WIAA Board Elects Officers; Formation of Competitive Balance Ad-Hoc Committee

The Board conducted its 2021-22 officer elections. Karl Morrin, district administrator of the Florence School District, will serve as the president-elect, and Dave Steavpack, director of athletics at Manitowoc Lincoln High School, was elected to the role of treasurer. In addition, Eric Burling, principal at Burlington High School; Michael Endreas, district administrator of the Spencer School District; Ryan McMillen, athletics and activities director at Muskego High School; and Jill Stobber, director of athletics at Waterford High School were introduced as new members of the Board.

Mel Dow received formal Board approval as the new associate director of the Association after beginning his position on Aug. 2, and Stephanie Hauser served in her first Board of Control meeting as executive director.

The Board voted in support of forming another ad-hoc committee to re-examine competitive balance. Details and invitations to voluntarily serve on the committee will be sent to member schools and presented at the Area Meetings in September.

The Board approved an executive staff recommendation to partner with GoFan as State Tournament ticketing partner in 2021-22 for girls tennis, boys and girls cross country, gymnastics, boys and girls hockey, softball, boys and girls swimming & diving, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls track & field and team wrestling. The partnership eliminates on-site cash ticket purchases and physical tickets.Other Board action items approved were appointments to the 2021-22 Coaches Advisory Committee, Middle-Level Council and Conference Realignment Task Force. Also approved were the 2021-22 Board of Control Policies and Procedures Guide, the 2021-22 Media Policies Reference Guide and the annual renewal of the Association’s membership in the National Federation of State High School Associations.

A recommendation to move the October Advisory Council and Board of Control meetings to a day earlier than originally schedule received support from the Board. The Advisory Council will meet Wednesday, Oct. 6, with the joint meeting with the Board of Control Thursday, Oct. 7. The Board also approved continuation of the COVID accommodation to allow the most recently defeated opponent to advance in the Tournament Series if a team is unable to advance because of forfeiture due to COVID guidelines.

Results of a special election conducted for positions on the Advisory Council were presented to the Board. Ty Breitlow, district administrator at Randolph was elected as a small school representative, and Stacy Bolder, associate principal at Tomahawk was voted in as the gender at-large representative.

Among the other topics discussed were the agenda for the 2021 Area Meetings in September, development of the 2021-22 operational budget, maintaining existing COVID guidelines for member schools and a review of the membership’s transfer rules related to the COVID pandemic.

The Board also received liaison reports from Paul Manriquez of the Department of Public Instruction, John Ashley of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and Shawn Groshek of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.

The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 516 senior high schools and 48 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 27 State Championship Tournaments for boys and girls.