TOURNAMENT TURMOIL
Return to team reimbursements?

By SCOTT SANDSBERRY
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

If the new format turns out to be as financially successful as Washington Interscholastic Activities Association officials hope, it could ultimately pay off for its member schools. Literally.

The WIAA used to reimburse schools under its old "Points Program," which was discontinued roughly a decade ago because of a lack of funds. It was based on a fairly complicated formula of mileage, state-event duration and the number participants, and it wasn't a lot money. But, for those schools whose teams made it to state, it was something.

"When you looked at it from the association's perspective, it was usually around $250,000 to $300,000 (total)," WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese said. "And I don't know if it will ever get to that point again."

The WIAA has been building its reserve account, which is now up to nearly $1 million. If the new format works and bolsters that account, Colbrese said, the WIAA hopes to be able to begin repaying schools for their state-tournament participation by as soon as the end of the 2011-12 school
year.

"Now that we've built the account up to $1 million," Colbrese said, "we'll use the interest from that account and a line item in the budget to reinstitute the program."