Olympic League changes continue

Peninsula splits for SPSL; SHS football eyes Nisqually

Seemingly less stable than butane, the Olympic League continues to evolve.

This week, the Peninsula High Seahawks from Gig Harbor are departing.

According to reports in the Kitsap Sun and the Seattle Times, the South Puget Sound League has invited Peninsula to join its Class 3A division for the upcoming fall season. League chairwoman Wendy Malich told the Seattle Times that she is “certain” Peninsula will accept the invitation.

North Kitsap, a 4A school reverting back to 3A status after newly-minted Kingston drew away many of its students, will join the Olympic League in the fall, keeping the 3A division with four teams (including Port Angeles, Bremerton and Olympic).

For Sequim, the changes mean at least one new regular competitor for each of its fall sports.

The Wolves’ football team, however, will see new faces, albeit a familiar set. For football only, Sequim returns to the Nisqually League in 2008 to face the likes of Foster, Steilacoom, Washington and others. It’s the same league Sequim played in back in 2001-05.

What is up in the air, Sequim athletic director Chris Olson said, is how many playoff berths Sequim’s district — the West Central District — may receive. With several conference changes up in the air, some of the district’s 2A schools may “opt up” to join all 3A divisions. If that happens, the West Central District would likely have just eight 2A schools remaining and two playoff berths to the state playoffs; if not, the district would retain all 12 2A schools and three berths to state playoff tournaments.

As of last week those considerations were — what else? — up in the air.