---

High school leagues
designate D-I and D-II

Each league uses different
criteria in assigning schools
to divisions at an HHSAA meeting

Division I or Division II is no longer the question.

The state's five leagues declared their assignments during the Hawaii High School Athletic Association's board meeting yesterday at Radford High School. The designations, based on each league's own set of criteria, are now set for the year.

That being said, if teams from any of the leagues drop out, it could still affect the final numbers.

"The numbers are not official yet. Teams may drop out, which in turn may affect each league's berths," HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said.

As expected, some leagues took advantage of last month's decision by the HHSAA to expand the state tournaments. With 12 berths in both the Division I and Division II state championships for girls volleyball, boys volleyball and softball, a heavily rural league like the Big Island Interscholastic Federation is in good shape.

Eleven of the BIIF's 15 schools that play girls volleyball will play in Division II. As of a month ago, the league's administrators were facing the possibility that all of its schools -- Hilo has the largest enrollment at approximately 1,650 -- would declare themselves Division II.

That option was still available, but the BIIF will have four Division I teams in softball, girls volleyball and boys volleyball. In girls basketball, where the BIIF is highly competitive, the league has six teams in D-I.

The approximate average enrollment of all Hawaii schools is 1,600.

The numbers are skewed in softball and volleyball, with more teams in D-II than D-I.

"Now that's what I didn't want to see," OIA executive director Dwight Toyama said.

Still, Toyama and the four other league chiefs voted unanimously to approve the league declarations.

The HHSAA's move to expand state tournaments had a direct impact on the ILH, particularly in girls volleyball. The ILH wanted to maximize its D-I state berths by keeping at least six teams in that category. Eventually, a team designated for Division II, Word of Life, requested a move into D-I.

Mid-Pacific, which graded out with the lowest rating in ILH D-I according to the league's formula, could have moved down to D-II as a replacement for Word of Life. The Owls declined, allowing the next team up, Sacred Hearts, the same option. Sacred Hearts moved down to D-II, showing that the ILH's new policy has some degree of flexibility.

It took the ILH 9 hours of meetings to work out its policy.

Kamehameha-Hawaii declared its girls volleyball team for Division I despite earlier pronouncements by athletic director Bob Wagner that the program is small and belongs strictly in D-II.

However, the school's girls basketball team, which won the D-II state title last year and is again a contender to win the BIIF championship, will remain at the lower level in 2005-06.

BIIF chief Keith Morioka requested a revisitation by the board for clarification on criteria. He urged a uniform set of criteria for all leagues.

"Everyone has something different. Some of the 2,200 (enrollment) schools are in Division II," he said. Currently, Waianae and Campbell of the OIA are designated for D-II in girls volleyball. Each school has an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students.

Ka'u athletic director Kimo Weaver hopes the expansion of state berths continues. "The coaches like it. They want to see it go across the board for all team sports," he said.

Waimea athletic director Jon Kobayashi was an early proponent of classification. Four years ago, while he was still Waimea football coach, he endorsed D-II, saying that he would be more than happy to have his Menehunes play there one day.

"It levels the playing field for the smaller schools, especially the ones that don't have as many athletes. It gives us a better chance to win a state title," he said. "We don't have the numbers, the size and depth, and that's where it becomes tough, especially in a contact sport."

Each league explained its criteria for assigning teams to divisions.

The OIA based its standard on a power rating over a two-year period, plus the rating of junior-varsity teams. Teams will be reviewed every two years.

In the ILH, criteria was comprised of enrollment by gender plus a win-loss record over a two-year period. State tourney appearances and league titles were also included in the formula. Junior-varsity records were not included. Teams will be reviewed each year.

In the BIIF, administrators went strictly by enrollment numbers. The cutoff for divisions was set at 1,700 students, making all schools eligible for Division II. The teams will be reviewed annually.

All teams in the KIF are in Division II.

The MIL went with a formula of win-loss record and enrollment. King Kekaulike has moved down to Division II in football. The school's enrollment is approximately 1,200, a bit down since Kamehameha-Maui opened its campus.

Extra points: Steve Colflesh has switched from volleyball to football. The former Seabury Hall girls volleyball coach was a Little All-American and coached high school football in California before coming to Hawaii. He is assisting the Pac-Three football team.

Hilo standout Kalei Kabalis transferred to Moanalua, but isn't eligible to play volleyball, according to OIA rules. An incoming sophomore, she still has the option to return to Hilo and play immediately. Her older sister, Kahala, played at Moanalua and went on to Chaminade University. Kahala played for the Menehunes when OIA rules were less stringent.

