Meetings were held, options were considered and administrations weighed in. But in the end, the Columbia Basin Big Nine has decided to remain a Class 4A conference.

With the new socioeconomic amendment dropping three of its members -- Eisenhower, Sunnyside and Eastmont -- down to Class 3A status, the CBBN faced a 4-3 split with 3A in the majority heading into the next four-year enrollment cycle, which begins this fall.

But when the adjusted enrollment for Davis just missed the 3A cutoff by 15 students, the majority flipped to 4A since the two Yakima School District schools were committed to staying in the same classification. Eastmont shared a similar sentiment with its neighbor Wenatchee, and after considering the options of a split-class league the CBBN reached the conclusion that the status quo was the preferred route.

So on Wednesday, as per the WIAA’s extended deadline, Eisenhower, Sunnyside, Eastmont and West Valley all declared to opt-up to Class 4A. They were among 15 schools to do so, creating a classification of 53 schools pending appeals by three westside schools.

The Greater Spokane League and Mid-Columbia Conference, split-class leagues that pool their postseason allocations, will have a combined eight 4A schools with Central Valley, Lewis & Clark and Gonzaga Prep in the GSL and Kamiakin, Richland, Hanford, Pasco and Chiawana in the MCC.

Walla Walla, Mead, University and Ferris will all be moving down from 4A to 3A and will be part of the state’s largest classification -- by far. With 16 opt-ups and three pending appeals, 80 schools are headed to 3A, which has an enrollment range of 900 to 1,299 for grades 9 through 11, and this will almost certainly create larger than normal state tournaments.

The CWAC’s future in Class 2A will be as a seven-school league with Toppenish, Wapato and Quincy all going down to 1A. Quincy had considered staying in the CWAC but did not declare an opt-up by Wednesday’s deadline. Wahluke’s adjusted enrollment of 458 is above the 2A minimum of 450, but the school is appealing in an attempt to stay 1A.

With just two opt-ups and two appeals, the 2A classification is at 61 schools. The Spokane region will have six 2A schools in Rogers, Shadle Park, West Valley, East Valley, Clarkston and Pullman. Cheney is moving up to 3A.

Class 1A will be similar in size with 59 schools, which includes 12 opt-ups and one appeal. That appeal comes from Goldendale, which is directly on the 1A minimum of 225 and seeking to drop to 2B. If Goldendale and Wahluke are successful with their appeals, the SCAC would be looking at five schools in its West and East divisions.

The Caribou Trail League will still have five schools, losing Okanogan to 2B while adding Quincy. The CTL and SCAC discussed merging the two leagues but voted against it on Thursday.

Like 2A and 1A, the 2B classification looks to be at 60 schools with one opt-up and two appeals. The EWAC will have a big chunk of that with 12 schools, including a West division that includes Highland, Granger, Mabton, Kittitas, Cle Elum and Goldendale pending its appeal.

All appeals will be heard and classifications finalized at the WIAA’s Executive Board meeting on Jan. 24-25.