Iowa High School Athletic Association

Administrative staff

The administrative staff that runs the IHSAA consists of the 7 members in the office of directors, and the 10 members of the board of control.

Board of directors (as of July 2024)

• Executive Director- Tom Keating
• Assistant Director- Jared Chizek
• Assistant Director Chad Elsberry
• Assistant Director- Todd Tharp
• Assistant Director- Andy Umthun
• Director of Officials- Lewis Curtis
• Communications Director- Chris Cuellar

Board of control (as of July 2024)

• Chairperson: Dr. Andy Crozier, Central Lee, 2024
• Vice-chairperson: Amanda Whaley, West Branch, IASB, 2024
• Treasurer: Derin Durflinger, 2026
• Dave Wiebers, Denison-Schleswig, 2028
• Steve Pettit, Southeast Polk, 2028
• Barb Schwamman, Osage, 2027
• Dr. Rod Earleywine, Sioux City, 2025
• Brent Cook, Dubuque, Senior, 2027
• Eric St. Clair, ex-officio, Department of Education

Member Schools{{cite web | url=https://www.iahsaa.org/classifications/ | title=IHSAA: Classifications }}

Baseball

The IHSAA, historically, has had 3 state baseball championships. Currently, there is only one: the Summer State Championship, whose winners are currently recognized as the State Champions. Historically, however, the winners of all 3 tournaments are given credit for State Championships. Iowa was the first State Association in the nation to hold a baseball championship meet in the summer.

Classification guidelines

• 4A- Largest 48 schools
• 3A- Next 64 largest schools
• 2A- Next 96 largest schools
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Baseball-Record-Book-3.18.24.pdf|title=IHSAA 2024 Baseball Record Book|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=March 18, 2024|access-date=July 9, 2024}}

Summer Tournament

The summer tournament was first held in 1946, with one classification from 1946 to 1972. From 1973 to 1980, there were 2 classifications (1A and 2A), and since 1981 there have been 4 classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A).

Spring Tournament

The Spring Tournament was held every summer from 1928 to 1972, and is the oldest of the 3 state tournaments. In the 4 years prior to 1928 (1924–1927), Iowa State College hosted an "invitational state tournament" in the spring that attracted nearly 40 schools, but was unofficial in nature. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Spring tournament never divided into separate classes.

Fall Tournament

The Fall Tournament was held every summer from 1939 to 1985. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Fall tournament never divided into separate classes. .

Basketball

Classification guidelines

• 4A- Largest 48 schools
• 3A- Next 64 largest schools
• 2A- Next 96 largest schools*
• 1A- Remaining schools

*IHSAA Board policy allows schools to participate in a higher classification than their enrollment places them in a sport with four classes. Schools requesting this placement will remain in higher class for two years. As a result, In the 2014-15 school year, there were 97 schools in 2A basketball, even though regulations call for 96

State Champions{{Cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-Basketball-RB-11.22.23.pdf|title=IHSAA 2023 Basketball Record Book}}

Timeline

• 1912–1919 – unsupervised, non IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning one state champion.
• 1920–1922 – unsupervised, non IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning two state champions, one in Iowa City and one in Ames.
• 1923 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning one state champion; round robin format
• 1924 – no state champion listed according to IHSAA website
• 1925–1926 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning two state champions in "A" and "B" divisions; round robin format
• 1927–1955 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning one state champion
• 1956–1960 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning two state champions in "A" and "B" divisions
• 1961–1966 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning one state champion
• 1967–1974 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning two state champions in "1A" and "2A" classes
• 1975–1984 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning three state champions in "1A", "2A", and "3A" classes.
• 1985–1992 – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning four state champions in "A", "1A", "2A", and "3A" classes.
• 1993–present – supervised, IHSAA sponsored state championship crowning four state champions in "1A", "2A", "3A" and "4A" classes.

Bowling

Bowling was first sanctioned by the IHSAA in 2009–2010.

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-Bowling-RB-8.18.23.pdf|title=2023 Record Book Bowling|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=August 18, 2023|access-date=July 9, 2024}}

Cross country

Cross Country was first contested in Iowa in 1922, and is considered a fall sport. It is also the only sport that is jointly sanctioned by the IHSAA and the IGHSAU. The current official distance for cross country meets is 5000m (approximately 3.1 miles). The standard format for team scoring, per NFHS guidelines, is to sum the places of the 5 highest placing runners among qualifying teams (teams must have at least 5 runners to qualify in the context of the team competition) to obtain the team's score. Teams are then ranked with the lowest score winning. Additionally, a team may have up to 7 runners count in placing for team scores, although only the first 5 scores, with the 6th and 7th runners serving to displace and lower the position of runners on other teams.

