Wiaa Board Of Control

The Board of Control heard a summary about the competitive balance plan and is scheduled to vote in March on whether to advance the plan. 

Lacrosse for boys and girls becomes a WIAA-sanctioned sport in the 2023-24 school year and will feature postseason play.  

The WIAA Board of Control made other wrestling changes after reviewing coaches’ committee recommendations that affect winter sports at its meeting Wednesday, but it didn't review the basketball shot clock issue. 

This spring's inclement weather created discussion about the future scheduling of spring sports. Plus, those attending received updates on competitive balance and basketball seeding and shot clocks. 

In addition to two conference realignment plans, three editorial changes to the WIAA member constitution were voted to advance to the annual board meeting in April.

The proposal, which next goes to the WIAA Board of Control and would be effective in fall of 2023, affects schools from the Badger, Big Eight, Southern Lakes and Rock Valley conferences. 

This is the second time a committee has been assembled to review competitive balance. The first was in 2014.

Labecki's decision follows the impending retirement of WIAA executive director Dave Anderson. Stephanie Hauser has been named the next executive director. 

Dave Anderson, who's retiring, addresses the group in his final annual meeting as executive director. The next executive director, Stephanie Hauser, provides glimpses into her leadership style. 

The girls wrestling tournament is scheduled for two years at the La Crosse Center, beginning in January, 2022. The Board of Control also supported removing mask mandates for spectators at outdoor spring season state tournaments if social distancing can be attained. 

The WIAA Board of Control also approved admission requirements for baseball and softball tournament series games this spring at its meeting Friday.

The finalists are two candidates on the WIAA executive staff and two candidates who have had experience on the WIAA's Board of Control. 

The Baraboo School Board opposes a plan that would immediately send the Baraboo and Reedsburg football teams to the Mississippi Valley Conference in the La Crosse area in order to clear the way for Sun Prairie East and Sun Prairie West to compete in the Badger Large.

Suspension of the travel reimbursements applies to the 2021 winter, alternate fall and spring culminating events in response to the drastic reduction of revenue generated with limited spectator attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a WIAA release summarizing the meeting.

Joan Gralla started work at the WIAA executive office in 1981, and most recently served as office manager.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new guidance that the quarantine period may be reduced to 10 days or seven days if conditions warrant, but WIAA is staying with 14 days.

The WIAA Board of Control discussed a number of creative options to maximize offerings to winter sports teams and athletes on Friday

The WIAA Board of Control meets Friday and Madison Memorial AD Jeremy Schlitz anticipates there will be discussion about coach contact provisions, sport specific contact items and some eligibility rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The WIAA won’t stand in the way of winter high school sports if schools are willing and able to participate, but the association’s Board of Control approved a lengthy list of COVID-19 guidelines during its monthly meeting on Friday.

After the state events were ruled out at University of Wisconsin facilities in a decision last week, new sites were set for girls golf, girls tennis and girls swimming and diving this fall. 

Madison Memorial athletic director Jeremy Schlitz believes the WIAA Board of Control's decision to offer fall, winter, alternative spring and an amended traditional spring season is a `win' for the conference. 

The WIAA will have four seasons in 2020-21, with normal calendar dates for practices and competitions changed in response to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The risk of re-igniting the COVID-19 pandemic, putting lives and future health at risk, outweighs the toll paid by student-athletes losing the chance to compete.