Athletic Directors' Minutes.
Call to order
9:02am, Wednesday May 20th by President Dean Rossi
II. Approval of Membership
Members Present: Altoona, Bald Eagle, Bedford, Bellefonte, Bellwood-Antis,
Bishop Carroll, Bishop Guilfoyle, Bishop McCort, Blacklick Valley, Cambria
Heights, Central, Central Cambria, Central Mountain, Claysburg-Kimmel,
Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale, Forest Hills, Glendale, Harmony, Hollidaysburg,
Homer Center, Indian Valley, Johnstown, Juniata Valley, Lewistown, Ligonier
Valley, Marion Center, Moshannon Valley, Mount Union, Penn Cambria, Penns
Manor, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, Portage, Richland, Somerset,
Southern Huntingdon, State College, Tyrone, West Branch
III. Financial Report
Presented to membership by John Bomboy, Marion Center
1st - Penns Valley
2nd - Bishop Guilfoyle
IV. Junior High Wrestling
Coach Denny Drake of Mount Union presented a proposal to the membership
regarding an end of season jr. high wrestling tournament. The proposal
include information pertaining to a one day tournament comprised of 35
teams. The $60 coaches association fee (in addition to a $6 admission
charge) will cover the cost of the tournament with no cost to the schools
(except transportation). The association plans on paying eight refs at a
rate of $150 per day, utilizing newer officials. Possible date of the event
would be the Saturday of State Duals. Mr. Drake requested the membership to
support this proposal pertaining to a waiver of the maximum number of
competitions. Mr. Rossi thanked Mr. Drake for his time and presentation.
Penns Valley stated that the presented budget numbers are realistic.
Johnstown asked Mr. Rossi if the jr. high track & field meet is profitable.
Philipsburg Osceola stated that jr. high should be treated as a feeder
program without an emphasis on winning. Portage stated that extending the jr.
high season with a tournament could expose schools to extend coaches pay.
Cambria Heights recommended schools lower competition points to 19 and use
the three unallocated points for a season end tournament. Bellwood-Antis
questioned what is the goal of a jr. high tournament. Richland commented
that the tournament should be run by District VI if we decide to have a
season ending tournament (not a coaches association). Claysburg-Kimmel
stated that there would be other costs than just buses to schools as a
tournament would evolve. State College is not sure they would have room to
hold a tournament. SCASD requires “proof of insurance” for renters.
Would the coaches association have this insurance? West Branch stated the
tournament could conflict with PA JO series (non PIAA events).
Bellwood-Antis stated that the running of this tournament looks like means
to obtain a waiver of points. Marion Center listed a number of potential
problems including: (1) location of the tournament (2) no “wrestle backs”
with a one day tournament (3) next year would there be a request asking for
a two day tournament? Cambria Heights questioned how teams would be seeded.
Bishop McCort raised the issue of the cost factor for other jr. high
championships. Bedford questioned if teams would be mandated to be in a
district tournament (answer: no). Bellwood-Antis questioned if we should get
rid of the jr. high track & field tournament to be consistant with our
memberships application of season ending tournaments. Ligonier Valley
motioned for the membership not to support a jr. high season ending
championship tournament. Motion was seconded by Indian Valley. Motion
defeated unanimously with absentions by Bishop Guilfoyle, Bishop McCort and
Mount Union.
Mr. Rossi provided information to the membership regarding the jr. high
track and field championships as many questions arose from the wrestling
discussion. District VI collects a $10 per athlete fee for the meet.
Seventeen teams were represented at the championships. Hollidaysburg stated
that the large schools is the district were thinking about moving up all
ninth graders to varsity track teams.
The above discussion will be brought to the District VI committee by
Hollidaysburg and discussed again in the fall.
While on the subject of track & field, Bellwood-Antis asked why there is no
admission charge to the varsity track & field championships, while other
spring championships (baseball, softball & volleyball) charge $6 for adults
and $3 for students. Mr. Rossi explained that Altoona charges a higher fee
for the use of Manshon Park if District VI were to charge an admission fee.
