Published April 14, 2016

Section XI is special is so many ways. One of the things which creates this special feeling is the variety within our member schools. Suffolk County measures 86 miles long and 26 miles wide making it the second largest in New York State. Our 61 member high schools vary in enrollment from Brentwood High School with 4,400-plus to the 35 students at Bridgehampton High School. With this variety comes a host of challenges.Not the least is creating fair and equitable competition amongst the schools while being conscious of the geographic location and travel time for each. I find it hard to believe that there is another section in the state with such diversity. It is always a goal of our sports chairmen to develop leagues, conferences or divisions that best reflect the competitive balance for our student-athletes while still being sensitive to the amount of time that they spend on a bus getting to the sports venue. It is not an easy task. I can’t thank them enough for their efforts, vision and commitment.

Athletic directors spend a great deal of time weighing the options and trying to make decisions that they think are best for the entire section. It may not always be the best scenario for their own district but that is often put aside for the good of the order. The big picture becomes the focus for each of them. For this they are to be commended.

This is never more evident than it is during the playoffs. Big school, small school, north shore, south shore, Class AA or Class D, once the playoffs roll around we are all one and we go out of our way to cheer on and support our member schools and student-athletes as they pursue their goal of a New York State championship. It is a pleasure to observe and be a part of this special section.

After all we are the Section XI family.

Don Webster
Executive Director
Section XI