The WIAA Board of Control authorized a $1 increase of selective WIAA"ˆRegional Tournament admission prices and approved cooperative programs for the winter sport seasons at its monthly meeting today.

The boost in ticket price of a volleyball, basketball, hockey and wrestling regional tournament ticket from $3 to $4 aligns the cost of admission at both the regional and sectional levels. It is the first increase in adult regional admission cost since 1990-91 and the first increase of student admission since 2001-02. The added revenue will help offset expenses of administering the tournament series for 25 sports and enhance the financial returns to schools hosting WIAA tournament events.

The Board applied increased scrutiny to the acceptance and criteria for establishing cooperative teams before approving proposals for new and renewed winter co-op teams. The new and renewed co-op programs will take effect in 2008-09 and run through the 2009-10 sports seasons. Notably, the Board approved the Catholic Memorial and Pius XI cooperative arrangement in boys hockey for two years without the prospect of renewal.

Included in the approved co-ops are two boys basketball programs involving four schools, six girls basketball programs involving 12 schools, 17 gymnastics programs involving 42 schools, 21 boys hockey programs involving 68 schools, 13 girls hockey programs involving 50 schools, 20 boys swimming & diving programs involving 49 schools and 22 wrestling programs involving 48 schools.