IHSA should consider SIUE to host championship

T.J. Cowell, Alestle Sports Reporter

by T.J. Cowell, Alestle Sports Reporter

Again for the second week in a row, I am going to steer away a little bit from the normal outdoors blog. But since it is March Madness, and basketball season as we know it (at least at the high school and collegiate level) is drawing to a close.

And since SIUE athletics is still in a transitory state of Division I, we will branch out to high school hoops. But still we are going to incorporate some SIUE business here.

The other day the Illinois High School Association hosted super-sectional games across the state to determine who will play for the big prizes of boy’s high school basketball, at least at the small school level.

In a week or so from now (probably by the time you read this), the bigger schools will be fighting to see who gets to play up in Peoria for championship gold.

I am sure that most of you who are reading this know how the high school basketball postseason works. First you have regionals, where fields of about six or eight teams battle to see who the best in their area is. From there, the winner of the regional advances to the sectional games. At sectionals, winners from four different regionals battle one another to see who’s got what it takes to keep their seasons alive.As you would guess it, the winner of the sectional championship moves on to the super sectional.

Now we are down to business. When I was a senior in high school a few years ago (2008), the IHSA broke up the traditional two-class system for championships to four classes. (On a side note, I believe this takes away from the credibility of high school sports. Competition is watered down and rivalries are ruined, but that is a whole other subject.)

Teams who advance to the super sectionals are just one win away from greatness, playing at state at Carver Arena. Carver Arena is located in Peoria, where the Bradley University Braves play their basketball games. The Peoria Civic Center itself is home to plenty of other venues but once again I am getting too off subject.

Nowadays, host sites are for the super sectionals are typically held at other universities. Included in that list is Illinois State University (Normal) and Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) for smaller schools and the University of Illinois-Chicago at the Class 3A and 4A level. Now here’s the part where SIUE, more specifically the Vadalabene Center come into play.

I think it would be awesome if SIUE would host a super sectional (like we used to back a few years ago), whether it be for small schools or big schools. Since the Metroeast is home to some bigger high schools when it comes to enrollment, I would think it would be more ideal if this were to happen that the Vadalabene Center would play host for a 3A or 4A super sectional game.

I am not absolutely sure if the sites that play host for super sectional events have contracts or if they put their names in for bid to host these events, but it should be something that should be looked in to. Sure there would be some work to be done (managerially and perhaps financially) but it would be a great way to get SIUE’s name out there. We are after all trying to make a name for ourselves. Who knows, it could even draw high schoolers to our institution.

I would even venture as far to say that SIUE and its Vadalabene Center would serve as a better host site than some of the other current schools that are hosting these endeavors. The four current host sites for the Class 4A supers is are all up north, with only one of them not being in the Chicago area. The way I see it, why shouldn’t SIUE host a super sectional at least for the bigger schools. It is not fair to your Edwardsville or O’Fallon High Schools to travel two and a half hours to play one another this late in the season. I am not saying current hosts aren’t doing a good job, but as much as I still love high school hoops, it would be cool to see a few games played here.

Back to outdoors next week, I promise.

IHSA Bass Fishing will hook high schoolers

T.J. Cowell, Alestle Sports Reporter

by T.J. Cowell, Alestle Sports Reporter

Fishing is my life, and one of the things I really miss about home.

Last year, the Illinois High School Association officially recognized bass fishing as an activity, with sectional and state events that provide young people with lifelong memories.

This year’s marks the second running of the event. A total of 226 teams have entered their names to participate in the IHSA Bass Fishing State Tournament. This number is up from the 199 schools who competed a year ago.

Schools interested in entering the tournament had to register online by Nov. 1. When accepted, schools are allowed to enter either one or two boats. All boats must have at least one registered student, but no more than three students listed on the boat roster. Only two kids can fish to a boat at one designated time.

Last year, if boats wanted to exchange students, they would have to go back to the loading docks and switch them out. Needless to say, that would make for a long day, but all the moving back and forth meant less time with your line in the water. You can’t win if you don’t catch fish.

This year, the IHSA has worked out the appeal to provide transportation to boats that want to rotate kids in and out. That way there is more fun to be had and less hassle to deal with. To me, this is a step in the right direction because it shows that people are starting to put more thought into the event. This leads to me think the program is headed in a positive direction.

Speaking of boats, I’m sure somebody reading this (out of the four of you), is wondering who provides the equipment for these kids. The students are responsible are compelled to provide their own poles, artificial bait and nets themselves. When talking boats, most schools have boats provided to them by the local community. Bass Fishing Clubs have also been known to donate boats and coaches for the event.

Of all the schools entered, sectional tournaments are first held with area schools competing for a chance at state, an event which is held at Carlyle Lake. Unlike other IHSA programs, Bass Fishing has only one class level. Which means no matter how big (or small) a school is, everybody competes against each other. This could be considered positive or negative. If you ask me, the IHSA should keep the event one class.

Schools are also obligated to have at least one adult oversee the program; I guess you could call him a coach. Since the students are not allowed to run the outboard motor during the events, the coach has that duty. The adult has to be approved by the local school board as the team leader. However, since the IHSA board considers bass fishing as an activity as not a sport (at least not yet), they do not have to be recognized to meet the sport coaching by-law.

Insurance-wise, because we all know there’s people out there who will worry about this stuff, the IHSA is obligated to what their Web site calls “general liability” for both the section and state tournament events.

When I was young, my dad (the guy who has taken me fishing more times than I could ever count) told me that if I couldn’t have fun fishing, then there was no point in doing it. No matter how you look at it, a lot of fishing is just luck. Granted there is some skill and technique required to doing it. Participants and the IHSA need to remember, if it isn’t going to be fun, then there is no point in doing it. Some people tend to forget that.

If you ask me, the addition of adding Bass Fishing as an IHSA tournament is a great idea. It gives kids opportunities that they might not have otherwise. Anyone who enjoys fishing as much as I do knows the memories that it gives us.

Illinois may have crooked politicians and what not, but we were the first state to have Bass Fishing as an officially recognized high school activity; that says something for us.

“And I love fried chicken and bluegill fishin’ and outlaw women and I wouldn’t change if I could…”-Rhett Akins