The final tweaks to a revised WIAA basketball tournament series -- highlight by a five-division format -- is now available for public inspection on the WIAA Web site.

 The plan is different from the one she presented to WIAA Board of Control members at their June meeting in Green Lake, but it did not differ from many of the concepts discussed at that meeting and reported here and in print. Highlights of the proposal include:

•  The move from four divisions with eight sectionals in Division 1 to five divisions with four sectionals in each.
•  The application of a criteria that moves up one division any private school located in a public school district that has more than one high school or has one high school that ranks among the state's 30 largest. Exceptions will be made for private schools that rank among the 30 smallest schools in their division before a modifier would be applied.

  I spent more than 30 minutes on the phone with WIAA associate director Deb Hauser discussing the plan. Hauser, who had input on the recent proposed changes to football conference and the football playoffs, likens the basketball proposal to the football concept in that it takes into account recent criticisms of the system and offers a thoughtful solution.

 You can be the judge of that. Here are links to the history, application and proposed bracket changes of the plan posted this morning:

Background 

Since a membership option was extended to religious and independent schools in 2000, the WIAA Board of Control has discussed and examined the placement of nonpublic schools in the tournament series.  In recent Area Meeting discussions, small Division 1 member schools have requested relief from the large enrollment disparity that exists in the current 4-division model.  The plan would be specific to the sport of basketball.  This proposal will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming WIAA Area Meetings this fall.

 Information Sheet

 5-Divisions - Enrollment Information (5 equal divisions)

5-Divisions - Enrollment Information (criteria applied)

Division 1 Tournament Bracket
Division 2 Tournament Bracket
Division 3 Tournament Bracket
Division 4 Tournament Bracket
Division 5 Tournament Bracket