By BEN JOHNSON

Press Sports Editor

A drop in numbers couldn’t keep Tahlequah from moving up a spot among Class 5A schools.

When the ADM (average daily membership) numbers were posted by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association on Thursday, Tahlequah found out it was going to have 52.78 fewer students this year compared to 2009-2010. The Tigers, however, moved up a spot on the 5A list and now rank fourth in 5A.

“We moved up even though our numbers went down,” said Tahlequah Athletic Director Mike Adams, whose Tigers posted an ADM of 1,172.64 for the 2010-2011 academic year. “But we’re fourth now, and we’re solidly in 5A.”

The ADM  figures – which exhibit the number of students that attend school in grades 9-12 – won’t be official until they are approved by the OSSAA board of directors at the Aug. 10 meeting in Oklahoma City.

ADM numbers also will not have an impact on football districts in 2010 or 2011. The districts were determined by 2009-2010 statistics.

Tahlequah, one of 11 schools with an ADM of at least 1,000 among 5A schools, ranks 36th among all Oklahoma high schools. Despite topping most 5A institutions, Adams doesn’t think Tahlequah, who trails Tulsa Memorial by 88.56 for the top spot in 5A, has that much of an advantage in the athletic realm.

“The only advantage would be the pure numbers,” Adams said. “But there’s really no advantage against the schools we play. We’ve played other schools with lower numbers, and they’ve been better than us.”

The 2010-2011 year will be Tahlequah’s third consecutive season in 5A. The Tigers last competed at the 6A level in 2007-2008.

The Tigers were only one of two schools in the Metro Lake Conference to have their ADM decrease from last season – Skiatook, who fell from 743.33 to 733.24, was the other. Claremore, who made the leap from the 5A to 6A ranks, enjoyed the largest increase in the league, going from 1,231.88 to 1,283.68.

Newly appointed MLC member, Pryor, saw its ADM go from 717.30 to 754.69 while Coweta went from 903.46 to 929.05.

Ranking in the upper echelon in the 5A ranks – between Memorial and Tahlequah – were Booker T. Washington and Shawnee. In 2010-2011, BTW will have an ADM of 1,251.40 while Shawnee will sport an ADM of 1,211.62.

Even with more students to choose from, Adams doesn’t much stock into the ADM statistics.

“I’m not real huge on numbers,” said Adams, whose Tigers will begin fall sports on Aug. 14 when softball plays in the Fort Gibson Festival. “It’s about the talent you put on the floor or the field. So the numbers don’t bother me.”



Sequoyah, Keys remain in 3A

While Tahlequah suffered a drop in ADM numbers, Sequoyah and Keys held firm at the 3A level.

Keys, who ranks 11th in 3A and 139th overall, went from 355.73 to 353.93 for the upcoming year.

Sequoyah went up 5.58 (341.86 last year to 347.44 this year) to claim the 14th spot in 3A and 142nd overall in Oklahoma.

Two noticeable departures from 3A were Metro Christian and Cascia Hall. Both Tulsa-area private schools made the jump to 4A.

Sequoyah’s long-time nemesis on the hardwood, Oklahoma City Millwood, dropped down to 2A.

Making the leap, to compete against Sequoyah and Keys in 3A, is Lincoln Christian.

Inola, old stomping grounds for Larry Grigg, Sequoyah coach and athletic director, dropped down several spots into 3A. The Longhorns sit atop the 3A ranks with an ADM of 378.74.



Hulbert stays entrenched in 2A

The Riders, who went from 189.65 last year to 191.36 this year, remain in the middle of the pack in Class 2A.

Hulbert, who will still compete in Class A in football, will continue its recent history of playing 2A competition. The Riders rank 32nd in 2A and 224th overall in Oklahoma.



Other area schools of interest:

• Muskogee: The Roughers, after falling to the 28th spot in 2009-2010, move back up to 23rd this year. MHS, who posted an increase of 149.08, went from 1,396.54 to 1,545.62.

• Fort Gibson: The Tigers went down 29.15 (578.16 last year to 549.01 this year). They rank 83rd overall in the state.

• Hilldale: The Hornets increased by 11.48 (485.57 to 497.05).

• Stilwell: The Indians, who were fifth in 4A last year, drop down to 12th in the 4A ranks this year. They went down 40.81 (637.28 to 591.47) from last year.

• Wagoner: The Bulldogs endured little change, decreasing by only 3.34 (614.08 to 610.74).

• Oktaha: The Tigers increased by only a fraction. They went up 0.4, going from 222.21 to 221.81.

• Eufaula: The Ironheads stand pat as the third team among the 3A ranks. Eufaula, who ranks 131st in the state, decreased only by 2.1 (375.55 to 373.45).