Kalama High School is one of several schools across the region preparing to move to a new athletics league after the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced updated classification numbers for the 2024-2028 cycle.
The new classification numbers, which are largely based on student population, put Kalama High School in 1A, up from 2B. With the move, according to Kalama High School Athletic Director Kevin Wright, the school plans to re-join the Trico League – a league the school previously participated in before moving to Central 2B in 2017.
“If we had our preference, we would probably stay in 2B because it’s what we are now familiar with, but our student enrollment is too high to appeal,” he noted. “That said, the overall athletic ability of the Trico League is about the same as the one we are leaving, and many of our league opponents are suddenly much closer to home, so that’s a good thing for us.”
While Kalama will be one of the smallest 1A schools in the state, Fort Vancouver will represent one of the largest. The Vancouver school will join Kalama in the Trico League after moving down from 2A to 1A.
“I think visiting crowd sizes may increase due to the closer proximity of our opponents,” said Wright, when asked about the Trico League. “In sports like soccer, the big benefit is that many of our opponents will have JV programs. In 2B, we were the only school in the league that had a JV soccer team, so filling out the schedule was quite difficult.”
The WIAA’s updated classification numbers will take effect this fall.
Fall 2024 Trico League teams (subject to change):
- Castle Rock High School
- Columbia High School (White Salmon)
- Fort Vancouver High School
- Kalama High School
- Kings Way Christian High School
- La Center High School
- Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School
- Stevenson High School