WIAA announces members of Competitive Balance Ad Hoc Committee

Representatives from central Wisconsin schools include:

• Bryon Graun, Colby Athletic Director and Head Cross Country Coach
• Bob Houts, Owen-Withee Superintendent
• Michael Lambrecht, Columbus Catholic Principal(and former Loyal Coach and Athletic Director)
• (former Edgar High School Standout) Jordan Sinz, Wisconsin Heights  District Administrator

Following the August meeting when the initiative was approved by the Board, the executive office received over 200 school administrators who volunteered to serve on the committee. The makeup of the committee was determined following input from the Sports Advisory Committee and Advisory Council as well as feedback from the seven Area Meetings last month.

Emphasis for inclusion on the committee was given to having representation that reflects the composition of the membership, including public and private schools; small, medium and large schools; and the three levels of school leadership comprising of athletic directors, principals, and presidents or superintendents. Gender and ethnicity representation is also included on the committee.

Here are the names, position and school affiliation of the Competitive Balance Ad Hoc Committee, which was selected by the Board of Control:

Mike Beighley, Whitehall Superintendent & Board of Control

Nathan Burklund, Niagara Superintendent

Brad Ceranski, Fall Creek Principal & Athletic Director

Kurt Cohen, Potosi District Administrator

Eric Coleman, Milwaukee Public Schools Student Services & Advisory Council

Timothy Flood, Green Bay Schools Athletic Director & Sports Advisory Committee

Bryon Graun, Colby Athletic Director

Michelle Guyant-Holloway, Wauwatosa East Athletic Director & Sports Advisory Committee

John Handel, Elkhorn Athletic Director

Cory Hinkel, Luck Superintendent & Advisory Council

Bob Houts, Owen-Withee District Administrator & Conference Commissioner

Ted Knutson, Aquinas President & Advisory Council

Mike Johnson, Eau Claire Superintendent

Michael Lambrecht, Columbus Catholic Principal

Peggy Larson, Winneconne District Administrator

Patrick Mans, Crivitz Superintendent

Douglas Parker, Big Foot District Administrator

Jordan Sinz, Wisconsin Heights District Administrator

Thomas Wermuth, Adams-Friendship District Administrator

Chris Zwettler, Edgewood Athletic Director

A series of ad hoc meetings are anticipated from now until March with the first meeting scheduled for Dec. 2, 2021. The ad hoc committee is scheduled to present an update of the proceedings at the March, 2022 Board meeting with potential to recommend an action item to be voted on by the membership at the 2022 April Annual Meeting.

This is the second time a committee has been assembled to review competitive balance. The first committee met five times from July-November in 2014. The directive of the committee was to study competitive balance/equity and to evaluate the existing procedure of the post-season tournaments and recommend a solution.

The previous committee established a number of criteria to assess potential solutions, which included applying to specific sports; addressing schools in rural/urban areas; applying a universal application to all WIAA member schools; advancing a plan that is clear, concise and supported by data that can be reviewed and evaluated.

The former committee researched numerous possible solutions, including the impact of a multiplier of 1.65 to private school enrollments, a reducer plan based on percentage of students on free-and-reduced lunch and a success factor based on advancement in previous tournaments. After considerable review, the committee advanced the success factor plan for a membership vote.

The membership voted to strike the language of the recommendation advanced by the committee at the 2015 Annual Meeting. It was replaced on the floor by an amendment to impose the 1.65 multiplier, which failed by a 141-293 margin. A second amendment was introduced to implement the reducer plan, which also failed to pass by a 167-265 vote.

The committee’s success factor recommendation was reintroduced and advanced by the Board to the Annual Meeting the following year. The membership voted not to implement the plan by a 198-221 vote.

The membership of the WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 516 senior high schools and 45 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 27 championship Tournament Series for boys and girls in 2021-22.