Coupeville Sports

Izzy Wells and Co. have to win a district title to make it to the state tourney, after the WIAA altered the playoff setup. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Wolf boys face a similar path.

Just win, baby.

After an unexpected, last-second reversal from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Coupeville High School basketball teams, and their closest rivals, have no other choice.

Because claiming a district title is now the only way for teams in Districts 1 or 2 to earn a berth to the big dance.

Previously, both teams which made the championship game of the District 1/2 tourney were slated to advance to the regional round of the 16-team state championships.

That outlook had been in place since before the season started, but changed Sunday, when the WIAA cut District 1/2’s state allocations from two back to one.

District 4 was given the boys berth, while District 7 nabs the girls slot.

The District 1/2 tourney, to be held at Coupeville High School Feb. 15 and 17, retains the same setup as before, just with an increased emphasis on ending things with a win.

The #2 seeds from the Northwest 2B/1B League face Auburn Adventist in loser-out games the first night.

Two days later, the winners from those opening games return to play the NWL #1 teams for a district title and a state berth.

Heading into the final week of regular season play, the Coupeville boys and La Conner girls are each on the cusp of earning those #1 seeds.

On the girls side of things, Coupeville is a Senior Night win away from claiming the #2 NWL seed, while the La Conner boys have a slight edge over Friday Harbor in that race.

Coupeville response:

In a letter sent to WIAA decision makers, Coupeville Athletic Director Willie Smith had the following to say.

Disappointment.

This is what myself, my coaches, my staff, and our community feels with the decision that you’ve made regarding the allocation change at this point in the season.

From what I understand in talking about the process you used in discussing the change, it was all about the numbers, so let me speak to you about some numbers that I have.

Zero.

The number of personal correspondence we received explaining the decision.

Rather, we received a forwarded email from our District Director stating that the allocations had been adjusted and distributed to District 4 (Boys) and District 7.

Nothing detailing why the decision was made, just a sheet of the allocations with scribbled notations on it.

When I go and tell our teams and community about the change and they ask why, what should I tell them?

The decision to make this change was based on what?

And none of you thought this decision important enough, at this late of a date, to give any written or verbal explanation as to the reasons you chose to make this decision?

One.

The number of weeks to the start of our District Tournament in which we have to communicate to our athletes, coaches, and communities that we have lost an allocation.

I could also say zero since District 4 had already completed their first round by the time you made this decision.

Seven.

The number of weeks that passed in which no coach, athletic director, district director, or WIAA member showed any concern about the allocations.

However, with one week prior to the majority of the District Tournaments beginning a District 6 representative brings this up.

Why? What prompted the concern after the allocations had been out so long?

Is there not a point in the season when it becomes imprudent to make a change; apparently there is not but there should be.

Twenty-four.

Is the number of our student-athletes that this directly affects.

Adding up the other three schools would increase this number to close to 100 student-athletes plus our coaches.

Our kids believed all season, that because of the allocations posted, they would have an opportunity to get two teams from our tournament to the state bracket, only to have it taken from them with one week before the start of the tournament.

While you may not think this is a substantial amount of student athletes negatively affected by this decision I would ask you to come and give them the news one week out that based on numbers they have now lost their allocation.

Zero.

The number of coaches or athletic directors that have communicated with us from our District and other Districts that support this decision by the WIAA Executive Board (including those that benefitted from this decision).

They think it is absolutely ludicrous that this decision would come out this late in the season and take this opportunity away from our student athletes.

One.

Flawed system of checks and balances as well as a philosophical approach to this issue.

This should not happen, ever to any other school or District again and if there is not a review of the system for confirmations, if there is not a cutoff date initiated to make these type of changes in a timely manner, and if there is not a switch in philosophy that puts numbers ahead of our student-athletes then you will have failed as a board.

You chose to make this about numbers rather than looking at the entire picture; your decision is narrow in focus and narrow minded.

It does not represent what you, and we, are supposed to be about and that is the well-being of the student-athletes we are put in charge of.

I sincerely hope that out of our loss changes come about to make this never happen again.

I hope that you are the type of people that will look closely at this situation, honestly assess your reasoning, and choose to put our student-athletes well-being above numbers or formulas.