Wisconsin Soccer Central

Wondering what sort of impact the proposed amendment to the WIAA constitution concerning the placement of private, religious and independent schools in tournament – the "multiplier" rule – would have on Wisconsin prep soccer?

A first look appears to show that it would be a pretty significant change.

Twenty-two of the 47 non-public schools that played in last fall's tournament would have been moved up one division if the 1.65 multiplier had been in place. The 2013 enrollment numbers were provided by our partners, the Wisconsin Sports Network.

Milwaukee Pius would have been the only team to move up from Division 2 to Division 1, while eight Division 3 sides and 13 Division 4 teams would have been placed in higher divisions. That group includes Division 4 champion Milwaukee University School and Division 3 finalist Green Bay Notre Dame.

FROM DIVISION 2 to DIVISION 1
Milwaukee Pius

FROM DIVISION 3 to DIVISION 2
Appleton Fox Valley Lutheran
Appleton Xavier
Green Bay Notre Dame
Madison Edgewood
Milwaukee Messmer
Milwaukee Lutheran
Waukesha Catholic Memorial
Wisconsin Lutheran

FROM DIVISION 4 to DIVISION 3
Brookfield Academy
Chippewa Falls McDonell-Eau Claire Regis
Delafield St. John's
Greendale Martin Luther
Kettle Moraine Lutheran
La Crosse Aquinas
Lakeside Lutheran
Manitowoc Roncalli
Milwaukee St. Anthony
Milwaukee University School
Mt. Calvary St. Lawrence
Watertown Luther Prep
Winnebago Lutheran

The other 25 private-school teams would have remained in their current divisions, with 23 of those sides in Division 4 – the exceptions being Division 1 power Milwaukee Marquette and Milwaukee Thomas More, which plays in Division 3.

Of course, if some teams would've moved up, that means others would have moved down a division. Those teams would have included:

FROM DIVISION 1 to DIVISION 2
Milwaukee Pulaski

FROM DIVISION 2 to DIVISION 3
Antigo
New Berlin Eisenhower
New Berlin West
Sauk Prairie
Shawano
West De Pere
Whitnall

FROM DIVISION 3 to DIVISION 4
Campbellsport
Clintonville
Denmark
Evansville
Kiel
Mauston
North Fond du Lac-Oakfield
Northland Pines
River Valley
Somerset
Winneconne
Wrightstown

The WIAA's 505 member schools will vote on the proposed amendment April 16 at the organization's annual meeting in Stevens Point. Read more: WIAA members to vote on two major proposals next month

Here's a look at the 2013 enrollments and divisions along with the adjusted totals and placements when using the multiplier. Click on the header of any column to re-sort the data. Teams with asterisks are subject to the multiplier.

A few things to remember while looking through the chart:

• Under the guidelines set up by the WIAA last year, the first season with four divisions, the 64 largest teams by enrollment are placed in Division 1 and the next 64 largest teams make up Division 2. The remaining sides are split evenly between divisions 3 and 4.
• For co-op teams with one private school and one public school, it is assumed the multiplier would only be applicable to the private school's portion of the total.
• Enrollments usually change from year to year, sometimes significantly, so teams near the top or bottom of a division would be expected to move up or down.
• New programs could be added to the field next year, while other schools might choose to form co-op programs or drop the sport. And co-ops could decide to split.
• Can this be applied to girls soccer? Roughly. However, in most years, the field for the girls tournament has a few different schools and co-ops, so it would be slightly different.

(Editor's note: The reason there are 22 teams listed as moving up and only 20 listed as moving down has to do with a discrepancy with the enrollment total and divisional placement of the Milwaukee Tenor-Veritas co-op. If that issue can be clarified, we will update accordingly.)