Chairman Dale Crafton, Vice Chairman Mike Blackburn, Linda Barnett, Dan Cunningham, Denis Eller, Patrick Mapes, Janis Qualizza, Cecil Raymond, Jean Shonkwiler, Oren Sutherlin, Joseph Trimboli, Michael Necessary, Directors Curtis Casbon, Jim Feist, Phillip Gardner, Lee Lonzo, Mike Powell, Pam Noble, Director Elect Roger Weaver, Commissioner Blake Ress, Associate Commissioner Ray Craft, Assistant Commissioners Bobby Cox, Sandy Searcy, Theresia Wynns, Sports Information Director Jim Russell and Attorney Robert Baker.

The minutes of the Feb. 16, 2001 meeting were recommended for approval. A motion for approval was made by Dennis Eller; seconded by Joseph Trimboli; motion passed 12-0.

The Executive Committee took the following actions in response to proposals presented by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association and the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association during the February meeting:

1. An option of 10 dual matches and four tournaments (three matches per tourney) for a total maximum of 22 matches should be offered to supplement the current options. This item will be added to the April 30, 2001, IHSAA Board of Directors agenda as it requires a change in the IHSAA By-Laws.
2. Each regional and semi-state must secure a USTA certified umpire to settle disputes. Each regional site must secure one USTA certified umpire or a non-partisan qualified tennis person to settle disputes. The staff has been afforded permission to work with tournament directors to obtain USTA certified umpires and/or non-partisan tennis persons for their contests on an as-needed basis.

Lorie Cook of Valparaiso High School appeared before the Executive Committee on behalf of the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association’s Gymnastics Committee to thank the IHSAA for allowing two gymnastics teams to advance from each regional to the state finals.

Bev Arnold of Jay County High School (Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association), and Keith Buetow of Martinsville High School (Indiana High School Swim Coaches Association) appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals:

1. A fifth heat to be added in all swimming events at the Girls and Boys State Swimming and Diving preliminaries on Friday evening.
2. Allow all members of a team’s coaching staff on the pool deck during the State Swimming and Diving Meets.

Ed Fox of Carroll of Fort Wayne High School, David McCloud of Pendleton Heights High School, and J.D. Minch of North Montgomery High School, representing the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association, appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals:

1. The dual meet tournament become a class system tournament following the IHSAA guidelines.
2. The current four (4) level individual tournament be condensed from four (4) weeks to three (3) weeks.
3. An additional one pound weight allowance for the teams competing in the regionals and semi-states of the dual meet team tournament.

Commissioner Ress submitted the report of the Baseball, Basketball and Volleyball Realignment Committee for approval of the Executive Committee. This committee of 10 (equally divided between Executive Committee members and appointees of the Indiana Interscholastic Administrators Association) had representation from each district and representation from each class. The report included the following alignment of schools for sectionals:

A motion to approve the committee’s recommendation as submitted was made by Cecil Raymond; seconded by Michael Necessary; motion passed 12-0.

Assistant Commissioner Wynns recommended that National Emblem provide IHSAA officials patches for the period 2001-2006. A motion to approve the recommendation was made by Mike Blackburn; seconded by Oren Sutherlin; motion passed 12-0.

Geoff Penrod of Columbia City High School, Jerry Stauffer of Warren Central High School, John Evers of Castle High School, and Ralph Scales of Jeffersonville High School, representing the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following recommendations regarding the basketball tournament format:

Chairman Mike Blackburn reported on a proposal from the Public/Private Committee that will be placed on the IHSAA Board of Directors agenda for the annual meeting on April 30, 2001. A proposed addendum to Rule 20 (Undue Influence) will be submitted for action by the Board of Directors. This committee will continue to meet and address this issue during the 2001-02 school year.

Chairman Dennis Eller reported on a proposal from the Realignment Committee that will be placed on the IHSAA Board of Directors April 30, 2001, agenda. The proposal to realign the IHSAA Board of Directors includes the following points:

1. IHSAA legislative districts would change from five to three. Four representatives (one per class) would be elected in each of the three districts.
2. For the purposes of electing female (2), minority (2), and urban (2) representatives, the state shall be separated into two districts: Northern and Southern.
3. Definition of an urban school – An urban school is any school who meets at least two of the following criteria:

1. The high school is in a school corporation with 20% or more students on free or reduced lunch;
2. The high school is in a school corporation that enrolls 5% or more limited English proficient students as shown on the IDOE language minority totals;
3. The high school is in a county with a population greater than 70,000;.

1. Central Office administrators would be eligible to serve on the IHSAA Board of Directors.
2. All references to the IHSAA Executive Committee shall be changed to Board of Directors. This group would be one and the same.

Commissioner Ress introduced Tom Perkins as the first director of technology for the IHSAA.

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on transfers that have been ruled upon during the 2000-01 school year. This report included the following actions as of March 23, 2001:

Full eligibility – 2,222.

Limited eligibility – 187.

Ineligible – 31.

Total – 2,440.

Assistant Commissioner Wynns reviewed the unsportsmanlike conduct reports received by the Association since the beginning of the 2000-01 school year. A total of 287 schools have had at least one incident of unsportsmanlike behavior reported. Eight schools have been reported for unsportsmanlike behavior at least 10 times this school year.

Commissioner Ress presented the monthly financial report of the Association.

Attorney Robert Baker updated the Executive Committee on the current status of litigation against the Association.

The following penalties were assessed for various violations of the IHSAA By-Laws:

Cowan High School

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 19-3:

1. The Cowan High School boys basketball program is issued a warning.
2. Junior Varsity Coach Rick Elsworth is reprimanded for opening the gymnasium for players on a Sunday.
3. The actions taken by Cowan High School administration in response to this violation are accepted by the IHSAA.
4. The administration is commended for its prompt handling of this matter.

North Daviess High School

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 15-1a:

1. The North Daviess High School boys basketball program is issued a warning.
2. The student-athlete involved in this violation shall be suspended from three contests.
3. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

A motion to adjourn the March meeting of the IHSAA Executive Committee was made by Michael Necessary; seconded by Pat Mapes; motion passed 10-0. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be at IHSAA headquarters on

April 30, 2001.