LHSAA titles at stake the next few weeks

Yes, it’s title time once again.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association/State Farm State Wrestling tournament this weekend kicks off a series of championships weekends that run through March 10.

Action continues this week with the LHSAA’s Indoor Track Championships at LSU on Feb. 18.

This promises to be anything but a typical year, thanks to new formats for soccer and basketball. And that could make things very interesting.

All three soccer divisions will be involved in the LHSAA’s Soccer Championships set for Feb. 24-25 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. Previously, only Divisions I and III were part of the tournament.

I’m anxious to see how the added dimension is accepted. Previously, schools in Division II played championships at school-based sites.

This change has been met with less resistance than the sweeping changes for basketball. For the first time since 1982, LHSAA boys and girls teams will compete together in a finals-only tournament.

There will also be a new host site in Ruston-based Louisiana Tech, along with Hammond, Monroe and Lake Charles serving as regional sites for the semifinal round.

This week, boys and girls basketball playoff pairings will be released together for the first time. Previously, the girls playoffs started ahead of the boys playoffs, leading to the Ladies’ Top 28 Tournament held a week before the boys Top 28.

Basketball playoff action begins the week of Feb. 20 with the regional semifinals set for March 1-3, followed by the finals in Ruston from March 8-10.

The format change has already prompted plenty of debate. A number of coaches dislike the idea of a combined tournament for a variety of reasons.

Now after two years of planning, coaches, players, fans and the media will get to see what happens when a combined tournament is held.

I’ll be honest with you, I’m not sure what to expect. The logistics change when you plan coverage for 14 championship games in a three-day time period. But I do look forward to chronicling what does happen in the days and weeks ahead.

Though what will happen remains a mystery, one thing is certain: We’ll be watching history.

Brusly honors Mayeux

Brusly High named its softball field in honor of former coach Julie Mayeux, who is now an assistant principal at the school. The facility is now My-U Field.

A ceremony was held in conjunction with an alumni game Saturday. Mayeux compiled a total of 605 victories in softball and girls basketball at Brusly.

Her softball teams were 355-146 and made the playoffs all 18 years she served as head coach, winning Class 3A state titles in 1991 and 1997. Mayeux’s teams made 10 state tournament appearances.

All-district soccer

Local and area soccer coaches are asked to submit their all-district teams by Feb. 17. The teams will not be published until the season for all area teams is over.

However, our staff needs time to get these teams ready for publication. Please submit teams by email to me, at [e-mail] or fax to [phone].

Right basketball stuff

As the basketball season winds down, local boys and girls coaches are reminded to submit their all-district teams as soon as possible.

Baton Rouge area coaches are also asked to submit nominations for the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-State teams by Feb. 27.

All nominees must be first-team all-district selections. Submit the player’s height and grade, along with their season statistics, including some highlights when possible. Coaches of district MVPs must submit statistics and information for their players.

Also submit LSWA nominations by email to [e-mail] or fax to [phone].

Scrimmage needed

Class 1A Catholic-Pointe Coupee seeks a fall football scrimmage.

Contact CHSPC coach Rob Funderburk by email at rfunderburk at Catholicpc.com.

Varnado sanctioned

Varnado High, a District 7-1A rival of Christian Life and Southern Lab, was sanctioned by the LHSAA for a self-reported scholastic violation in boys basketball.

The school was fined $200 and had to forfeit wins in four 7-1A games – two to Kentwood and one each to Archbishop Hannan and Mount Hermon.

The athlete involved will be required to sit out nine games once he becomes academically eligible.