Iowa High School Athletic Association


The Iowa High School Athletic Association is the regulating body for male Iowa high school interscholastic athletics and is a full member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Its female counterpart, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, is an associate member. Iowa is the only state that maintains separate governing bodies for boys' and girls' athletics.
Sports overseen by the IHSAA are baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.
As classifications vary highly across sports, they are included under the individual sport section.

Administrative staff

The administrative staff that runs the IHSAA consists of the 7 members in the office of directors, and the 10 members of the board of control.

Board of directors

The IHSAA, historically, has had 3 state baseball championships. Currently, there is only one: the Summer State Championship, whose winners are currently recognized as the State Champions. Historically, however, the winners of all 3 tournaments are given credit for State Championships. Iowa was the first State Association in the nation to hold a baseball championship meet in the summer.

Classification guidelines

Summer Tournament

The summer tournament was first held in 1946, with one classification from 1946–1972. From 1973–1980, there were 2 classifications, and since 1981 there have been 4 classifications.

Spring Tournament

The Spring Tournament was held every summer from 1928–1972, and is the oldest of the 3 state tournaments. In the 4 years prior to 1928, Iowa State College hosted an "invitational state tournament" in the spring that attracted nearly 40 schools, but was unofficial in nature. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Spring tournament never divided into separate classes.

Fall Tournament

The Fall Tournament was held every summer from 1939–1985. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Fall tournament never divided into separate classes..

Basketball

Classification guidelines

*IHSAA Board policy allows schools to participate in a higher classification than their enrollment places them in a sport with four classes. Schools requesting this placement will remain in higher class for two years. As a result, In the 2014-15 school year, there were 97 schools in 2A basketball, even though regulations call for 96

State Championshttp://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/state_results.pdf

Timeline

YearDivision/ClassChampion
1912*Ottumwa
1913*Davenport
1914*Cedar Rapids, Washington
1915*Ottumwa
1916*Anna
1917*Mount Pleasant
1918*Mount Pleasant
1919*Fort Dodge
1920*Iowa City
Ames
Davenport
Boone
1921*Iowa City
Ames
Davenport
Boone
1922*Iowa City
Davenport
Cedar Rapids, Washington
Grinnell

Bowling

Bowling was first sanctioned by the IHSAA in 2009–2010.

State Champions

Cross country

Cross Country was first contested in Iowa in 1922, and is considered a fall sport. It is also the only sport that is jointly sanctioned by the IHSAA and the IGHSAU. The current official distance for cross country meets is 5000m. The standard format for team scoring, per NFHS guidelines, is to sum the places of the 5 highest placing runners among qualifying teams to obtain the team's score. Teams are then ranked with the lowest score winning. Additionally, a team may have up to 7 runners count in placing for team scores, although only the first 5 scores, with the 6th and 7th runners serving to displace and lower the position of runners on other teams.

Classification guidelines

In classifying Cross Country programs, due to the collaboration of the IHSAA and IGHSAU, teams are included in the largest 48, next 64, etc., on the basis of having either a boys or a girls program, as not all schools have both. This is to avoid a situation where boys and girls from the same school do not compete in the same class.

