HondaReport.com - Column: ILH facing crossroads sooner or later

Column: ILH facing crossroads sooner or later

This column originally ran on May 27, 2005, in the premium area. It is worth another read, particularly in light of the continuing problems for the ILH's smaller schools.

It's very apparent, from talking with coaches and admins across the state, that the birth and development of Division II state championships is a true gem. Opportunities and fairness that didn't exist seven years ago are blossoming for both O‘ahu and Neighbor Island programs.

Morale is up for many teams, many student-athletes, and it's because of the expansion of state tourneys. Hawai‘i was the last state in the union to adopt classification at the state tournament level, and not a moment too soon.

For schools that are still miscast in the wrong division, discussion should be priority.

Elsewhere, there are still a few diehard "Brand-Name" private-school fanatics who refuse to see the complete picture.

From star status on the HRC girls basketball forum: "If anything is uneven, it is the amount of teams the OIA gets."

A. The public-school system offer a free education, discounted lunch prices and opportunities to play varsity/JV athletics to all regardless of ability.

B. Brand-name private schools offer huge discounts for tuition, adjusts admission for kids with exceptional athletic abilities and, of course, a fantastic college prep education.

C. Public schools continue to compete against the Brand-name private schools until the influx of talent from publics to private becomes incredibly difficult to ignore.

D. Brand-name private schools continue bringing in student-athletes on this athletic-based policy.

E. Public schools get together, leave the league, join the country public schools and form the OIA. The year is 1969.

F. Fast-forward to 2005. Division II state tournaments are gradually gaining acceptance and becoming the norm.

G. The smaller schools of the ILH are beginning to see the light. Unable to adjust their own admission policies as the Brand-name private schools did long ago, they are punching bags in several sports.

H. Gradually, the smaller private schools depart for Division II competition at the league and state-tournament levels.

I. Brand-name private schools, including those that offer more than 90-percent discounts (and still give non-qualifying student-athletes leeway) are left to their own once again. In girls basketball, Maryknoll leans heavily toward moving back down to D-II. Sacred Hearts belongs there, too, but it is SO OBVIOUS the politics of moving down are controlled by adults, not student-athletes.

Epilogue: Will ILH girls basketball dwindle down to the Big 3 soon? The possibility is real. The cannibalism of the ILH has never been so apparent. The byproduct of achieving excellence in athletics and academics has some residual toxins because the lust to win has altered policies. It happened in the late '60s and beyond ... and it is clearly occurring once again.

A private school can — and should — do what benefits itself best. If that means the private schools will one day have their own state tournament — if and when the public schools get tired of playing on an uneven playing field — we should know that it was a long time in coming.

I hope it never happens. I love statewide competition. The kids always have, as well as coaches and fans.