SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WABig Nine Conference likely to disband

PASCO, Wash. -- Tuesday in Pasco the Yakima Valley Interscholastic Activities Association upheld an appeal that blocks the proposed Big Nine North and South division realignment. 

Last month the 15 Big Nine schools voted in an 8-7 decision to create regional divisions. The proposed North schools rejected the vote on the basis that the Big Nine by-laws were not followed. The by-laws state: "An amendment(s) of any By-Law of the Big 9 League requires 3/4 supermajority of Big 9 League member schools."

The by-laws also state in Section II, Part D, "The principal, the athletic director or their designee(s) shall represent each member school. Each school shall have only one vote." In December, it was the 15 athletic directors who voted.

Hanford High School Principal Ken Gosney says the league is now likely to split.

"Well I think at this point the South is - the Tri-City schools are going to be looking at forming a new league. I think the old Big Nine is probably going to disband. There's still a lot of steps between here and there, but I think that's probably the direction we're headed in at this point," Gosney said.