Cathedral Prep last week announced its sports teams would play in classifications based solely on enrollment figures. Prep traditionally had played up to higher classifications in some sports, including football, and the decision -- one of a number of choices by schools in District 10 to play at appropriate rather than advanced classifications -- has been fodder for sports fans ever since.

Here's the document Cathedral Prep prepared to show how and why it reached its classifications decisions. It was supplied to the Times-News by Chris Hagerty, Prep's director of advancement.

-- Cathedral Prep has made the decision to play in the appropriate slotted PIAA classification in all 12 sports. For the interscholastic sports seasons of 2008-09 and 2009-10, Cathedral Prep is slotted in the highest classification in all sports with the exception of football and baseball, which are slotted in the AAA classification. The following is a summary of considerations for making this decision:

1.) Cathedral Prep has carefully and thoughtfully reviewed all aspects of this decision and concluded that this was the right time and right fit to participate in the AAA classification in football and baseball. The discussion of classification participation has only been possible since 2003. Prior to that year, Prep’s enrollment numbers and the classification determination numbers issued by the PIAA dictated that Prep play in the highest classification. The PIAA determines classification by the number of male and female students attending each school in grades 9, 10, and 11. In 2003, Prep had 388 students, in 2005 440 students, and in 2007 480 students in these grades. In football for example, the current PIAA AAAA cut-off number is 540 students. Although Prep’s enrollment has enjoyed a substantial increase in the last four years, the student population is well below that of other AAAA schools such as North Penn (1,659), Upper Darby (1,591), Neshaminy (1,394), Reading (2,098), Harrisburg (990), State College (1,028), Altoona (1,007), North Allegheny (991), and McDowell (957). To place things is proper perspective, there are 41 Quad A schools in District 1 and one Quad A school is District 10…the disparity in staggering.

2.) The Philadelphia Catholic and public schools will participate in the PIAA playoffs beginning with the 2008-09 season. The entry of these schools has tilted the AAAA playing field in numerous ways. By comparison, the numbers of students at some of these schools are dramatically different than Cathedral Prep: Father Judge (985), Roman Catholic (747), St. Joe’s Prep (730), Archbishop Ryan (703).

3.) Every team that puts on pads in August has one goal: make the playoffs and win the last game of the season. That accomplishment will result in a state championship. Playing where slotted by the PIAA will provide the best opportunity for our young men, players and student body alike, to experience the emotion and camaraderie of a state championship atmosphere, which will provide memories for the rest of their lives. When men of Prep gather for reunions to re-tell stories of the past…the stories that are always told first are the state championship runs…and the pure excitement of the bus trips and road trips that ended with a trip to Hershey, State College, or Altoona. Those memories are irreplaceable.

4.) Cathedral Prep’s current enrollment numbers are very strong and actually buck the trend of declining or stagnant enrollment that is pervasive in Catholic education through our region, state, and country. That being said, our enrollment number projections will not be significant enough for Prep to be considered a Quad A school in football or baseball for the foreseeable future. Quite simply, the baby boom generation has come and gone in the Erie Region, and the reality of current demographics cannot and should not be ignored. The days of a Cathedral Prep being an extremely large Catholic school with over 1,000 students has come and gone, but the school has done a marvelous job of re-inventing itself as a mid-size Catholic school that still holds true to the spiritual, academic, and athletic ideals that have guided the school for 86 years.

5.) Years ago it was true that schools that played in the highest classifications throughout the country were the schools that were ranked the highest nationally and also the schools that attracted the most recruiters from college programs. Times have changed, and they changed dramatically. Internet recruiting services like Rivals.com and Scout.com enabled young men from all classifications to enjoy regional and national notoriety. A great example is Cardinal Mooney in Youngtown, Oh. Ohio has six classifications in football, and Mooney is in the third lowest classification (1A is the highest…Mooney is 4A). Yet, they were consistently ranked in the USA Today Top 25 this year, and they have several student athletes receiving Division I college scholarships including Dan McCarthy who has verbally committed to the University of Notre Dame. The young men of Cathedral Prep will continue to have every opportunity to showcase their talents to colleges throughout the United States.

6.) In making this decision, District 10 officials, provided Prep the opportunity to not only play a competitive regional schedule, but also continue to play a rigorous independent schedule that will include schools like St. Ignatius and St. Ed’s (Cleveland), Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown), and yes, a school named McDowell.

Cathedral Prep is a school that has, does, and will always stand for excellence. The decision to play where we are slotted by the PIAA will have no negative impact on that tradition of excellence. Rather, it will provide the opportunity for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to experience this excellence on a more regular basis.