To the editor,
This time of year used to be my favorite with the girls and boys state basketball tournaments. But now I have lost interest due to the large number of schools involved.
I recall when I was a senior in high school (1966) playing basketball, that all 535 schools were in one class. Only eight teams made it to State after surviving the sectionals, districts, and substates. State tournament in Des Moines started on Thursday for the boys. For small schools like a Calumet or Rembrandt, at State you may end up playing a school like Marshalltown, Davenport Central, or Dubuque Wahlert. Ninety-five percent of the time the small towns would get their tails kicked. But the tiny schools were just proud to have a chance to compete against the “bigs”.
For the girls tournament, 16 teams made it to the state tourney. Big population towns didn’t have girls basketball, so games started on Tuesday and your overall champion might be Farragut, Lake View-Auburn, or Mediapolis. It was a town “store closing” event when your team played in Des Moines.
Now we have 325 school districts in Iowa. Each of the boys and girls tournaments invite 40 teams divided into five different classes, which in turn means you have 10 champions. Now with so many schools, play has to start on Monday.
It seems to me that we have devalued the word “champion” in favor of not hurting “Missy’s” or “Junior’s” feelings because they didn’t make it to State.
I didn’t make it to State, but I don’t think I turned out so bad, but that is my opinion.
More classes, more teams, more girls, and more playing days equates to bigger revenues for Des Moines and Polk County. Just follow the money.
Denny Lautner, Jefferson
