Ridge View, Irmo denied in their 2020-22 realignment appeals
Ridge View and Irmo didn’t get the news they were hoping for on Tuesday.
Both schools were denied in their appeals regarding SC High School League 2020-22 realignment. The Class 4A and 5A executive committees each voted unanimously in favor of denying the Blazers appeal to move down from Class 5A to Class 4A. Irmo’s appeal to move from Region 5-4A to Region 4-4A also was unanimously denied.
Both schools can go before SCHSL executive committee on Feb. 12 for another appeal. If that fails, the schools still can go before an appellate panel on Feb. 19. Realignment will be finalized Feb. 26. Ridge View and Irmo both said they will continue with their appeals and will go before the SCHSL executive committee.
“I appreciate everyone coming down and listening to it. I felt like we made a great case and presented it like it needed to be presented. It just didn’t go our way,” Ridge View athletic director Brian Rosefield said. “We are planning on seeing it through to the end. We just want to advocate for our kids.”
Rosefield and Ridge View’s main argument was the way the school’s 45-day enrollment number for grades 9-11, which determined realignment, was counted.
Ridge View’s 45-day number is 1,292 students, just two more than West Florence, the biggest Class 4A school. Rosefield said 39 students were counted incorrectly. Those 39 students are in their fourth year of athletic eligibility but not academically, therefore, they were counted in their 45-day numbers, according to Richland 2 School District policy.
Rosefield said in talking and doing surveys with other schools that some of them weren’t counting those fourth-year students in their 45-day numbers.
“It appears the numbers weren’t coded correctly,” Rosefield said during his presentation before the executive committee. “... If we are 5A, that is great as long as the playing field is level.”
The executive committee disagreed with Ridge View’s argument. They agreed that numbers might have been manipulated but that they had to go with the 45-day numbers because they are the most accurate at this point.
Irmo’s arguments based on travel times
Irmo was making its appeal to switch regions because of travel time. Many of the school’s athletes attend Spring Hill Magnet School and it will take them 30 minutes to get to the school before leaving. Irmo AD Ray Canady also pointed out the travel time difference between regions. Its road trips within the region will be more than two hours combined..
“Our appeal is based on the best interest of students at Irmo High School,” Canady said.
The 4A executive committee members countered that many schools in the state are in the same situation with travel and there isn’t any ‘undue burden.’ One committee member also pointed out Irmo didn’t have the support from schools in their region to leave.
Appeals for Class 3A, 2A and Class A will be heard Wednesday and Thursday.
Realignment appeals schedule
Wednesday
Battery Creek - Move from Region 8-3A to Region 6-2A (Denied)
West Oak - Move from Region 1-3A to Region 1-2A (Denied)
Cheraw - Wants Legion Collegiate to move from Region 3-2A to Region 2-2A (Denied)
Christ Church - Move from 1-2A to 1-A (Denied)
Burke - Move from Region 6-2A to Region 7-A (Denied)
Thursday
Denmark-Olar - Move from Region 3-A to Region 6-A (football only)
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