Bellwood-Antis stated that with the number of pations at the championships,
District VI should surely make a profit with an admission charge, even with
an increased fee. Bellwood-Antis also questioned if another school could
host the championships at a lower cost than Altoona. Can District VI
negotiate deals for better costs? Forest Hills questioned paying $6
admission to watch one student run the 100 meter dash. Bellwood-Antis stated
that even though the 100 meter dash is a quick meet, most likely that
athlete could be participating in multiple events. Mr. Rossi will re-visit
the idea about changes to track & field.
V. District Baseball
A reminder to all schools participating in the District VI championships at
Blair County Ballpark that the new ownership will not allow batting practice
in the infield. Additionally no bull pen pitchers mounds are to be used.
District Champions:
AAAA - Hollidaysburg
AAA - Bellefonte
AA - Bald Eagle
A - Bishop McCort
V. District Boy’s Volleyball
AAA District VI, IX & X sub regional at DuBois HS
AA District VI championships at Central HS
Districts Champions:
AAA - State College
AA - Huntingdon
VI. Softball
District Champions:
AAAA - State College
AAA -
AA - Bald Eagle
A - Claysburg-Kimmel
VII. Boy’s Tennis
With the tennis tournament, President Rossi asked if there were any concerns
with the boy’s tournament. No concerns were raised.
District Champions:
AAA Team - State College
AAA Doubles - State College
AAA Singles - State College
AA Team - Somerset
AA Doubles - Westmont-Hilltop
AA Singles - Central
VIII. Track & Field
Mansion Park hosted a great meet with great officials. For the first time,
District VI used a new computerized system, which was efficient and worked
great. Results using the new system are known immediately.
IX. Football
At this time, we are still unsure how the vote will transpire. Belief is
that there will be one vote on six classes of football with a second vote on
shorting the season to 15 weeks.
Penn Cambria asked if the WPIHL did not go to the football championships,
would the PIAA remove the league from all PIAA Championships? Bellwood
asked if this would lead to greater picking and choosing which championships
certain teams would play in. State College informed the membership that D6
is voting in favor of six classifications. Johnstown stated that with
additional divisions, additional teams could qualify for the playoffs.
Bellwood inquired when will District 6 change the playoff football formula
for reimbursement to benefite the member schools who participate with a
greater share of the money. Mr. Rossi stated that he would bring up the
issue to the District 6 committee.
X. Sportsmanship
Starting 2008-09, one male and one female athlete from each school will be
nominated to District 6 as their respective sportsman of the year. From the
pool of applicants, eight students will be selected at random for a $500
scholarship. Each school should have received in the mail a medal to
present to their sportsmanship winners.
XI. Old Issues for Discussion
None
XII. New Issues for Discussion
Hollidaysburg discussed the continuation of presenting a 2nd place team
trophy at the District Championships. West Branch felt that they were moved
off the field too quicky after taking 2nd in softball the prior year.
Indian Valley has a lack of space to display a number of trophies. In
place, they asked District 6 to consider handing our 2nd place medals to all
participants. Central likes the idea of both medals and a team trophy.
Portage likes the idea of student athletes wearing the medals they just
won. Marion Center made a motion and Central Cambria seconded to ask the
District 6 Committee to quit awarding the 2nd place trophy and in place hand
out 2nd place medals to the participants. Approved unaminously.
Central Cambria and Greater Johnstown talked about their Laurel Highlands
Conference initative on Sportsmanship. Students from all schools of the
conference met at Greater Johnstown High School recently to address the role
of sportsmanship in our lives. Discussion centered around a code of conduct
by student athletes and using good taste in place of bad taste for student
cheer groups.
Marion Center asked a general question of the membership to see how many
AD's teach more that 5 classes per day (three respondents).
Penns Valley updated Wrestling dates for next season. AAA and AA will
switch weeks from the previous year due to the holiday and AA needing two
days to crown it's champions at Altoona.
XIII. Election of Officers
With the retirement of Vince Neidmyer, the position of Secretary for the
membership is open. Marion Center nominated Chuck Gojmerac of Central for
the position. Bellwood-Antis 2nd. Motion was approved unaminously.
Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 10:00am.
Location is Central Cambria High School.
Open Dates:
Ligonier Valley - one team for a Girl's Basketball tournament on 12/29 &
12/30
Cambria Heights - openings for both Boy's and Girl's basketball
tournaments. Contact their AD for more information.
Harmony - Looking for two boy's varsity basketball games.