High school sports realignment won’t change postseason
By Chris Gabel, Reno Gazette-Journal
Discussions of fairly radical changes to postseason tournament formats were brief and, in the end, an NIAA subcommittee elected to recommend the status quo going forward.
With next year’s realignment dramatically altering the landscape, reassessing the structure of region and state tournaments and meets had to happen. The committee, which gathered at the NIAA offices in Reno on Wednesday, discussed awarding first-round byes in region tournaments to league champions.
“It would be a reward for winning your league,” said Ron McNutt, Northern 4A commissioner.
But the committee chose to remain consistent, and recommended future tournaments continue to be structured in multiples of four teams.
“The committee did its homework,” said Donnie Nelson, NIAA assistant director. “They listened to athletic directors and administrators but also to coaches. And these recommendations reflect those comments.”