The Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association had a Board of Control meeting Tuesday where it discussed the potential of a handful of changes around the prep sports environment.
The hottest topic is, of course, realignment, though the recent changes and creation of Class 5A is still in its first year of a two-year cycle.
“Realignment is not perfect, but we need to strive to make it fit everybody,” said Board of Control President Rollins Stallworth. “That’s going to be a difficult challenge.”
The NIAA is also in the process of hiring a new executive director after Bart Thompson announced he was stepping down from the role last year.
The NIAA announced that it is down to its final four applicants for the position. Donnie Nelson has served as the interim director since Thompson’s resignation.
Bartt Davis also takes over as the NIAA’s new Coordinator of Sport position in a one-year contract.
During the seven-hour meeting, the NIAA also addressed potential changes in a number of areas for prep sports.
In wrestling, a survey was released to decide between 12, 13 or 14 weight classes. Currently, there are 14 weight classes in Nevada High School wrestling.
There were discussions about sanctioning girls wrestling as a sport as well, but that decision was pushed to the next meeting— June 14-15.
Girls wrestling could be instated as early as winter of 2022-23.
For basketball, the NIAA announced that the Class 5A/3A/2A/1A will be returning to one site after previously being separated for the pandemic. The one site state tournament will take place February 2024 in Reno.
As far as potential host sites go, the NIAA considered a possible bid for the Tahoe Events Center for future state tournament events.
The board also discussed changes to the mercy rule for NIAA state championship games. Currently, football and basketball don’t have a mercy rule for title games, but all other NIAA sports do. The plans for discussion are expected to continue at the June meeting.
