Iowa High School BEDS count 24-25

[BCClone]

The cutoff is 105, yeah.

There are schools ahead of St Ed's who also 8-man but all those schools (including St. Eds) are playing this cycle on an "enrollment exception". I am not sure what that means.

You can also play up, so West Hancock could be 8 man by bed counts and maybe just playing up to A.

Yeah, that was the waiver thing I talked about. Teams that were under 120 2 years ago could get a waiver to play 8 man if over 105 for this cycle. Not supposed to get one for the next. Very doubtful West Hancock goes 8 man any time soon. Still appear to have good numbers.

 

[AuH2O]

I'll use kind of an extreme example here.

Grundy Center has been REALLY good for the last 5 years. Already got bumped to 1A because of the Free/Reduced Lunch thing and I can tell you that the run at being this good ends after next year. Their 8th and 9th graders simply aren't as good as the last few groups and this year's Juniors are the last really good class.

Those current 8th and 9th graders shouldn't have to play 2A just because the older kids were better than they were.

Class IA teams don't make the playoffs because they've magically had 6 years of good talent, and they don't start missing the playoffs because their 7th and 8th grade kids don't look talented.

This happens in small schools that are traditional powers. Some of them look like crap as 7th and 8th graders, and they get into the HS program and like magic they suddenly start to be part of the machine that wins games. Junior High success doesn't correlate all that well to HS success. There are way too many factors. There are a lot of ways to build good HS programs, some include JH success, some don't.

 

[ISUTex]

I know the Hoover coach. He's a great guy. He's tried to do exactly what you said even before the 7th/8th level. I helped coach flag football teams in a league he organized.

It's extremely difficult and they are 0-9 and it's not for any shortage of effort or caring on his part. They've won 2 games over the last 3 seasons. He's not the best coach in the world I'm sure but I guarantee you he's not the worst.

Hoover probably doesn't have the kids to be honest. Especially in the class they are in. They lost to Perry recently. That same year Perry got smoked by a class A team that finished 4th in their district. Not sure how you would consistently win there.

 

[BCClone]

Class IA teams don't make the playoffs because they've magically had 6 years of good talent, and they don't start missing the playoffs because their 7th and 8th grade kids don't look talented.

This happens in small schools that are traditional powers. Some of them look like crap as 7th and 8th graders, and they get into the HS program and like magic they suddenly start to be part of the machine that wins games. Junior High success doesn't correlate all that well to HS success. There are way too many factors. There are a lot of ways to build good HS programs, some include JH success, some don't.

Consistency helps. The routine goos HS teams I’ve seen, you will see the junior high run the same offense. Usually even the youth programs will also. Parents that help but don’t over run. Coaches who are teachers, they are around the kids and make sure the kids are keeping up with work and also going out. Just some of the things I’ve seen.

 

[cykadelic2]

Estherville is 2A in football, basketball, baseball, golf, track, etc. Same size as current Twin Lakes member Southeast Valley.

What they did historically when population centers were different doesn't mean anything. Once upon a time, Audubon played Emmetsburg in the 3A football title game. Now one is in 8-man and the other is in 1A.

Speaking of Estherville, they are refusing to get rid of their Midget mascot:

 

[wxman1]

Thanks. So the cut is St Ed’s should be A and west Hancock 8 man. Hats off to North Tama for playing 11.

I talked with the North Tama AD in August and they have been having conversations for a year or two on dropping down. Sounded like he thought it was inevitable.

 

[BCClone]

I talked with the North Tama AD in August and they have been having conversations for a year or two on dropping down. Sounded like he thought it was inevitable.

Sons HS could drop to 8 and I know it won’t happen.

 

[CoachHines3]

Speaking of Estherville, they are refusing to get rid of their Midget mascot:

HOLD THE LINE ESTHERVILLE DONT GIVE IN

 

[theshadow]

All 5 Lakes Conference schools (the 3 leaving and the 2 remaining) have been told "no, thanks" by the Siouxland Conference. Separately, Western Christian is now on about a 15-year streak of getting a "no" from the Siouxland.

A couple of interesting news dumps during state football and Thanksgiving...

(1) Mediators sided with Spirit Lake, that they should be allowed in the Siouxland.

Byers: Mediators side with Spirit Lake in league debate

Many of the key people involved in the decision-making process have tried to cover the future in a shroud of secrecy, but it appears there will be some change coming

www.nwestiowa.com

(2) The Siouxland may end up absorbing all of the Lakes schools (5) plus Western Christian, for a 16-team league starting in 2026-27.

Siouxland and Lakes Conferences along with Western Christian to Realign - Northwest Iowa Now

Athletic directors to meet in early December to continue discussions

northwestiowanow.com

 

[BCClone]

A couple of interesting news dumps during state football and Thanksgiving...

