In what is becoming a common occurrence, the NJSIAA has created another proposal that would separate public and non-public schools in another sport, this time wrestling.
The Advisory Committee approved the proposal on Wednesday, which would create a region and four districts for non-public wrestlers in the state of New Jersey.
The proposal states that the other eight regions and 32 districts would be for wrestlers in public schools.
Cinnaminson wrestling head coach Mike Beirao shared his thoughts on the proposal:
“The challenge is this, you can’t make a decision based off of today. I’m afraid that’s what we’re doing. You have to look at what it will look like in five or six years. They only look at right now. They are going to fix problems today, but not problems they will create down the road. I actually think it’s going to make some Catholic schools real powerful, while others will be forced to fold programs.”
The Executive Committee will cast the next vote, in May, and then the general membership will vote in December.
Beirao said that many people are only looking out for themselves right now.
“When they do this, it’s always for themselves. Not one single person cares about how it affects other people. They care how it’s going to affect them. The number one reason why some of this stuff might not take effect is because of scheduling.”
Right now, the state has eight regions and 32 districts featuring wrestlers from public schools and non-public schools and they all compete against each other.
The proposal was created by Westwood, North Bergen, Demarest and Emerson Boro High Schools.
If the proposal passes, there would be two districts for North Jersey and two districts for South Jersey in the non-public conference, with non-public schools from Middlesex County southward being placed in the South Jersey districts.
Beirao also expressed his concerns about the competition schools would face if the proposal passes.
“That’s the real issue. You don’t know the answer to that. In wrestling, I don’t know how much of an effect it is going to have. The catholic schools will have trouble picking up matches because they are not in your district or region. They will likely have problems scheduling matches. If Camden Catholic is the number one team in South Jersey, are they ever going to be able to schedule a game?”
In 2008, a similar proposal was approved by the general membership, but it was shot down by the Education Commissioner.
[…] have an update this week on a story we first brought to you at the beginning of April regarding a proposal by the NJSIAA to create separate districts and one region for non-public […]