Northern Illinois Sports Beat: Area Coaches Sound Off On Four Classes

It is common sense that more classes will break up regional rivalries. According to a column from Streatorsports.com�s Kevin Missel, some of the examples of this are as follows: Streator (3A) and Ottawa (4A), LaSalle-Peru (3A) and Ottawa (4A), Erie (1A) and Prophetstown (2A) and Morris (3A) and Minooka (4A).

Hinckley-Big Rock (1A) and Somonauk (2A) of the Little 10 Conference is another example. The Tri-County Conference and the new Western Sun Conference will have almost an even split between two classes.

Sterling and Rock Falls� rivalry took a huge hit after Rock Falls went down to Class A in 1997. Even though both will be in 3A under the new system, it gives a good example as to what could be a downward impact of a regional rivalry.

�People at small schools didn't really care that they wouldn't win a state title,� said Storm about his early days in Indiana. �They just wanted to do as well as they could and win a sectional (first round there) game now and then, but understood that they were part of something special. I think Illinois was the same way. The tournament and all it stood for was bigger than the membership schools. But, not now.�

To preserve the regional rivalries is one of the biggest reasons Rolinski wanted only two classes in 1972. For some players, winning a conference or a Regional title is bigger than advancing down to state. However, that fact itself reflects one of the purposes of the four-class system.

Closing Thoughts

No matter what happens, the four-class system will come into effect starting in the 2007-08 school year. But one can now recall that there was a 35-year period when basketball, and other sports, was at their peak in Illinois. From 1972 to 2007, a two-class system was one-of-a-kind and will be missed by everyone.

There is just speculation now that Indiana reportedly wants to cut back to two classes to model what we have now and will have had.

�It was great, we changed it and it can't be the same,� said Storm. �Even if they want to switch back, the scar will always be there in the records book, in the history and tradition, in the lore, and etc. If you have a jewel, cutting it in half doesn't make it worth more. The state of Illinois had a jewel admired across the country. The now smaller pieces are just like others."

�I think that this is one of the better things that the IHSA has done in a long time," said Montgomery.

Has the IHSA made a great decision? Only time will tell.

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