A House Bill that is making its way through the state government proposes to change the PIAA playoff system to make things fair for boundary schools competing in high school playoffs.
House Bill 1983, written by Representative Scott Conklin of Centre County, would aim to “level the playing field” when it comes to the state playoffs for high school sports. The issue is that schools limited by geographic boundaries are playing against non-boundary schools, who have the ability to pick and choose student athletes from anywhere in the state.
One of the co-sponsors of the bill is State Representative Jim Struzzi, who said that this is just one effort to make things with the PIAA fair, and he said that the problem was exemplified by the recent Double-A Girls Basketball Championships between Marion Center and Kennedy Catholic.
Over the last three years, non-boundary schools have won 27 of the last 36 basketball championships. That includes the two championships won by Kennedy Catholic against Marion Center this year and Homer-Center last year.
The bill would have the PIAA vote on whether to establish separate post-seasons for traditional public schools and private schools, which would include Catholic and public charter schools. It has been referred to the education committee.
