Comments about ‘UHSAA looks to update to bylaws, constitution’

I just read through this, and it seems pointless. In the past two years the UHSAA has allowed transfers under the old set of rules and continue to do so under the new "stricter" version of rules.

In the past two years they have allowed five big name transfers. In each case UHSAA rules have been broken, and in each case the UHSAA ends up using the "they moved their residence" excuse to allow the athletic transfer to occur.

It is way past time that the UHSAA stepped up and enforced their own rules. Otherwise this will continue to happen.

Interestng that half of you out there don't think that there is any recruiting going on and now the UHSAA is cleaning up their own rules to try to eliminate the problem that Utah obviously has and now you can't deny it, I love that administrators will be responsible for this and will need to make sure that every athlete that is transferring into their school hasn't been recruited. I can't wait to see how many principals will lose their jobs in the private schools in the next few years!

Why change or even make rules for that matter. They don't follow the ones they have in the areas of recruiting or realignment. The squeaky wheels get the grease. The kid that wants to go to Lone Peak will be an interesting issue, not the he is transfering, but how that transfer was initiated.

I have heard coaches in the SLC area are tired of this constantly happening. I was talking to one the other day who said that it is time to either get rules that can be enforced, or get rid of them altogether. I agree with him. If you are going to have rules, then be prepared to enforce them. Otherwise, just get rid of them and allow all coaches and schools to be on an even playing field.

This is Lone Peak's second athlete in two years to have left their boundary for "greener pastures" only to return. The rule clearly states that once you try out for a high school team, your eligibility has been established at that school. If Lone Peak cannot keep their athletes and they want to try their luck somewhere else, that is their problem and they should not be allowed to return without a one year sit out penalty. It really is that simple!

Who is the player from or for lone peak and what sport they play?

I think they are referring to Eric Mika who played his Freshman and Sophomore years at Waterford. It might be a different scenario since he is leaving a private school in favor of a public school. The one that I wonder about is Austin Clark joining forces at South Sevier. That whole scenario stinks to high heaven with a "recruiting stench".

Let me try again.
South Sevier has only 300 students. Less then half the size of Manti and Richfield, and twice the size of North Sevier, who are also 2A schools. When the UHSAA set up their 'ranking system' they did not consider the socioeconomic back ground of each school nor do they consider, that some schools have at their disposal other schools close to them to manipulate their numbers. Richfield has Snow South(college), and Cedar Ridge(excellerated high school)where they can hide students, or pawn them off.
Public Schools must take all the students within their boundries. Pirvate Schools can and do add those students who will be assets or eliminate those students who are detriments.
South Sevier is a very poor community. There is very little business. There are many smaller public schools in rural communities in southern and central Utah just like us. We struggle to commpete both academically and athletically. What are we offering?

Nobody is talking about socio-economics here. To my knowledge there aren't issues with paying players to come to communities or anything like that. It is just interesting that a kid can be at Grand one year, North Sevier the next and then end up at South Sevier the year after they win a state championship. What do you have to offer a high school kid? Here are a few things: A championship caliber program/coach who is a former college coach who has connections to colleges all over the state and even outside. For a small school, as you say, there have been quite a few kids leave with the opportunities to play collegiate basketball, 2 in the last 2 years alone.
Again, this situation with Austin Clark is suspicious to say the least and should be looked in to.

Its not about what the town has to offer. Its what the high school has to offer. South Sevier offers a championship team that will continue to do well.

Eric's case makes sense to me. The kid lives in alpine. Just because his parents made him go to private school in draper until he was a junior, doesn't mean he should have to sit out a year.

He's going to the school in his district.

My question is with austin. Why does he change high schools every year? Is it because he is moving or is he staying in one house....?

Again, North Sevier is a wrestling School. Did he wrestle last year? Moab, Grand, is 4 hours driving away from South Sevier?

Come on "country mom" give me a break. North Sevier is a great school that has many programs. Top 8 last year in basketball. Labeling it as a "wrestling school" to justify a move like that is ridiculous. He wants to win a title at as little price as possible. I'll bet every Junior in sevier county would love to play for South Sevier and jump on that wagon! They already have a great team LED by a solid core of juniors! This is what is wrong with the whole UHSAA ability to enforce anything.

Trust me South Sevier is not a wrestling school. That would be in 2-A Millard or South Summit and the other Sevier (North).

We're talking high school here. Who really cares what a kid and their parents do? If they want to bounce around every year to get a better chance of playing so be it. They pay their tax dollars and should be entitled to go where they want. A simple rule that no coach or school facutly can talk to or about a prospective transfer prior to enrollment should be the only rule that is needed. People need to get perspective on what we are talking about here, these are not professinal sports or big time college athletics. If a kid wants to go to another school to get playing time or have the possibilty of winning a championship we should not get in there way. 95% of these kids will never play competitive sports after high school so let them have "their" opportunity while they can. And they should be able to define what is important to them, not some committe or disgruntled parent.

I said North Sevier is a wrestling school. I don't know of any kids that live in Richfield or North Sevier and play basketball, that go to South Sevier. The other schools in this county think we are the armpit. Top 8 in 2A out of 12 or 16?

OK you win. I'll agree with you that there are only 12 teams in 2A.

Makes the entire division irrelevant including any state championship.

Very funny! I was just saying that no one drives to South Sevier from Grand or any other 2A school, only the schools in Sevier County are less than an hour away and they despise us. (Are you related to my Husband? He says I always have to win, too?)

Ever heard the song "Escape" (The Pina Colada song)

I am your husband...it's easier this way when I disagree!!!!

Seriously, this transfer is entirely about going to a better team & program. I understand the "Grand" thing especially with the family situation, BUT South Sevier? There is ONLY one reason to go over there and THAT reason is against the rules and it's unfortunate that you have to grasp at straws to get around the rules. You'll hear all sorts of accusations and reasons, but really? How fun would it be to compete in any area if the best players went to the same school? I'd rather lose with some integrity than stretch the rules to win.

My kids all wrestle, and not one of them took state. We moved here to be closer to interstate 70 and the coal. Is it possible that someone else may do the same? I guess there could be a lot of people who can afford to just move around to pick and choose schools, but I don't know anyone with that kind of money.

Here is some information. South sevier sends students to cedar ridge high school and snow college south. They must be hiding students as well to make room for transfers. Also Richfield and manti have around 450 students and competed with schools upwards of 1000. So if a school to be 150 students less is unfair. what is 550?

The kids from South Sevier that go to Cedar Ridge can't get back in time to play sports. Neither can the kids from South Sevier that go to Snow South. However the kids from Richfield can just walk to practice. There is a big difference between 150 students and 600 when that is all there is at your school.