(1) Mediators sided with Spirit Lake, that they should be allowed in the Siouxland.

Byers: Mediators side with Spirit Lake in league debate

Many of the key people involved in the decision-making process have tried to cover the future in a shroud of secrecy, but it appears there will be some change coming

www.nwestiowa.com

(2) The Siouxland may end up absorbing all of the Lakes schools (5) plus Western Christian, for a 16-team league starting in 2026-27.

Siouxland and Lakes Conferences along with Western Christian to Realign - Northwest Iowa Now

Athletic directors to meet in early December to continue discussions

northwestiowanow.com

Should ask top of Iowa how that is going, they had 18 teams. Rockford left, Eagle grove, Garner and forest city just voted to leave in 2 years. North Union sounds to be looking to leave and I know North Iowa has had discussions also.

 

[theshadow]

Should ask top of Iowa how that is going, they had 18 teams. Rockford left, Eagle grove, Garner and forest city just voted to leave in 2 years. North Union sounds to be looking to leave and I know North Iowa has had discussions also.

I have to believe there will be two divisions of 8 (or even 4/4 for to fill out scheduling more), but the question will be geography or size. (New schools in bold.)

581 - Storm Lake
545 - Spencer
374 - MOC-Floyd Valley
373 - Sioux Center
295 - Spirit Lake
291 - Okoboji
282 - Cherokee
277 - Estherville-LC
260 - Sheldon
259 - Unity Christian
234 - Western Christian
219 - West Lyon
199 - Rock Valley
183 - Central Lyon
160 - Sibley-Ocheyedan
145 - Boyden-Hull

 

[CloneJD]

Little Hawkeye Conference invites, Ames Urbandale, Knoxville, Nevada, Des Moines Christian, PCM, and Van Meter to join:

Joint Statement from the Little Hawkeye Conference – Norwalk Community School District

www.norwalkschools.org

 

[qwerty]

Little Hawkeye Conference invites, Ames Urbandale, Knoxville, Nevada, Des Moines Christian, PCM, and Van Meter to join:

Joint Statement from the Little Hawkeye Conference – Norwalk Community School District

www.norwalkschools.org

Ames, in a conference named "Hawkeye" . . . . .

 

[BCClone]

Ames, in a conference named "Hawkeye" . . . . .

We Are nearing the point where all sports just need to do districts like football

 

[1SEIACLONE]

We Are nearing the point where all sports just need to do districts like football

Nope, then you run into travel issue for some schools. The idea sounds great, group all the school by size, but then you are sending schools a couple of hours away to play games.

 

[IASTATE07]

Nope, then you run into travel issue for some schools. The idea sounds great, group all the school by size, but then you are sending schools a couple of hours away to play games.

I like having conferences, but we're already sending teams 1.5+ hours away in conference and out of conference here in Southern Iowa.

 

[Saul_T]

Little Hawkeye Conference invites, Ames Urbandale, Knoxville, Nevada, Des Moines Christian, PCM, and Van Meter to join:

Joint Statement from the Little Hawkeye Conference – Norwalk Community School District

www.norwalkschools.org

DMC, Van Meter and Norwalk are 3 communities that are rapidly growing. This could be a super competitive league in the coming years.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I like having conferences, but we're already sending teams 1.5+ hours away in conference and out of conference here in Southern Iowa.

True, but that is because of Clark, take them away and the drives are generally within an hour or less, and then you have to factor in Davis Co. is on the edge of the conference. For Albia, the drive to Clark is not bad at all, because they are in the center of the conference. DC is playing Leon, Wayne, VB and Moravia, out of conference, all within an easy hour or less drive from Bloomfield.

 

[BCClone]

Nope, then you run into travel issue for some schools. The idea sounds great, group all the school by size, but then you are sending schools a couple of hours away to play games.

Already happening with conferences now. At least up north.

 

[IASTATE07]

True, but that is because of Clark, take them away and the drives are generally within an hour or less, and then you have to factor in Davis Co. is on the edge of the conference. For Albia, the drive to Clark is not bad at all, because they are in the center of the conference. DC is playing Leon, Wayne, VB and Moravia, out of conference, all within an easy hour or less drive from Bloomfield.

Davis County has Knoxville, Chariton, Central Decatur, Fort Madison, and New London that are all around an 1:20 road trip. Probably closer to 1:30 by bus.

The Bluegrass conference is incredibly spread out and teams are also playing SICL teams and POI schools. Moravia going to Iowa Valley, New London, or East Union and Moulton going to Keota are all 1.5+ hours away.