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If Pahrump Valley's petition to remain in Class 3-A is denied by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, Trojan athletics teams will play in the Class 4-A Sunset Region, starting in fall 2008.

"The criteria for determining which classification a school goes to includes competitive balance, as well as geographical location and enrollment," said Dale Norton, the Nye County School District assistant superintendent in charge of extracurricular activities, including athletics.

"The question is, how do you measure competitiveness balance?" asked Norton. "In determining that balance, we have to look at the whole program and how each sport has fared."

However, that if the Class 4-A assignment is overturned by the NIAA and Pahrump Valley will compete in 3-A through 2012, Norton believes, "Pahrump Valley will be in 4-A in five years (the 2012-13 school year), when the next realignment will go into effect, so we have to start preparing now for that situation. We need to be ready." By that next realignment period, PVHS student-athletes are likely to be in a new facility on Gamebird Road.

Which means coaches will have to start now to upgrade their programs.

In 2006-2007 competition, Pahrump Valley had a banner year, winning state 3-A championships in girls golf and girls track. The golf team has four titles in the last nine years, while the girls' basketball team was state runnerup last season, after winning state championships in 2004 and 2005.

The track teams, both boys and girls, challenged for state titles in both 2006 and 2007, with the girls led by Dominique Maloy, who claimed 15 individual championships in four springs with the Lady Trojans.

The wrestling and baseball teams finished second in state tournaments this past school year. The matmen have won the last three Southern 3-A regular-season and regional championships.

The girls' basketball team, in the last six seasons under the direction of Bob Hopkins, has won 43 of 56 games against Nevada Class 4-A teams and is 152-33 against all opponents. The softball team, with Rich Lauver as coach, was 129-61 against all opponents, with three state 3-A championships.

The fast-pitch softball team won league and regional titles before bowing out in the state semifinals. The boys' track team finished third in the state, after winning the Southern title.

Qualifying for the regionals by finishing in the top four in league competition were the volleyball and boys and girls soccer teams.

Pahrump Valley is currently in the Southern 3-A League, along with Boulder City, Las Vegas Faith Lutheran, Overton Moapa Valley and Mesquite Virgin Valley. Those four would remain in the league, but Pahrump Valley, because of anticipated enrollment of more than 1,300, will be moved to 4-A.

NIAA members seeking a change in status have until Aug. 13 to submit their petition for that switch. Schools are divided by student enrollment: 169 and under in Class A; 170 to 460 in 2-A; 461 to 1,200 in 3-A, and 1,201 and higher in 4-A.

Replacing PVHS in Southern 3-A would be Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, which will appeal to stay in 4-A. Gorman currently has 1,000 students, but the Gaels have been a major 4-A power in most sports for many years.

In the Northern 3-A League, Reno Bishop Manogue, pending action on its petition to remain in 4-A, would be joining Dayton, Fernley, Winnemucca Lowry, Sparks, Spring Creek, Truckee (Calif.) and Yerington as a member. Manogue, a 3-A power for several years, was moved to 4-A three years ago. The school has 650 students.

In Class 4-A, the enrollment numbers are unofficial.

In the Sunset Region Southwest Division would be Pahrump Valley, along with Las Vegas Bonanza (2,300), Clark (2,700), Durango (2,680), Sierra Vista (3,200), Spring Valley(2,500) and Western (2,400).

In the Sunset Northwest Division would be Arbor View (2,200), Centennial (2,900), Cheyenne (2,500), Cimarron-Memorial (3,000), Legacy (1,800), Mojave (2,300), and Palo Verde (3,400).

Sunrise Northeast teams will be Canyon Springs (2,600), Chaparral (2.700), Desert Pines (3,100), Eldorado (3,200), Las Vegas (3,200), Rancho (3,300) and Valley (3,000). Sunrise Southeast teams are Henderson Basic (2,400), Coronado (2,800), Foothill (2,400), Green Valley (2,800) and Liberty (1,800), along with Las Vegas Del Sol (2,200), Silverado (2,500) and Vo-Tech (1,800).

Class A is scheduled to have 28 public schools and three independents as members in 2008.

In the South are Beatty, Round Mountain, and Tonopah (which had its issues with the NIAA settled when school enrollment was one of the criteria to determine classification), along with Las Vegas Calvary Chapel, Henderson International (formerly Warren-Walker), Indian Springs, Lake Mead Christian Academy, Lund, Las Vegas Mountain View Christian, Pahranagat Valley Alamo, Spring Mountain, and Las Vegas Trinity Christian.

The North 1-A teams would be Austin, Carlin, Coleville (Calif.), Eureka, Gabbs, Gerlach, Independence, Jackpot, McDermitt, Owyhee, Pyramid Lake, Reno Sage Ridge, Sierra Lutheran, Smith Valley, Virginia City and Wells.

We have advocated for the last couple years that when coaching vacancies occur at the varsity level at PVHS, the best possible person-teacher-coach needs to be hired, even if it requires a national search. We hope that idea resonates with administrators; the idea of someone "just filling" a position won't work and should not be acceptable.