Timeline

Classification guidelines

Football classifications remain the same for 2 years, starting in 2018-2019.
Although different sources claim that certain schools to have been state champions in years prior to 1972, these championships are not apparently recognized by the IHSAA and are not listed on its website, and it is not clear how these championships were determined.
Year8-playerA1A2A3A4A
1972RadcliffeSioux CenterHarlanCedar Rapids, Jefferson
1973Dexfield, RedfieldBrittLe MarsDavenport, Central
1974AvoHa, AvocaMount VernonDecorahDavenport, West
1975Glidden-RalstonHudsonUrbandaleBishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City
1976BCL, ConradCentral Lyon, Rock RapidsColumbus Catholic, WaterlooDavenport, Central
1977ManillaCentral Lyon, Rock RapidsEmmetsburgDavenport, West
1978Eastwood, CorrectionvilleSibleyCedar Rapids, RegisMason City
1979TreynorSigourneyEmmetsburgDubuque, Hempstead
1980Woodbury Central, MovilleRoland-Story, Story CityMarionNewton
1981PaullinaDikeRoland-Story, Story CityPrairie, Cedar RapidsBettendorf
1982Lone TreePekin, PackwoodLaSalle, Cedar RapidsHarlanBishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City
1983SutherlandPekin, PackwoodLaSalle, Cedar RapidsHarlanDavenport, Central
1984SchleswigPocahontasGrundy CenterHarlanSioux City, East
1985Paton-ChurdanCenter PointBishop Garrigan, AlgonaPleasant ValleyLinn-Mar, Marion
1986Paton-ChurdanLynnville-SullyWapsie Valley, FairbankColumbus Catholic, WaterlooCedar Falls
1987GMG, GarwinGrundy CenterWapsie Valley, FairbankDecorahBettendorf
1988SchleswigGrundy CenterSolonDecorahBettendorf
1989Laurens-MarathonWest BranchEmmetsburgDecorahLinn-Mar, Marion
1990Logan-MagnoliaSouthern Cal, Lake CityEmmetsburgWaverly-Shell RockLinn-Mar, Marion
1991MadridWest BranchGarner-HayfieldWest Delaware, ManchesterBettendorf
1992BedfordWest BranchNorth FayetteWaverly-Shell RockBettendorf
1993RicevilleAplington-ParkersburgMount VernonHarlanIowa City, City High
1994West Bend-MallardHudsonMount VernonSpencerIowa City, City High
1995Gehlen Catholic, Le MarsDenverSigourney/KeotaHarlanIowa City, West
1996Guthrie CenterWest HancockIowa FallsOskaloosaIowa City, City High
1997West Central, MaynardWapsie Valley, FairbankEmmetsburgHarlanAnkeny
1998West Bend-MallardPekin, PackwoodWest Lyon, InwoodHarlanIowa City, West
1999West Bend-MallardWest Marshall, State CenterWest Lyon, InwoodNew HamptonIowa City, West
2000Adair-CaseyHubbard-RadcliffeSouthern Cal, Lake CityEmmetsburgClear LakeDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2001Adair-CaseyFredericksburgAplington-ParkersburgSigourney/KeotaWestern Dubuque, EpworthDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2002Sentral, FentonManningAkron-WestfieldEmmetsburgAtlanticWest Des Moines Valley
2003Sentral, FentonTreynorEldora-New ProvidenceEmmetsburgHarlanValley, West Des Moines
2004St. Mary's, RemsenWest Bend-MallardSt. Albert, Council BluffsColumbus Catholic, WaterlooHarlanBettendorf
2005Glidden-RalstonNorth Mahaska, New SharonRegina, Iowa CitySigourney/KeotaHarlanValley, West Des Moines
2006Northeast Hamilton, BlairsburgIKM, ManillaSt. Albert, Council BluffsCentral Lyon/George-Little RockHumboldtXavier, Cedar Rapids
2007StantonWapsie Valley, FairbankSt. Albert, Council BluffsSolonKeokukBettendorf
2008LenoxSouthern Cal, Lake CityEmmetsburgSolonBishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux CityValley, West Des Moines
2009Armstrong-RingstedSouthern Cal, Lake CitySt. Albert, Council BluffsSolonHarlanIowa City, City High
2010LenoxNorth Tama, TraerWest Lyon, InwoodRegina, Iowa CitySolonDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2011Fremont-Mills, TaborLisbonSaint AnsgarRegina, Iowa CityUnion, LaPorte CityWest Des Moines Valley
2012Marcus-Meriden-CleghornWapsie Valley, FairbankRegina, Iowa CitySpirit LakeDecorahAnkeny
2013Don Bosco, GibertvilleWest Lyon, InwoodRegina, Iowa CityKuemper Catholic, CarrollBishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux CityDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2014Newell-FondaLogan-MagnoliaRegina, Iowa CityNorth Fayette ValleyPellaDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2015Marcus-Meriden-CleghornGladbrook-ReinbeckRegina, Iowa CitySpirit LakePellaDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2016Don Bosco, GilbertsvilleGladbrook-ReinbeckWestern Christian, HullBoyden-Hull/Rock ValleyPellaDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2017Don Bosco, GilbertsvilleWest Sioux, HawardenVan MeterWaukonXavier, Cedar RapidsDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2018New LondonHudsonWest Sioux, HawardenPCM, MonroeXavier, Cedar RapidsDowling Catholic, West Des Moines
2019Don Bosco, GilbertvilleWest Hancock, BrittWest Lyon, Rock RapidsOA-BCIG, Ida GroveWestern Dubuque, EpworthDowling Catholic, West Des Moines

Golf

The standard team scoring format for golf tournaments, per NFHS guidelines, is to add up the scores of 6 players with each player playing 2 rounds of 18 holes. Teams are then ranked according to lowest score.

