Cameron Laffoon, Staff Writer
The 2016 school year has been and will continue to be an unique one in terms of Pennsylvania high school sports. Classifications throughout Pennsylvania have changed, and in most sports, have gone from four to six.
For years, teams like North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Pittsburgh Central Catholic dominated the highest levels of the four-classification system in many sports. This is shown by the fact that they have won the last six WPIAL championships for football.
The effects of the new classifications created by the PIAA and WPIAL have been both positive and negative for teams throughout Penn-Trafford High School. These new moves were originally done so that smaller schools had a more even playing field in terms of class sizes.
Cam Suman, a junior on the football team, said, “This year’s section was definitely harder than last years in every way.” The football team went 7-3 this season, but that record was not good enough to earn them a spot in the new eight-team playoff system.
Although this new 5A classification did not end up working out in the P-T football team’s favor, Suman still thinks that they had the best interests of the teams in heart.
“I think they had good intentions by making the season shorter and giving two other teams a chance at a WPIAL championship,” said Suman.
The new classifications ending up hindering the football team, but they also worked out perfectly for the field hockey team. The season ended in a 10-7 record and a WPIAL championship.
The field hockey classifications changed from a two-classification system to three. The Warriors fell in the middle of these three classifications, ending up in 2A.
The new classifications allowed the field hockey team to avoid playing powerhouses in the playoffs like North Allegheny and Pine-Richland. This was ultimately the intentions of the new classifications allowing a smaller school such as P-T a chance at a WPIAL championship.
Emily Polakovsky, a junior on the field hockey team, said, “I think that being a part of a team that that doesn’t typically win a WPIAL championship and finally achieving that is an experience that everyone should have.”
Although the reviews for the new classifications are mixed, one thing is for sure: It is a work in progress.