The South Whidbey High School fall sports season kicks off Friday night as the Falcon football team travels to North Mason in Belfair for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“It’s a long way for us, but we’ll be ready,†said Damian Greene, the Falcons assistant coach, during practice Monday.
Athletes showed up big time this year: 50 for the football squad, 35 for girls soccer and 25 each for cross country, tennis and volleyball.
Coaches universally reported that students came ready to rock and roll.
“They’re in very good condition already, which makes my job easier,†said soccer Coach Paul Arand.
This season, all Falcon sports teams have been downgraded from 3A to 2A status under a new accounting system, resulting in changes to the Cascade Conference line-up.
Previously, schools were based on specific numbers. 4A schools had 1,200 students or more; 3A had 600 to 1,200; 2A had 300 to 600; and 1A, 150 to 300.
South Whidbey had been classified 2A until 2004 when it was bumped up to 3A.
Statewide, it created an unwieldy situation, however. More than 90 schools were in the top two categories and the system became top heavy. The gap was deemed unfair, especially for schools with smaller student populations.
Last December, the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association went to a percentage-based calculation.
Now, 64 schools in the top 17 percent are rated 4A, 65 are 3A, 65 are 2A and 65 are 1A — creating a more proportionate distribution.
South Whidbey — with a projected enrollment of 562 next fall — will compete with Cascade Conference schools that have up to 918 students.
The conference has eight schools: Archbishop Murphy (2A), Granite Falls (2A), South Whidbey (2A), Cedarcrest (2A), Lakewood (2A) and Sultan (2A). King’s and Coupeville round out the list, but are rated 1A.
In the race for a berth in the state championships, the Falcons will face Northwest League schools like Ferndale, Sedro-Woolley, Squalicum and Mount Vernon — all classified 3A.
First two week schedule
Times and dates for Falcon varsity teams may be changed as schools make their final adjustments.
Sept. 7 is the first day of school.
As of today, this is the line-up for the first two weeks. (* = home games or meets.)
Football
Sept. 1, at North Mason, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 9, Port Townsend, 2 p.m.
Sept. 15, at Lakewood, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
Sept. 9, at Sequim, 10 a.m.
Sept. 12, at Coupeville, 6 p.m.
Sept. 14, at Sultan, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16, at Friday Harbor,
11:30 a.m.
*Sept. 19, Kings, 6 p.m.
Tennis
*Sept. 5, Burlington, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 7, at Squalicum, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 8, at Mount Vernon,
3:30 p.m.
*Sept. 11, Anacortes, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 13, at Sedro-Woolley,
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 18, at Lynden, 3:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Sept. 9, at Yakima, TBA
Sept. 12, at Coupeville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14, at Sultan, 7 p.m.
*Sept. 19, Cedarcrest, 7 p.m.
Cross Country
Sept. 9, at Edmonds Invite, TBA
*Sept. 16, South Whidbey Invite, 10 a.m.
Sept. 21, at Cedarcrest, 4 p.m.
