Sports

The beginning of a new two-year cycle in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association means new breakdowns of various state tournaments and a trickle-down effect on district play.

The changes ahead in football are minimal in their impact to local teams.

Susquehanna is part of Class 2A in District 2, which is unchanged. Montrose continues to compete in Class 3A although with less opponents to try to get past.

A year ago, both the Sabers and Meteors missed the postseason after finishing last in their classifications in playoff power ratings.

Susquehanna went 1-9, making it the only team to miss the four-team District 2 Class 2A field.

Once again, the Sabers are one of five teams in Class 2A, competing with Dunmore, Holy Redeemer, Lakeland and Riverside for spots in the semifinals.

Montrose, which went 3-7, is part of Class 3A where the field has been reduced from 10 teams to seven with the move of Carbondale, Berwick and Hanover Area up to Class 4A.

The Meteors will go against Lake-Lehman, Mid Valley, Scranton Prep, Tunkhannock, Western Wayne and Wyoming Area in what once again figures to be a competitive race for four postseason berths.

District 2 will only have its own tournament in half of the classifications.

Class 4A will expand from a four-team to an eight-team tournament after an increase in the number of schools that size.

Class A, with District 11, and Class 6A, with District 4’s Williamsport, will continue to be subregionals for District 2’s teams. Class 5A, with a reduction to just three schools, will now be combined into a subregional with Districts 6 and 9.

LOOKING AHEAD

The PIAA fall sports calendar is set.

Official preparations for the season will begin, in some cases, as early as Monday, Aug. 10.

Football begins its heat acclimatization sessions that day and golf begins practice at the same time.

For football teams, full practices start Aug. 17, with teams allowed to scrimmage Aug. 22 and play their first games Aug. 28.

Golf teams can move right into their regular season Aug. 13 before any of the other sports are practicing.

Girls’ tennis also has a shorter time than others between the beginning of practice and competition. Teams can practice Aug. 17, scrimmage Aug. 22 and begin playing regular-season matches Aug. 24.

Cross country, girls’ volleyball, field hockey and soccer all follow the same schedule.

Those sports can begin practicing Aug. 17, scrimmage with other schools Aug. 22 and compete in events Aug. 28.

The sports follow different paths on the way to PIAA state championships, which are undergoing some changes this year.

Golf remains at Penn State University where it will be played on the Blue and White Courses Oct. 19-21.

Girls’ tennis will still be at the Hershey Indoor Racquet Club Nov. 6-7.

After 25 years, the cross country championships are leaving Hersheypark for Big Spring High School in Newville, not far from where the track championships are held each year at Shippensburg University.

Soccer and girls’ volleyball, both scheduled for Nov. 20-21, have also moved. Soccer is at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. Girls’ volleyball is at St. Francis University in Loretto.

Field hockey remains at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg and will be played Nov. 21.

Football is also at Cumberland Valley. It concludes the fall sports season Dec. 10-12.

TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com or followed on Twitter at @tomjrobinson.