Congratulations to the Deer Lakes Lancers on their recent public school boys’ basketball championship. Unfortunately, they only received silver medals for their efforts because of the archaic (1972) legislation that allows public, private and charter school to participate in the same state tournament.
The reason why this legislation was passed in 1972 was that private school numbers had dwindled to a point where there were not enough schools to participate in sports programs economically and so they were included in the PIAA. Times have changed; because of the abundance of charters and private schools, the PIAA can go back to two separate leagues like it once was and crown two separate champions as it once did.
Teams without geographic borders’ have won 11 of the past 12 boys state basketball championships over the last two years. The obvious reason is how the non-geographic teams compile their rosters. The simple distinction is how you draw your roster up is where you play. If you are a geographically bound school, you play in one league; if you are not, you play in the other league. It then becomes the student and parents’ decision as to what works best for them.
There is current legislation proposed by state Rep. Mark Conklin that would untie the hands of the PIAA to go back to the post-1972 system. Please contact your state legislator, as Conklin is looking for co-sponsors before introducing the legislation into committee in the House. All that is needed is a Google search, “who is my state legislator,” followed by a phone call to get this done.
Mike Choma
Buffalo Township