Houston programs to move to the large-school level

Oct. 27, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman

HOUSTON - Believe or not, Houston High is now considered a large school - at least when recognized by the Alaska Schools Activities Association.

ASAA, the governing body that oversees all activities in the state, mandates a limit of 440 total students for any school with programs at the small-school, or 3A level. During its official count in October, Houston hit 448 students, marking the second consecutive year that HHS topped the 440 mark.

Because of this, Houston will be moved to the large-school level, for at least two years, starting in the fall of 2007, Houston activities director Jamie Smith said.

According to the ASAA bylaws, if a school eclipses the 440-student mark for two straight years, a school automatically moves from the 3A to the 4A class. Then, regardless of the student body population, a school is there for two years.

Smith said last year, Houston had 444 students during the official count, but ended the school year with only 386 students. There are many factors to consider when looking at the difference between the number of students enrolled at the start of the year, and the number attending the school in the spring. But the number taken during the official count in October, is the number that goes in the books.

Football is the only sport that will not be effected, and the Hawks will remain in the 3A Greatland Conference. ASAA uses different requirements to classify the state's football programs.

But every other athletic team at HHS will make the

jump.

Smith said the Houston hockey team, winner of five of the last six small-school state championships, will join the 4A North Star Conference.

The basketball, wrestling, volleyball, cross country running and track and field squads are expected to join the Northern Lights Conference.

Smith said this will obviously be a tough transition, but the Houston administrators, coaches and members of the booster clubs are already preparing for the change.

&#8220We're trying to be proactive,” Smith said.

Houston has already put together sort of a task force to explore whatever needs to be done to ease this transition. Smith said this group is even developing ways to improve Houston's physical education programs to better prepare the school's athletes for tougher competition.

&#8220It's going to be one of those David and Goliath things,” Smith said. &#8220There's nothing we can do about it, so we need to prepare our kids for it.”

Smith said a big obstacle will simply be the mental part of the change. Despite the size of a school's student body, Smith said, it's still five-on-five on the basketball court.

Despite being a small school, the Houston hockey squad has seen immense success in recent years, against schools of all sizes. The program had its growing pains, but is now able to compete against small-school and large-school teams alike.

&#8220When we finally turned the corner, those kids started believing they can compete with anybody,” Smith said.

Smith said the move will also allow the Hawks to be able to take advantage of natural rivalries. Starting next year, Houston will have the opportunity to play Valley schools Palmer, Wasilla and Colony on a regular basis in most sports.

Smith said that will be a big boost to the programs financially, and will help Houston's athletes receive more exposure.

&#8220I'm excited,” Smith said. &#8220It'll be a new challenge.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.