I heard the comments last night during Hawaii Baptist's upset win over No. 1 'Iolani in boys volleyball. "Why is HBA in Division II? They supposed to be in Division I."

Really? A school of 400 high school students should be required to compete against monster programs from huge schools like Punahou (2,800)? I think it's perfect as is, well, at least in the ILH. Everyone has a round-robin, then splits off into their respective classification for a second round before heading off (hopefully) to the state tournaments.

HBA is a classic Rudy story, except that they not only have the heart of a champ, but play like it. Now, according to the OIA, a successful program should always be in Division I -- power-rating style. The problem is that it creates a "consolation division" mentality for players, coaches, students, teachers, administrators and (most importantly) the paying public. Sending teams with losing records -- in some cases, winning varsity records plus horrible JV results equal demotion -- to Division II is the way of the OIA.

It is a method of madness, enabling programs and, in effect, communities into a self-fulfilling prophecy much of the time.

But back to HBA. I heard the comments. I responded: "Why should an overachieving small school be punished?"

HBA can always request to play in D-I, but they are comfortable, as they should be, at D-II and nobody else really has a legitimate gripe. Instead of grumbling -- and indirectly expressing jealousy -- rival schools should focus on improving from day to day, working your asses off in the off-season as HBA boys and girls do.

Stop whining. Start working hard. Especially you huge schools with lazy leadership in certain sports that keep playing in Division II. That's the REAL gripe. 'Nuff said.

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