By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, DyeStatCal
(AUGUST 5, 2009) -- With three CIF sections yet to release their CBED enrollment classifications for the coming cross-country season, DyeStatCal has thus far identified five new school re-classifications -- all from the Southern end of the state -- which should impact the preseason CIF-State rankings when those are released in early September.
 Only the Sac-Joaquin, Los Angeles City and Central sections have yet to publicly release their data, with the North Coast, Southern, San Diego, Northern and Central Coast already checking in and both the Oakland and San Francisco sections operating on set lineups.
The most notable division move thus far involves Southern Section rising power Foothill of Santa Ana, which had been a factor across both genders in Division III in recent years and was a co-favorite to battle for the boys state title this fall and be among the top handful in the state on the girls side. But the Knights now relocate to Division II, where they will find themselves embroiled in a very tight boys team battle -- 9 teams projected within 60 seconds and 85 points -- for the #2 position in the state division behind heavily favored Mountain View of the Central Coast Section. Foothill's girls, fifth at the state meet in Division III last November, now figure to be among the main players in Division II.
The Knights just barely caught themselves in the Division II web, with their student enrollment under CBED requirement guidelines recorded at 1261 students, the smallest school in the division and exactly two students away from remaining a Division III member. "Always interesting," commented Foothill coach Matt Bell via email when learning of the move.
But Foothill is not the only heavy hitter to move into the Division II scene as Patrick Henry HS, the most improved boys program in the San Diego Section a year ago, and West Ranch, a swift-moving Southern Section girls crew that caught the attention of many last season, will also be reclassified as both move down from Division I. Both programs figure to be ranked in the top 10 in the state in their division in preseason.
Division III also saw some notable shuffling as both Granite Hills and Woodbridge became new tenants in the division after previously residing in Division II. Granite Hills' boys, who missed the state meet by only 17 points despite finishing 11th in the tight division, should be an even stronger contender in 2009. Woodbridge, which did not advance out of a competitive league last year, should emerge as a statewide boys force in Division III this year. The Warriors are now the largest school in Division III, just under the maximum threshold.
In a rule which went into effect last year, CIF sections can set their own criteria for membership within Divisions I, II, and III while Divisions IV and V must keep certain enrollment criteria in effect. Most sections appeared to adhere to the previous critiera, student enrollment in grade 10-12. But not all.
The Central Section appeared to be the only section which took liberal action under the new options in 2008, a decision which left several across the state complaining. The section created some realignments based upon a school's recent local strength of performance regardless of enrollment size. Among the outcomes was that Foothill of Bakersfield's Chris Schwartz, an All-American talent from a higher division, was moved down to Division III, upsetting many in that division.
It has been rumored Central Section re-aligments for 2009 have already been determined and a few teams with recent success have been "promoted" to a higher division. But the exception to the trend appears to be McFarland, a smaller-sixed school with ample regional success in recent years. As one coach requested anonymity opined, "Why is there one school not being subject to the same philosophy (that) all others are in our section?"
Sections still have the opportunity to re-classify schools to other divisions at a later date, with the Southern Section among those that also look at the new (2009-2010) CBED data once it becomes available after the start of the school year. Any Southern Section school which experiences a 15% or greater enrollment change in either direction from the coming year to the previous year will also be subject to reclassification if the new CBED number would land them in a different enrollment division.
Schools that have also been in existence less than four years likely will also be re-classified once the new CBED data comes out in early October, as an additional "grade" of students figured to impact the enrollment number considerably. San Juan Hills of the Southern Section, for example, did not have juniors or seniors in the school last year and was a Division IV school. It may move to a higher division once the new student attendance data is released. |