OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The proposal to address competitive balance in OHSAA tournaments failed 339 to 301 (53 percent to 47 percent). A similar proposal failed 332 to 303 (52 percent to 48 percent) in May 2011.
When Bud Roberts agreed to become girls soccer coach at Buckeye prior to the 2009 season he was greeted with some surprising news.
“Oh, by the way, we’re Division I.”
Roberts paused, shook his head, and then replied, “You’ve got to be kidding.”
No joke.
In a sport with only two divisions and by a total of 17 girls, Buckeye (297) had crossed the enrollment marker of 280 and graduated from Division II to Division I in girls soccer. That designation was compounded by having to play in the Brunswick District – annually one of the toughest in the state.
“That district was just brutal,” Roberts said.
The Bucks were thrown into a 16-team bracket with Medina (871), Strongsville (911), and a host of big-school soccer powers.
But earlier this month, the whole game changed for Buckeye and many other schools statewide miscast as Division I teams, not to mention Division III schools pushed to Division II.
By a 6-3 vote, the OHSAA Board of Directors on Apr. 7 approved a proposal from the soccer coaches association to expand the girls soccer tournament to three divisions beginning in 2011.
“When I heard, it was like Christmas – finally,” Roberts said. “They’ve been talking about it for years.”
The magic number bandied about was 500 – as in 500 girls soccer teams statewide needed to create a third division. At the start of the 2010 season, there were 493. Boys teams (553) outnumbered the girls by 60 and the boys have had three divisions.
One of his players learned of the vote before Roberts and sent him a text message. In her excitement, she closed by informing her coach “the only downside is Walsh is going be Division II.”
That may very well be true. The enrollment lines haven’t been drawn yet, but the defending ESPN Rise national champions were at 324 the last time everyone counted.
“My AD got tired of me asking,” Roberts said. “Finally he shot me an email.”
A year ago, Our Lady of the Elms coach Vito Testa lamented his team having to play Division II. Now the Panthers will settle into Division III and have a very real chance to advance in the tournament.
The Elms (125) had lost 4-0 to Wellington (176) in 2009 and St. Vincent-St. Mary (273) in 2010.
The middle division in girls cross country has been 187-353 the last two years. The middle division for girls track & field is 164-324. It stands to reason the middle division for girls soccer will be in that general neighborhood.
“Three divisions is a lot fairer for everyone,” Roberts said.
In 2009, Buckeye took a 9-1-5 mark into its sectional opener at Cloverleaf only to get creamed 9-1 by the Colts.
During the 2010 regular season, the Colts blanked Buckeye 3-0. The two met again in a sectional opener and Buckeye took a 7-4-5 record into the match and lost 2-0.
“We’re getting better,” Roberts said.
With 16 letter winners returning, including standouts Courtney Thomas and Alyson Joyce, the timing of the change couldn’t be better for Buckeye.
“We’ve got an opportunity to progress in the tournament, and do some damage,” Roberts said. “I know the players and the parents are excited. I’m excited.
“We’re a lot more optimistic.”