Two factors emerge crystal clear as local fans of high school sports wonder what next year will bring.

First, the South Puget Sound League 3A that fans have become accustomed to isn’t going away – but it surely won’t resemble the nine-team configuration of the past few years.

Reasons for the change are based in a desire by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to keep its six divisions roughly the same size. Formal enrollment counts are submitted every two years by the 387 schools participating in athletics. The WIAA strives to have 17 percent of its member schools competing at the largest Class 4A level and another 17 percent in each of the 3A, 2A and 1A divisions; that leaves 16 percent for each of the small 2B and 1B classifications.

In recent years fans have grown familiar with an SPSL 3A consisting of Enumclaw, White River, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Auburn Mountainview, Lakes, Peninsula, Franklin Pierce and Clover Park high schools.

That grouping is destined to change before athletes turn out in the fall.

Going strictly by the numbers, four of the current nine league members will drop to Class 2A status for next year.

Franklin Pierce, with an enrollment of 975, and Clover Park, 879, have already indicated they’re leaving the SPSL 3A, likely to seek admission to the Nisqually League.

The Sumner School District is appearing to be a house divided. Athletic Director Tim Thomson notified the WIAA that Bonney Lake High and its 1,045 students will choose to opt up to 3A status, despite its 2A numbers, while the Sumner High Spartans will compete wherever the numbers say they should. With a count of 980, SHS is definitely in 2A turf.

Consistently on the bubble was White River, with an enrollment count of 1,087. It had been assumed the Hornets would fall into the 2A ranks but, when the WIAA released its classifications Friday morning, White River was among the 3A programs.

Of the 66 schools across the state carrying 3A status for next year, White River is the smallest.

White River Athletic Director Chris Gibson said the school was prepared to go either way. If the number game pushed the Hornets to the 2A level, the school was prepared to go that direction. He said coaches were strongly in favor of dropping to the Class 2A level rather than having to opt up.

Thomson agreed the most logical scenario for the four teams slipping down to 2A status would be seeking membership in the existing Nisqually League. But there are other options available, he said, including formation of a new league or trying to get a combined 3A/2A division in the South Puget Sound League.

“Those options are all out there,” Thomson said, noting nothing will be decided soon.

The five remaining members of the SPSL 3A, and their enrollment counts, are: Lakes, 1,196; Enumclaw, 1,164; Peninsula, 1,150; Auburn Mountainview, 1,133; and White River.

Another factor impacting the league is a decision due by Decatur High, which has been competing in the Class 4A SPSL South despite its size. Decatur, with a count of 1,018, has chosen to opt up to the 3A level and has indicated it will apply for membership in the SPSL 3A.