The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Manchester coaches react to schedule change
Kastel, Mininger must adjust schedules for their respective teams
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
Prep athletes and coaches across the state will face many changes when classes begin next fall.
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With the Michigan High School Athletic Association officially losing the case brought against it by Communities for Equity in 1998, several sports are forced to change seasons beginning next year.
Grand Rapids-based Communities for Equity sued the MHSAA nine years ago, claiming the association discriminates against girls because girls' basketball was a fall sports and volleyball played in the winter. It's reversed at the college level nationally and in 47 other states.
After filing several appeals over the past five years, the MHSAA officially lost the case when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday that it wouldn't hear the association's latest appeal.
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, eight sports will switch seasons. Girls' basketball will move from the fall to winter, while volleyball moves from winter to fall. Lower Peninsula boys' golf and girls' tennis from fall to spring, Lower Peninsula girls' golf and boys' tennis from spring to fall, Upper Peninsula boys' soccer from fall to spring and U.P. girls' soccer from spring to fall.
Manchester coaches and administrators were against the changes, but are now preparing for the new seasons.
"I see it having its advantages and disadvantages," Manchester volleyball coach Mike Mininger said. "Other states do it, so it does work, and we have to give it a chance."
Manchester girls' basketball coach Cori Kastel had two separate plans for off-season practices while the case went on. While happy to finally know which action to take, Kastel also warned about the adjustments everyone must make.
"At least it gives us an idea of how to prepare for the summer, and we'll go with Plan B and stick with it," Kastel said. "If other states can do it, we can. But the first year will be the toughest adjustments to work out."
Both coaches agree that the new schedules will force decisions to be made by athletes, coaches, officials and school administrators. Among the conflicts that could arise involve scheduling game and practice times. Along with boys' and girls' basketball, the winter season also has wrestling, boys' swimming, hockey and competitive cheer. There is concern that quality of practices will drop because of unusual schedules, and that other schools won't be available for scheduled games.
Kastel is confident that a meeting of coaches and Manchester Athletic Director Wes Gall could suggest ways to eliminate the possible conflicts.
"We'll need to sit down with Wes and figure out what's best for the kids," Kastel said. "(Manchester coaches) get along pretty well, and I teach with (varsity boys' coach) Bryan Barnard at the middle school, and I'm sure we can make adjustments."
Student athletes also have to adapt. With basketball camps in the summer, there is now a four-month gap until girls' basketball's regular season starts. Furthermore, many girls across the state play volleyball and basketball, making them switch sports in the fall then change back in the winter.
"The kids are going to be forced to make some changes," Kastel said. "They'll also have the change the AAU season, which is in the summer. Now you'll have AAU basketball, summer softball, track and volleyball all going on."
Mininger is confident that Manchester's multi-purpose gym will help ease some of the burden of practices, but notes that smaller schools with one gym will be faced with time conflicts.
"Here we can close down half the court so volleyball and basketball can practice at the same time," Mininger said. "Practice time is precious, but those with small gyms might be in some trouble."
While the winter sports teams coordinate their schedules, volleyball might face adjustments to its. According to Mininger, the amount of matches could drop with the season moved to the fall.
"You won't have teams playing 70 matches a year," Mininger said. "Teams might only be playing 30 matches."
Manchester played 44 matches this season.
Coaches also will be asked to make decisions regarding their future. Clinton's Mike Ruhl and Onsted's Tory VanSickle coach both boys' and girls' basketball. Now, they must decide on one.
In Mininger's case, he must choose between coaching at the high school or college level. Along with coaching the Flying Dutch, Mininger is an assistant volleyball coach at Siena Heights University.
"I have mixed feels about the decision, but I want to coach," Mininger said. "I now have to make a choice, but that's how life is sometimes."
Even with all the uncertainty, Mininger did see one positive with moving volleyball to the fall.
"At least now there are no more cold bus rides," Mininger said. "It took a long time to do this, maybe longer than necessary."
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