In 2013, the Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) made big changes to the Class B District volleyball tournament. Class B is divided up into eight different districts, Alliance being in the eighth. The schools were assigned to districts on a geographical basis starting with the schools in western Nebraska and working east. North to South direction was used in some cases in order to decrease the distance between the schools within the districts. Normally, the winner of each district has an automatic entry into the state championships, but in 2013, NSAA decided to make it a bit more difficult than it needed to be. The winning team of each district then qualifies for the newly implemented round of sub-state. The next eight of the non-district winners with the highest wild card point averages then qualify for sub-state. The higher seed will host the sub-state match, and the winner of the sub-state match then advances to the state championship.

So why Class B? More importantly why only Class B? Well many argue that the reason is because, “It’s just too easy for western Nebraska schools to qualify for state”. What’s the problem with having western Nebraska schools at the state tournament? A common belief is that schools in western Nebraska can’t compete with schools in the eastern Nebraska. So making it more difficult for us to advance is going to make that any better? No. I’ve lived in western Nebraska my whole life and all I’ve heard is that the western part of the state can’t compete with the eastern side of the state, but that is completely wrong. Take 2013 Scottsbluff High School graduate, Colton Adams for example. Four state wrestling titles, in four years, and yes, he is from Western Nebraska. Taking titles in Class B his freshman year at 112 pounds, 126 his sophomore year, 132 his junior year and 145 his senior year. Adams signed with Husker Wrestling at the end of the 2013-2014 wrestling season and will be wrestling at 141 pounds.

Second-Round WNBA Draft Pick (Tulsa Shock, 13th Overall Pick, 2014) Jordan Hooper is also a Western Nebraska native. Receiving numerous awards and earning outstanding achievements, Hooper represents the Panhandle excellently. Along with Hooper, athletes such as Amy Stevens of Alliance, Mike Peltz of Alliance, Mike Daum of Kimball, and Elliot and Spencer Eliason of Chadron have all gone to Division 1 schools for athletics. This side of the state has a lot to offer, but unfortunately not many college coaches even think to look out past Kearney for their in-state talent.

Although I do not agree with the change to sub-state in Class B, I firmly believe that one day, all classes will switch from wild cards points to something such as sub-state to advance to the state tournaments. The change had to start somewhere, and unfortunately it started with Class B.