For state playoffs, just set matchups and play it out

Every state championship weekend produces great stories.

But no story was any better last weekend than that of the Woodland volleyball team.

For starters, the Beavers reached the 2A state championship, which makes for a great story for any team.

Then you add that Woodland coach Jeff Nesbitt was retiring this year after 31 seasons, and it becomes a better story.

But the part of the story that I like the most is the Beavers reminded us all about the unpredictable nature of high school sports.

Woodland was the third-place team in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. The Beavers fought their way to state as the No. 3 seed from District 4. Then they embarked in an improbable run to the state title match on Saturday in Lacey.

I don’t think anyone — not even the Beavers themselves — could have predicted that finish.

It’s important to remember because this time of year, when state tournament brackets are released, there are fans who insist on losing their marbles about early-tournament matchups.

I had a fan last week ask me explain how an undefeated Camas football team had to open the state tournament against a 9-1 Graham-Kapowsin team.

I wanted to respond: “Well, it’s the state tournament. And at state, you play good teams.”

Prior to Friday’s game at Doc Harris Stadium, most folks around the state thought the Camas/Graham-Kapowsin game was going to be a good one.

I felt like Camas would win comfortably, although I don’t think anyone predicted the 55-6 outcome.

But what it shows is often perception and reality are two different things in prep sports. And the best way to decide who has the best team is to simply let them play the games.

I’ve long contended that the WIAA state format is successful in doing one thing — producing a state champion. If a team makes it to state then wins four consecutive games, I don’t think you’ll find anyone who would say that team didn’t deserve to be the state champion.

The system is not set up to ensure that the two best teams in the state play in the state title match. While that would nice to achieve, there really isn’t a dependable system that can accurately project which are the two best teams in the state prior to the state tournament, despite what anyone’s state ranking might say.

The best way to sort this out is to simply let the teams play it out.

That doesn’t mean the WIAA’s system could not be improved. For example, I believe the schools that make up the WIAA need to stop being so squeamish about travel.

Right now, brackets for sports like football and soccer are set up to limit schools from one side of the state from traveling to the other side as much as possible.

But I believe that in the state tournament, teams should be prepared to play any team in the state. And if that means travelling all the way to Spokane or Bellingham or wherever, then so be it.

When you isolate teams geographically at state, you can create an imbalanced bracket. And you also create familiar matchups at state.

This is the second year in a row that Camas and Skyline will meet in the quarterfinals.

Or you can look at La Center. La Center, a District 4 team, is playing Mount Baker of Deming, a District 1 team. Since 2002, 12 of La Center’s 14 state tournament opponents have been District 1 teams. This will be the fifth playoff meeting with Mount Baker.

The number of times La Center has played a team from District 5, 6 or 7 (east side districts)? Zero.

And this is in the STATE tournament.

But other than some improved geographic mixing, I wouldn’t change much about the WIAA bracket.

Just match up teams, and let them play.

Last year, there was a lot of squawking about early-tournament matchups in football. But then on state championship weekend, four of the six championship games were decided by a touchdown or less.

So let them play the games. This weekend, enjoy the state quarterfinal games. Next week, enjoy the semifinals. And then enjoy championship weekend.

And keep a firm grip on your marbles.

Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.