By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

The game of lacrosse is growing in Maine.

So much so that the Maine Principals’ Association will vote today on whether to reclassify the sport in the future.

At this morning’s Interscholastic Divison Business Meeting at the Spring Conference in Rockport, a proposal will be presented that will divide boys’ and girls’ lacrosse into two divisions. If approved the changes would take effect for the 2005-2006 season.

The MPA has sanctioned the sport for eight seasons. There are currently 39 boys’ teams and 33 girls’ programs. With enough teams to balance between two divisions, the time appeared right for such a change. It is considered just part of the evolution of the sport in Maine.

“I think that’s how the reclassification committee and the lacrosse committee see it,” said Dick Durost, the MPA executive director. “It was time to add a second class, but we want to have as much stability to the classes.”

The enrollment cutoff for Class B would be 829 under the current proposal. Schools with 830 or more students would be in Class A.

Durost says the only significant discussion expected on the proposal stems from the recommended ban on Class B teams petitioning up to Class A for the first two years of reclassification.

“That’s just needed to get a feel for how things are going,” said Durost.

Oak Hill has one of the oldest lacrosse programs in the state. Athletic Director Bill Fairchild said his biggest concern would be over scheduling. The Raiders play a mix of Class A and B schools.

“We’re just going to have to wait and see,” said Fairchild. “The biggest thing I’m wondering is what that’s going to leave for Eastern Maine B-size schools.”

Jack Hardy, the athletic director at Greely and a member of the lacrosse committee, says the change won’t effect scheduling. The reclassification is for tournament play only.

“As far as schedules, those will stay pretty much the same,” said Hardy.

Because there are a number of teams that would be B schools, primarily in Southern Maine, that would prefer to move up and play in Class A, the waiting period just allows for stability as the changes take place.

Teams like the Cape Elizabeth boys’ and the Waynflete girls’ have won five state titles each. If those B schools tried to jump back up to A immediately, it would leave a void in Class B.

“That could give us a huge imbalance in Class B,” said Hardy. “It gives us two years to take a look at it and re-evaluate from there and where we go next.”

Along with the usual committee reports, a discussion over allowing cross country teams to compete in the New England meet is also expected Thursday.

“It’s not on the agenda, but based on talks I’ve had with some principals I would fully expect that they will raise the issue once again,” said Durost.

The proposal to send teams, in addition to individuals that already compete, has been voted down three times previously. The first proposal was rejected, 84-0.

At last spring’s conference, the issue was sent back to the Interscholatic Management Committee. That committee voted unanimously against it and at the fall conference last November, it was voted down, by a 36-29 margin.

Earlier this year, a bill was introduced to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs asking them to intervene and force the MPA to allow teams to compete in the annual New England meet.

Though support for the proposal has been growing, there has been financial concerns, especially for Eastern Maine teams. Setting a precedent with other team sports likely to join the New England competitions has also been a consideration.