Oak Harbor part of Wesco realignment

By JIM WALLER
Whidbey News Times Sports editor
August 28, 2012 · Updated 10:18 AM 

With the swings in enrollments in several of its schools, the Western Conference, Oak Harbor’s league, will divide into a different alignment this school year.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association conducts enrollment counts every two years and schools shift classifications based on those numbers.

Two members of the Western Conference, Stanwood and Marysville-Pilchuck, had a decline in enrollment and will drop from 4A to 3A. Lynnwood will jump from 3A to 4A.

Now with 10 3A schools, Wesco decided to split those schools into two five-team divisions.

Oak Harbor will join Stanwood, Marysville-Pilchuck, Marysville Getchell and Everett in the North.

Glacier Peak, Meadowdale, Mountlake Terrace, Shorecrest and Shorewood will be in the South.

Mount Vernon jumped to 4A this year and left the Northwest Conference because it does not have any other 4A schools. The Bulldogs will be part of the five-team Wesco 4A North with Arlington, Monroe, Snohomish and Lake Stevens.

Lynnwood, Cascade, Edmonds-Woodway, Mariner, Kamiak and Jackson will compete in the Wesco 4A South.

Western Conference administrators are still working out the kinks in the playoff format for fall sports. The details for qualifying for the post season are expected to be announced soon, according to Oak Harbor High School Athletic Director Nicki Luper.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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