Coupeville Sports

Wolf fans keep an eye on all the gossip from La Conner. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The twists and turns keep coming.

With the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association currently conducting the process to classify schools for sports competition between 2024-2028, the Northwest 2B/1B League will likely look different next fall.

Not necessarily in terms of schools being added or subtracted, but in how the current occupants line up.

Projected numbers indicate Mount Vernon Christian and Orcas Island will move up from 1B to 2B, joining Coupeville, Friday Harbor, and La Conner, while Concrete and Darrington will remain at 1B.

Going from a 3-4 lineup to a 5-2 one helps 2B schools as it increases playoff opportunities in most sports.

Now, though, there’s another quirk, as La Conner has appealed to play down for football.

The Braves, who are a traditional gridiron powerhouse, have struggled in recent seasons, both in terms of wins and losses and roster numbers.

Schools can opt to play above their classification in any sport, but can play down only in football, and only if approved by the WIAA.

La Conner’s bid to move its pigskin program to 1B was confirmed by Coupeville High School Athletic Director Willie Smith, who is the President of the NWL.

Appeals will be heard Jan. 18-19, with the WIAA approving the full 2024-2028 plan Jan. 21.

After that leagues can set schedules, add or subtract schools, and get all their various plans hashed out ahead of the start of the 2024-2025 school year in August.

If La Conner’s appeal to play as a 1B football program is successful, it will leave Coupeville and Friday Harbor as the only 2B schools playing the sport in the current NWL lineup.

While Orcas and MVC are slated to move up, neither field a gridiron team, opting to focus on boys’ soccer instead.

With three 2B teams playing football previously, one earned a ticket to the state tourney. That will remain in effect, barring the NWL adding any other 2B football-playing members to its current lineup.

Darrington and Concrete, the league’s remaining 1B schools, play eight-man football. If La Conner is approved to join them, it’s likely the Braves will also pull three players from the field for future games.

How that would affect the status of future games with Coupeville is unknown at this time.