Classification guidelines

*Plus golf schools that play in 4A conferences that wish to play in the fall. In 2006–2007 there were 52 schools in class 4A

State Champions

Fall Tournament

In 1940, 1941, and 1986–1993, teams could also participate in a separate Fall Championship. Listed below are the champions of those tournaments. Beginning in 1994, the Fall tournament became simply the 4A championship. Those results are included above.
YearChampion
1940Des Moines, Roosevelt
1941Des Moines, Roosevelt
1986Columbus Catholic, Waterloo
1987Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines
1988Valley, West Des Moines
1989Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines
1990Cedar Rapids, Kennedy
1991Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines
1992Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines
1993Newton

Soccer

Classification guidelines

The current State Champion is the winner of the spring tournament that has been held since 1995 and was divided into 2 classes in 1998 and 3 classes starting in 2011. From 1994–2000, there was also a fall State Championship tournament that crowned a single champion. Winners of both tournaments are considered State Champions.
YearChampion
1994West Point, Marquette
1995Pella Christian
1996Western Christian, Hull
1997Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona
1998Unity Christian, Orange City
1999Unity Christian, Orange City
2000Unity Christian, Orange City

Swimming & diving

Classification guidelines

State Championshttp://www.iahsaa.org/swimming/2013_SWIM_StatBook.pdf

Tennis

An IHSAA tennis team consists of 6 competitors. Each head-to-head competition is made of 6 singles and 3 doubles, each worth 1 point, and the first team to 5 points is the winner. Both singles and doubles matches are in a best-of-3-sets format.

Classification guidelines

Timeline

Year2A1A
1983Cedar Rapids, WashingtonCamanche
1984Dubuque, HempsteadCamanche
1985Valley, West Des MoinesCamanche
1986Valley, West Des MoinesCamanche
1987Cedar Rapids, WashingtonDenison
1988Linn-Mar, MarionCamanche
1989Wahlert, DubuqueCamanche
1990Cedar Rapids, WashingtonCamanche
1991Waterloo, WestMaharishi, Fairfield
1992Dowling Catholic, West Des MoinesCamanche
1993Valley, West Des MoinesKeokuk
1994Cedar Rapids, WashingtonPella Christian
1995Iowa City, WestCamanche
1996Cedar Rapids, WashingtonDecorah
1997UrbandaleDecorah
1998Dubuque, SeniorDecorah
1999Iowa City, City HighMaharishi, Fairfield
2000Des Moines, RooseveltMaharishi, Fairfield
2001Dowling Catholic, West Des MoinesKnoxville
2002Des Moines, RooseveltMaharishi, Fairfield
2003AnkenyRed Oak
2004BettendorfWahlert, Dubuque
2005Iowa City, WestWahlert, Dubuque
2006Iowa City, WestWahlert, Dubuque
2007Davenport, CentralWahlert, Dubuque
2008Cedar Rapids, KennedyWahlert, Dubuque
2009Des Moines, RooseveltWahlert, Dubuque
2010Valley, West Des MoinesColumbus Catholic, Waterloo
2011AmesWahlert, Dubuque
2012Iowa City, WestAssumption, Davenport
2013Iowa City, WestSt. Edmond, Fort Dodge
2014Iowa City, WestMaharishi, Fairfield
2015Linn-Mar, MarionMaharishi, Fairfield
2016Iowa City, WestWahlert, Dubuque
2017Iowa City, WestXavier, Cedar Rapids
2018Linn-Mar, MarionWahlert, Dubuque
2019Iowa City, WestXavier, Cedar Rapids

Track & Field

Iowa's official track season is currently outdoors. There was also an indoor State Track Meet from 1926–1973, and the IHSAA is in the process of collecting and publishing these champions.

Classification guidelines

The following is the current list of official track events according to the IHSAA
Track:
Field:
Wheel Chair:
State track titles have been given every year since 1906. Since 2003, there has also been wheelchair events at the state meet. A separate wheelchair team championship is also awarded. In 2005, the wheelchair championship has been co-ed.

Wrestling

Classification guidelines

The Iowa High School Athletic Association holds two separate team wrestling championships: the Traditional tournament, which also crowns individual champions, and a Dual Team tournament. The dual team tournament was held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids a week after the traditional tournament, until 2012, when it was held the Wednesday before the traditional tournament in Des Moines. This was the subject of much controversy, as several teams sat their state qualifiers for the Dual Team tournament. In 1921–1925, the State University of Iowa and Iowa State University held open state tournaments that were not supervised nor sanctioned by the IHSAA.

Broadcasting

Prior to 2016, championship events in football, basketball and wrestling were carried across the state of Iowa on a network made up of local television stations. Beginning with the 2016 football championships, IHSAA reached a deal with NBCUniversal-owned Comcast SportsNet Chicago to become the exclusive provider of these sports, making them available across CSN's footprint consisting of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana via television, online and the NBC Sports mobile app.