It appears that another shakeup, although a bit more minor than that of two years ago, could be looming for a few North Olympic Peninsula high school athletic programs in the near future.
With enrollment numbers due to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association offices at the end of November, it looks like the Port Townsend Redskins could be on the move once again.
According to first-year athletic director Scott Ricardo, whether or not the Redskins – the third-smallest Class 2A school in the state – move down to 1A will be completely up to them.
“I am certain that our numbers will be 1A in the short future,” he said. “I am not certain if we will be competing in 1A.”
It would surely be hard to believe that the Redskins, if given the opportunity, would not move down to the 1A level.
After all, it’s always better being the top dog.
Just ask Sequim.
Athletic director Chris Olson has seen his Wolves dominate the 2A division of the Olympic League since they moved down from 3A to 2A last year.
He estimated that 14 out of 16 Sequim athletic programs sent athletes to state competitions last season.
And one, the girls tennis team, even won the school’s first state championship.
Based upon such evidence, it would seem a logical choice for the Redskins to move to 1A and join the 1A Nisqually League, which happens to be the home of their rivals, the Chimacum Cowboys.
That would leave the Olympic League and the West Central District without another 2A team, something neither has too many of.
In the current two-year cycle, which ends after this school year, there are only 10 2A schools in the district.
That means less slots in state competitions and smaller district tournaments.
In football, for example, only two 2A schools from the district advance to state.
As of right now, Ricardo said he isn’t sure what he’d recommend to the School Board.
“I’ve been so busy keeping up with status quo here that I haven’t had a chance to research it,” he said, “so I don’t think I can give you an opinion.”
All Ricardo has to do is look 30 miles to the west.
