By Patrick Lujan
The often-debated issue of high school and middle school sports reuniting has been a hot topic since the leagues split up in 2019.
Periodic polls conducted by GSPN over that span has shown an overwhelming disapproval with an average of 79%-81% not liking the divide.
Recent dialogue between the two leagues has warmed up the idea of reunification.
All sports leagues fell under the IIAAG prior to the 2019 split, combining public and private schools. The Guam Department of Education created the Interscholastic Sports Association (ISA) that started in early 2020. Since then, both leagues have been operating independently, running sports sometimes simultaneously or sometimes at totally different times of the year.
Then there are the sports that IIAAG does not hold, hence, joining the ISA. Those are football, wrestling, baseball, rugby and track & field.
So if it works for those sports, why not the rest?
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Earlier this week, ISA League Director Marvin Linder sent an email to IIAAG President Terry Debold, inviting the private schools to join ISA.
Debold responded via email on Wednesday, stating, “. I’m sure that other IIAAG members share my interest in finding a way for the independent schools to once again enjoy integrated competition in all sports.”
The IIAAG response continued by requesting for the ISA Constitution and Rules and Regulations that will be in effect this coming school year and whether the Superintendent or any administrator within GDOE would still have the unilateral authority to change Board decisions.
“We are also curious what precludes us from having interleague competition? For years there were two divisions, ‘Taga’ and ‘Gadao’ in basketball, volleyball and soccer. Those were based on geographic location that could just as easily be divided by the leagues. We all follow the same NFHS rules and I’m confident we could come to agreement on all other participation and playoff requirements. Allowing the teams to interact in this manner helped promote camaraderie and positive sportsmanship amongst our island’s student athletes.”
With the new school year within the two-month window and both leagues already releasing their respective sports forecasts, Debold said he’ll be discussing ISA’s invitation with his league administrators and coaches.
Let’s hope that some positive resolution comes out of this latest development.
