IHSA Announcements

September 13, 2010

IHSA Board Extends Three State Final Hosting Contracts

The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors approved a recommendation to extend three state final hosting contracts at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 13, 2010.

Contract extensions were granted for the Bass Fishing State Finals at Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, the Dual Team Wrestling State Finals at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington and the Girls Badminton State Finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The IHSA conducted the first high school bass fishing state championship in the United States and likely the world in 2009 and its second state tournament last spring, with Carlyle Lake serving as the host for both. The initial contract spanned three years and Carlyle Lake will now host through 2016 with Monday’s extension.

“From the IHSA’s perspective, we could not have asked for a better start to the IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “We are pleased that the City of Carlyle has looked upon the first two years favorably and would like to extend this contract. This is the most unique state final event that we conduct and it certainly has some very distinctive challenges. The City of Carlyle, Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and so many others have worked tirelessly with us every step of the way to make this a first-class tournament. We look forward to the IHSA and the City of Carlyle continuing to be leaders nationally in the bass fishing community.”

U.S. Cellular Coliseum is entering its third year hosting the IHSA Dual Team Wrestling State Finals, while Eastern Illinois has hosted the girls badminton state tournament since 2005.

“We have enjoyed our relationship with U.S. Cellular Coliseum since the venue opened in 2006 and have expanded the number of State Series and State Final events we hold there,” added Hickman. “The Coliseum was able to accommodate our dual team wrestling state finals when it expanded to three classes and we are very happy with the result and the ability to continue holding it there.”

Hickman went on to comment on the IHSA’s long-standing relationship with Eastern Illinois, “Eastern Illinois University has long been a proponent of the IHSA and hosting our events. Their staff and facilities are superb and we are always excited about holding state final tournaments in Charleston.”

ACTION ITEMS                                                                                            

1. The Board approved the budget for the 2010-11 school term.
2. The Board voted to move recommendations from the Governance Action Team forward to the Legislative Commission and Town Meetings.
3. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the Dual Team Wrestling State Final hosting contract with U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington through 2015-16.
4. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the Girls Badminton State Final hosting contract with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston through 2015-16.
5. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the Bass Fishing State Final hosting contract with the City of Carlyle through 2015-16.
6. The Board heard a report from administrators from District 207 (Maine), District 86 (Hinsdale) and District 113 (Deerfield/Highland Park) and approved an interpretation related to Residence By-law 3.031.1. The interpretation reads:

   Students residing in the optional attendance areas in District 113, District 86 and District 207 are eligible as incoming freshmen or as transfer students new to the district this year, under the provisions of the Attendance By-law (3.031.1).  This interpretation only applies to the current optional attendance area outlined by each school today. 

7. The Board approved a recommendation to sign a television contract with When We Were Young Productions (WWWY) beginning with the 2010-11 school term and running through the 2016-17 school term. WWWY will continue to produce state final events on IHSA.TV as a part of the contract.

ELIGIBILITY RULINGS                                                                             

1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Joliet (West). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on the IHSA enrollment of Elgin (Westminster Christian) as it pertains to the classification policy.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on two students from Chicago (Leo). The students were ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the September 13, 2010, agenda:

1. The Executive Director reviewed the by-law proposals submitted by the membership for the upcoming Legislative Commission and Town Meetings.
2. Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha updated the Board on boys and girls lacrosse State Series entries.
3. Associate Executive Director Kurt Gibson updated the Board on the revised ticket procedures for the boys basketball state finals.
4. Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha updated the Board on plans for NFHS National Activities Week.
5. The Executive Director updated the Board on plans for the IADA Division Meetings and the Town Meetings/Principals Rules Meetings.
6. Assistant Executive Director Beth Sauser updated the Board on the NFHS Leadership Conference held in Indianapolis last month.
7. The Board discussed participation by K-8 students in IHSA sports and activities. 
8. The Board discussed visible tattoos on participants in sports and activities.
9. The Board was updated on schools who requested to play up in classification. Mt. Carmel cheerleading is the only new application this school term.