Classification guidelines

In classifying Cross Country programs, due to the collaboration of the IHSAA and IGHSAU, teams are included in the largest 48, next 64, etc., on the basis of having either a boys or a girls program, as not all schools have both. This is to avoid a situation where boys and girls from the same school do not compete in the same class.

• 4A- Largest 48 schools
• 3A- Next 64 largest schools
• 2A- Next 72 largest schools
• 1A- Remaining Schools

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-Cross-Country-RB-6.17.24.pdf|title=2023 Record Book Cross Country|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=June 17, 2024|access-date=July 7, 2024}}

Timeline

• 1922–1929 – unsanctioned, unsupervised State Championship crowning one individual and one team state champion. Race length-2 miles
• 1930–1934 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning one individual and one team state champion. Race length-2 miles
• 1935 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning one individual and one team state champion. Race length-1.9 miles
• 1936 sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning one individual and two team state champions. Race length-1.9 miles
• 1937–1946 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning three individual and three team state champions. Race length-1.9 miles
• 1947 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning four individual and no team state champions. Race length-1.9 miles
• 1948–1950 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning four individual and four team state champions. Race length-1.9 miles
• 1951–1956 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning four individual and four team state champions. Race length-1.8 miles
• 1957–1963 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning five individual and five team state champions. Race length-1.8 miles
• 1964–1966 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning six individual and six team state champions. Race length-1.8 miles
• 1967–1968 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning six individual and six team state champions. Race length-2.0 miles
• 1969–1975 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning seven individual and seven team state champions. Race length-2.0 miles
• 1976–1980 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning four individual and four team state champions. Race length-2.0 miles
• 1981–1986 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning three individual and three team state champions. Race length-2.0 miles
• 1987–2002 – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning three individual and three team state champions. Race length-5000 meters
• 2003–present – sanctioned, supervised State Championship crowning four individual and four team state champions. Race length-5000 meters

Football

Classification guidelines{{Cite web|url=http://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Football_classification_changes_2018.pdf|title=Football classification changes for 2018-19 approved}}

Football classifications remain the same for 2 years, following remain the same for the 2021 and 2022 football seasons.

• 5A- Largest 36 schools by enrollment
• 4A- Next Largest 36
• 3A- Next Largest 36
• 2A- Next Largest 48
• 1A- Next Largest 48
• A- Remaining 11 player schools
• 8-player- Option for schools with an enrollment of 120 or less

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Football-RB-7.3.24.pdf|title=IHSAA 2023 Football Record Book|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=April 5, 2024|access-date=July 7, 2024}}

Although different sources claim that certain schools to have been state champions in years prior to 1972, these championships are not apparently recognized by the IHSAA and are not listed on its website, and it is not clear how these championships were determined. 8-Player started having postseason in 2000, the previous two years were regular season due to low number of teams.

Golf

The standard team scoring format for golf tournaments, per NFHS guidelines, is to add up the scores of 6 players with each player playing 2 rounds of 18 holes. Teams are then ranked according to lowest score.

Classification guidelines

• 4A (fall golf) – Largest 48 schools*
• 3A (spring golf) – Next 64
• 2A (spring golf) – Next 96
• 1A (spring golf) – Remaining schools *Plus golf schools that play in 4A conferences that wish to play in the fall. In 2006–2007 there were 52 schools in class 4A

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-Golf-RB-6.17.24.pdf|title=IHSAA 2024 Golf Record Book|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=June 17, 2024|access-date=July 9, 2024}}

Fall Tournament

In 1940, 1941, and 1986–1993, teams could also participate in a separate Fall Championship. Listed below are the champions of those tournaments. Beginning in 1994, the Fall tournament became simply the 4A championship. Those results are included above.

Soccer

Classification guidelines

• 3A- Largest 36 schools (initiated in 2011)
• 2A- Next Largest 48 schools
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Soccer-RB-9.12.23.pdf|title=2023 Soccer Record Book|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=September 12, 2023|access-date=July 7, 2024}}

The current State Champion is the winner of the spring tournament that has been held since 1995 and was divided into 2 classes in 1998 and 3 classes starting in 2011. From 1994 to 2000, there was also a fall State Championship tournament that crowned a single champion. Winners of both tournaments are considered State Champions.

Swimming & diving

Classification guidelines

State Champions{{cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2023-24-Swimming-RB-2.1.24.pdf|title=IHSAA 2023-24 Swimming Record Book|publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association|date=February 1, 2024|access-date=July 7, 2024}}