RENTON — The state football championships will still be played at the Dome.
Earlier this month, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, or WIAA, said it had decided to move the westside state semifinals away from the Tacoma Dome and instead have them played at regional locations.
At the time, the location of the six state championship games also was up in the air.
However, during its January meeting, the WIAA’s executive board voted to remain in the Tacoma Dome for the state championship games, also known as the Gridiron Classic finals.
The WIAA announce the decision Monday with a news release.
“The Tacoma Dome is synonymous with state football, and the board felt it was important to continue that legacy and tradition,” WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese said in the release.
The WIAA’s agreement with the Tacoma Dome runs through the fall of 2018.
The regional locations for the westside semifinals have yet to be decided.
The board also voted to keep state baseball tournaments at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. It will remain the first option whenever Safeco Field in Seattle is not available.
The board also agreed to continue the conversation and create a sub-committee regarding the return of 16-team state basketball tournaments.
The state basketball tournament committee — made up of school board members, superintendents, principals, athletic directors, coaches and WIAA executive board and staff members — presented to the executive board its findings from surveying state superintendents and school leaders.
The committee’s survey asked school administrators about additional revenue options to support the return of the 16-team basketball tournaments. The tournaments have been played with eight teams for the past several years.
Finally, the classification numbers were approved and finalized and will be posted on the WIAA’s website on today.
For more about how the expected reclassification affects the North Olympic Peninsula’s nine schools, see Page B1 of Monday’s edition or read online at www.tinyurl.com/PDN-reclass.
Forks football search
Forks High School is gearing up to begin looking for a new head football coach soon.
Athletic director Kevin Rawie said earlier this month that he expects to post the job and “initiate a seach in the next month.”
Rawie did not have a goal for when a new coach would be chosen.
“I do not have a firm date right now,” he said
“We’re taking input from school board members and other community members.”
The Forks football head coaching job has been open since November when Craig Shetterly vacated the post after one season.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
