The lacrosse playoffs are here and my annual predictions for 6A-7A are below. But first, the AJC spoke with GHSA’s administrator for lacrosse, Tommy Whittle, about topics including the 2018 postseason and lessons learned from the 2017 playoffs. Whittle is in his first year as lacrosse administrator, taking over in July of 2017 for Denis Tallini.
As you may recall, the GHSA found itself in hot water after hosting the championship games at a neutral site — Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta — for the first time. For one, that decision ruffled the feathers of certain a program that felt entitled to host, as the previous format allowed. Complaints directed at the GHSA came from Milton's principal and a state representative, publicly on Twitter.
Even worse, however, was that the GHSA failed to have the playing field ready in time for the girls' championship games, which caused a four-day delay and a move to a different neutral venue.
This year, the neutral venue for all state title games will be held at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State. This should help the GHSA avoid last year's field issues, as KSU's field is home to the school's women's lacrosse team and the Atlanta Blaze of Major League Lacrosse.
The championship round will be held on May 19, with a $12 admission fee covering all four games. Start times for each match will be announced at a later date.
Here’s what Whittle had to say to the AJC during a recent phone interview:
AJC: How did the GHSA decide on Kennesaw State?
Whittle: Lakewood was no longer an option because the DeKalb County athletic director said they didn't want to host it this year. They had another event going on at the same time. We asked several college sites and wound up choosing Kennesaw State. They were our first choice and I was glad we were able to work something out.
AJC: Will that be the neutral site moving forward?
Whittle: As of right now, it's a one-year deal but both the GHSA and Kennesaw State have expressed a hope that this will be a long-term relationship.
AJC: Last year was the first that the high classification, 6A-7A, played the postseason with a 32-team format. How did that go?
Whittle: Every time you can bring more teams into the playoffs, it's a positive experience. Teams that wouldn't have made it under the old format now have a chance to compete for a state title, so I would say there are more positives than negatives. In fact, next year we'll probably go to a 32-team field in (A-5A) with the switch to eight areas.
AJC: Are there any differences to the postseason format this year?
Whittle: We are using a unified field for boys and girls matches. The (National Federation of High Schools and US Lacrosse) approved (the use of an optional 120-yard unified field size that can be used for both boys' and girls' lacrosse), and this is the first year we'll use it.
AJC: What were the lessons learned from last year's girls championship game postponements due to the field not being ready?
Whittle: Last spring I was in charge of soccer but I did hear about those issues with having to move a playoff round. But I'm unjust to comment on that. I will say we're always looking to improve everything we do, every time we go out there. Times change and, we hope, so do we.
AJC: Is there anything you'd like to add?
Whittle: We're looking forward to the postseason. May 19 will be here before you know it. We're excited to host for games at one site and it should be a great day for lacrosse.
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Now, on to the predictions for the 6A-7A tournament, which begins May 2.
My predictions for A-5A will be published separately, as soon as the completed brackets are released by the GHSA. The opening round of the A-5A playoffs begins on May 7.
Note that last week, the GHSA conducted a universal coin toss to determine home-field advantage for teams of the same seed that meet in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. The toss came up "heads," meaning the team in the top half of the playoff bracket will be designated as the home team.
Here are the final rankings heading into the playoffs. Without further ado, here are my picks...
6A-7A
Boys
Girls
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