---

BACK TO TOP
|

Who's Division I and
who's division II

Here's a breakdown of which schools are in which divisions for the 2005-06 school year. Note: All KIF schools are Division II in all sports.

Basketball, girls

Division I

BIIF (6): Hilo, Honokaa, Keaau, Kealakehe, Konawaena, Waiakea
ILH (6): Iolani, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific, Punahou, Sacred Hearts
MIL (5): Baldwin, Lahainaluna, Maui, Kamehameha-Maui, King Kekaulike
OIA (14): Campbell, Farrington, Kahuku, Kaiser, Kalaheo, Kapolei, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Moanalua, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Radford, Roosevelt

Division II

BIIF (8): Alliance Christian, Hawaii Prep, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Ka'u, Kohala, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, St. Joseph
ILH (10): Christian Academy, Hanalani, Hawaii Baptist, La Pietra, Le Jardin, Lutheran, St. Andrew's, St. Francis, University, Word of Life
MIL (6): Hana, Kaahumanu Hou, Lanai, Molokai, Seabury Hall, St. Anthony
OIA (9): Aiea, Castle, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kalani, Thompson Academy, Waialua, Waianae, Waipahu

Football

Division I

BIIF (4): Hilo, Keaau, Kealakehe, Waiakea
ILH (3): Kamehameha, Punahou, Saint Louis
MIL (3): Baldwin, Lahainaluna, Maui
OIA (14): Aiea, Castle, Farrington, Kahuku, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kapolei, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Roosevelt, Waianae

Division II

BIIF (6): Hawaii Prep, Honokaa, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Ka'u, Kohala, Konawaena,
ILH (3): Damien, Iolani, Pac-Five
MIL (3): Kamehameha-Maui, King Kekaulike, Pac-Three
OIA (8): Campbell, Kaiser, Kalaheo, Kalani, Moanalua, Radford, Waialua, Waipahu

Softball

Division I

BIIF (4): Hilo, Keaau, Kealakehe, Waiakea
ILH (4): Iolani, Kamehameha, Punahou, St. Francis
MIL (4): Baldwin, King Kekaulike, Lahainaluna, Maui
OIA (14): Campbell, Castle, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kahuku, Kaiser, Kapolei, Leilehua, Mililani, Moanalua, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Roosevelt, Waianae

Division II

BIIF (7): Hawaii Prep, Honokaa, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Kohala, Konawaena, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa
ILH (4): Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific, Pac-Five, Sacred Hearts
MIL (6): Hana, Kamehameha-Maui, Lanai, Molokai
OIA (9): Aiea, Farrington, Kalaheo, Kalani, McKinley, Radford, Waialua, Waipahu

Volleyball, boys

Division I

BIIF (4): Kamehameha-Hawaii, Keaau, Kealakehe, Waiakea
ILH (5): Iolani, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Punahou, Saint Louis
MIL (4): Baldwin, Kamehameha-Maui, Maui, Molokai
OIA (14): Campbell, Castle, Kahuku, Kaimuki, Kalaheo, Kapolei, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Moanalua, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Radford, Roosevelt

Division II

BIIF (11): Christian Liberty, Hawaii Prep, Hilo, Honokaa, Ka'u, Kohala, Konawaena, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, Parker, St. Joseph
ILH (4): Damien, Hanalani, Hawaii Baptist, Mid-Pacific
MIL (5): Hana, King Kekaulike, Lahainaluna, Lanai, Seabury Hall
OIA (9): Aiea, Anuenue, Farrington, Kailua, Kalani, Thompson Academy, Waialua, Waianae, Waipahu

Volleyball, girls

Division I

BIIF (4): Kamehameha-Hawaii, Keaau, Kealakehe, Waiakea
ILH (6): Hawaii Baptist, Iolani, Kamehameha, Mid-Pacific, Punahou, Word of Life
MIL (5): Baldwin, Kamehameha-Maui, King Kekaulike, Maui, Molokai
OIA (14): Aiea, Castle, Farrington, Kahuku, Kalani, Kapolei, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Moanalua, Nanakuli, Pearl City, Roosevelt, Waipahu

Division II

BIIF (11): Christian Liberty, Hawaii Prep, Hilo, Honokaa, Ka'u, Kohala, Konawaena, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, Parker, St. Joseph
ILH (10): Christian Academy, Hanalani, La Pietra, Le Jardin, Lutheran, Maryknoll, Sacred Hearts, St. Andrew's, St. Francis, University
MIL (6): Hana, Kaahumanu Hou, Lahainaluna, Lanai, St. Anthony, Seabury Hall
OIA (10): Anuenue, Campbell, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kaiser, Kalaheo, Radford, Thompson Academy, Waialua, Waianae