Grandview's Phillip Candanoza, center, is surrounded by his team after the Greyhounds won the Class 2A state basketball tournament in 2002. The 2A tournaments are returning to the Yakima Valley SunDome in 2009 after a two-year absence.   SANDY SUMMERS/ Yakima Herald-Republic file

 Class 2A tourneys
returning to Dome
 
By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

In basketball terms, Yakima just sank a 3-pointer. And a deep one that hit nothing but net.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's Executive Board has voted to return the Class 2A state basketball tournament to Yakima, expanding the Yakima Valley SunDome's state lineup to an unprecedented three consecutive weeks.

What set the move in motion was the WIAA's decision to move the 3A tournament from Seattle back to Tacoma after a two-year arrangement with KeyArena and the University of Washington.

Given that the 2A tournament was housed in the SunDome from 1999 to 2006, the news of its return has been warmly greeted.

"I think it's absolutely great," said Gene Rostvold, the tournament manager for the 1A and 1B tournaments that Yakima has hosted in back-to-back weeks for the past two years. "We heard from a lot of schools who were upset when we lost it two years because we had built up some great relationships.

"It's just great to be getting it back because of its history here," he added. "The 2A tournament couldn't be located in a better place."

In 2009, the first year of the two-year commitment, Yakima will host 1B on Feb. 25-28, 1A on March 4-7 and 2A on March 11-14. During the 1A week, the Tacoma Dome will host 4A while the Spokane Arena has the 2B. Tacoma will have the 3A during Yakima's 2A week.

Mike Colbrese, executive director of the WIAA, said the two-year "experiment" with the 3A in Seattle -- which prompted the 2A switch to Tacoma -- proved too costly and too cumbersome with two sites. The UW's Edmundson Pavilion and KeyArena were both used.

"Two different roofs, expenses dramatically higher and crowds we thought would be better -- it just didn't work," Colbrese said. "It's a little surprising and disappointing because when the 3A was in Seattle before (2000) it was our largest grossing event."

So the Executive Board voted to move the 3A back to the Tacoma Dome, which pushed the 2A back over the mountains to Yakima. Colbrese said there were no reservations about Yakima handling three consecutive tournaments.

"No concerns at all," he said. "We checked with Gene and the management team and they assured us it would work. We know Yakima does a great job. Tacoma has an affection for state basketball, but Yakima loves it."

"I think we're definitely up for it," said Rich Austin, Director of Sports for the Yakima Valley Sports Commission. "Yakima has everything to take care of this tournament -- the facility, the staff, the lodging association, the community. It's a collective effort and we're up for it."

Citing 2006 figures when the 2A tournament was last in Yakima, Austin estimated the four-day event will bring in $1.6 million to the local economy.

Three consecutive weeks of tournaments does, however, present a significant challenge.

"There are some big concerns when asking people to spend that much time on the staff and as volunteers," Rostvold said. "I've felt like two weeks in the SunDome requires two weeks of recuperation, so now we're talking about another week. Plus, we're asking the community to step up with another 32 team hosts -- that puts some pressure on us as a community to keep the tournament as successful as it's been.

"But one of the things that makes Yakima special is the way it's embraced these tournaments," he continued. "We go all-out and teams know they're welcome."

When the WIAA moved the 2A tournament from Yakima to Tacoma, one reason was the concern over potentially larger crowds than the SunDome could handle. With a new classification system that adjusted the 2A range to include larger schools, the WIAA opted for the Tacoma Dome.

Colbrese said there is still such a concern, but it's manageable.

"We did have one occasion when we had to turn people away," said Rostvold, noting the 2000 boys championship between Wapato and Blaine. "But now there's added lockers and additional seating. I'm confident we can handle it."

State Fair Park had to do some tinkering with its SunDome schedule to clear the way for a third tournament. State Fair General Manager Greg Stewart said the Central Washington Home Builder's Association agreed to move the dates of its Home Show, which was held this year March 14-16.

Ephrata's boys and River Ridge's girls were the 2A state champions last month. Five Yakima-area teams, including double entries from Ellensburg and Prosser, played in the tournament.

* The WIAA Executive Board made other decisions involving state tournaments.

The 2009 state track and field meets will be split between two sites. Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma will host 4A, 3A and 2A and Eastern Washington University in Cheney will host 1A, 2B and 1B.

The state cross country championships were confirmed for Pasco's Sun Willows Golf Course for another year.