Board that there is a possibility some wheel chair track events may also be held in conjunction with the IHSA Girls’ Track and Field Meet in the future.  

Eligibility Hearings

  1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student of Winnetka (North Shore Country Day) High School.  The student is a sophomore transfer from Evanston Township High School who transferred to Winnetka (North Shore Country Day) High School on March with the start of the 2006-07 school term.  The student was ruled ineligible in regard to the student's transfer to participate in interscholastic athletics at Winnetka (North Shore Country Day) High School until March 18, 2007.
  2. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student of Burbank (Reavis) High School.  The student is a senior transfer student from Richards High School who transferred to Burbank (Reavis) High School on March 23, 2006.  Though the Board modified the ruling, the student will remain ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at Burbank (Reavis) High School until March 23, 2007 due to the student's non-compliance with the transfer rule.