The SPSL principals voted at their January 7th meeting to approve the admission of three new schools to the SPSL interscholastic league beginning next fall with the 2008-2009 school year. Clover Park, Lakes and Peninsula High Schools will join the 3A division. Auburn and Auburn Riverside will leave the 3A division and join the 4A North division as a result of the WIAA enrollment count placing both schools over the 1,280 student 3A maximum limit.

The final division alignments have now been approved and contest scheduling by league athletic directors will begin immediately based on these configurations:

4A North Division: Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Kentlake, Kent-Meridian, Kentridge, Kentwood, Federal Way, Jefferson and Tahoma.

4A South Division: Bethel, Spanaway Lake, Graham Kapowsin, Curtis, Rogers, Puyallup, Emerald Ridge, Todd Beamer and Decatur.

3A Division: Enumclaw, White River, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Franklin Pierce, Auburn Mountainview, Lakes, Clover Park and Peninsula.

The South Puget Sound League (SPSL) is the largest interscholastic sports league in Washington State. The SPSL has 24 member high schools in a combined 3A and 4A classification league. The 4A has a North and South Division while the 3A is a single division. The SPSL is a member league of the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) West Central District #3.

SPSL members believe that student participation in a comprehensive athletic program helps our young people become better school and community members and provides opportunities not ordinarily available in the regular school curriculum. Studies show that girls and boys who are active in sports have better school attendance, higher grade point averages, fewer disciplinary problems and higher graduation rates. Participation in athletics promotes leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, goal setting and other valuable life skills.

The SPSL emphasizes sportsmanship through its' sportsmanship code:

Show pride, class, spirit and respect. Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat. Please enjoy the game and promote good sportsmanship. In the South Puget Sound League, everyone's a winner!

*Information provided by South Puget Sound League website: www.spsl.org