NACI will stay "AA" for now
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- Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
Athletics at Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute will remain at the 鈥淎A鈥� level, for now. There have been discussions recently across the community suggesting high school sports programs would be elevated to 鈥淎AA鈥� for the 2015-2016 season.
水果视频 High Schools Athletic Association executive director Morris Glimcher said there are no plans to make this shift in the immediate future, but added that it is something that鈥檚 likely to occur within the next few years.
鈥淥ne of the requirements for a move to 鈥楢AA鈥� is enrolment numbers over 300 students between grades nine and 12. As of February, Neepawa had 297 students enrolled, so it鈥檚 something we are keeping an eye on,鈥� said Glimcher. 鈥淭o be clear however, it鈥檚 not something we immediately do. We review the long term enrolment expectations over the next two to four years and make decisions based on those long term projections.鈥�
Glimcher also stressed that the MHSAA works with the school to ensure any transition is seamless and serves the student athletes鈥� best interests.
鈥淲e will not mandate changes the moment a school is at 301 [enrolment]. If a program has a little more than 300 eligible students enrolled, we look at what best serves the school,鈥� said Glimcher. 鈥淥nce it鈥檚 apparent that a school has out grown its existing level of play and will remain at that new level for an extended period though, we work with them to shift into the appropriate category. When that point comes for Neepawa and it鈥檚 going to happen, that it needs to shift the 鈥楢AA鈥�, we ensure there is an extended period of adjustment for everyone. We will not contact NACI in August and tell them, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e playing triple A in September.鈥� There will be at least a six month to a year notice to make it work.鈥�
Beautiful Plains School Division superintendent Jason Young said the division keeps in contact with the MHSAA on its enrolment numbers and is making the proper adjustments to ensure the change is positive one, when it eventually does happen.
