Is 6A Enrollment the Real Issue in Oklahoma?

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By Brad Heath @BradHeath72

With so much discussion around the OSSAA creating a Class 7A or creating a new playoff system to eliminate the enrollment issue that seems to spring up after a Jenks or Union state title win in football. Do we really believe this will solve the enrollment issues people have in Class 6A? Clearly Broken Arrow and Union are the two largest schools in the state. Broken Arrow has won a total of 23 state titles since 2000. Ten of those came in wrestling and six from fast pitch softball. One in baseball, one in cheer and three in boy’s soccer. Boy’s cross-country has one and girl’s track won a state title in 2004. Zero in football. In comparison Edmond North has won 34 titles since 2000 and they have 2141 fewer kids than Broken Arrow. No football titles for Edmond North as well. Just to add another school to the conversation, Mustang High School has won six state titles in 2000 and their enrollment is 2113 students less than Broken Arrow, but slightly larger than Edmond North. So we're really talking about football right? Then the only logical solution is to have Jenks and Union play in the "Jenks vs. Union Championship" every year, then have another playoff bracket for the rest of the field to compete for the 6A championship. That seems to be the only explanation I can get people to agree on. Maybe force the schools to split (not in the cards Clark). My prediction, even with a new formatted playoff system that addresses enrollment, if Jenks and Union continue to win, or if Broken Arrow wins one in football, the argument will remain the same. It's not going away.

On a side note Jenks has won 71 state titles since 2000. Their enrollment is 1509 less than BA and 632 more than Edmond North. So is 632 kids (give or take a few over the years) the difference in 34 titles and 71 titles? 

The real questions to answer are; are you willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices it takes to be the best or at least compete? Is the community prepared to vote in the bonds and support the schools financially so they can move forward with new facilities and equipment? Can the culture of the community change to support the athletes regardless of the final score? Or should we continue to find excuses and reasons why we’re not winning games, titles, or tournaments? Is enrollment a factor in creating a larger pool of student athletes to choose from? Yes. Absolutely. Is there a guarantee that you’ll find 10, five, or one starter in that pool? No there’s not a guarantee. Could it mean the Math club has more numbers or the marching band has more members? Yes. But when we start dissecting what goes into winning or even competing on a consistent basis, the answer is much deeper than enrollment. The enrollment issue is a band-aid. When can we start giving the kids some credit? When will we start recognizing the great accomplishments these student athletes are making at every level and every size school?

List of schools by enrollment and the number of state titles they have won (in all sports) since the year 2000.

Some of the titles listed for some of the schools may have been won in Class 5A. Enrollment based on ADM from OSSAA.