LIHUE >> A proposal to create a two-tier state football tournament was rejected in committee yesterday, but will still get a hearing in today's final session of the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference. Proposal for 2-tier
tourney rejectedBut the measure will still be heard
today in HIADA's final sessionBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe proposal submitted by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association's football subcommittee was tabled in Sunday's opening session. The measure was then voted down 15-9 when the committee reconvened yesterday morning.
However, Mid-Pacific athletics director Don Botelho requested a minority report, meaning the proposal will be presented in today's final general assembly.
Botelho said the outcome of the committee meeting was expected following Sunday's debate over the tiered system. Concerns regarding gender equity and how to classify schools were among the questions raised by the committee.
The proposal would create a four- or five-team Division II tournament to be run concurrently with the existing eight-team Division I state football tournament this fall. If rejected today, the next time a classified tournament could be proposed again would be at next year's HIADA conference.
The Kauai Interscholastic Federation's committee representatives were among those who voted against the proposal yesterday. The KIF plays a significant role in the Division II tournament, as the league would choose which tier its champion would compete in.
"I don't think all the details have been ironed out yet and our league decided against it," said Jon Kobayashi, coach of nine-time KIF champion Waimea. "We'll just have to play with what's dealt to us."
Measures passed by HIADA's four committees over the last two days and those for which a minority report was requested go before the general assembly today to close the 42nd annual conference. Proposals passed today face approval by the HHSAA's executive board before they can be implemented.
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