The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, where the Board held its officer elections.

Olympia High School’s Mike Castleman was elected Board President, becoming the 40th individual in the Association’s 126-year history to hold the position, as well as the first Board President in the Association’s history who is not a Principal. Prior to 2020, principals were the only individuals eligible to serve on the IHSA Board. Castleman, who is an Athletic Director and his school’s IHSA Official Representative, represents Board Division 5 and has served on the Board since being elected in 2021. He has served as the Board Secretary since 2023.

“My time on the IHSA Board thus far has been incredibly rewarding, and I appreciate my colleagues entrusting me with this responsibility,” said Castleman. “I look forward to working with my fellow Board members, as well member school personnel from around the state, to enhance the IHSA mission.”

Carterville High School Principal Todd Rogers was reelected as the Board Vice-President, a position he has held since 2023, while De La Salle Institute Principal Tom Schergen was voted by the Board to fill the Secretary role that Castleman previously occupied.

In addition to the officer elections, the Board welcomed six new members to their first meeting. Last December, the IHSA membership voted to expand the Board by four seats, reserving the new seats for a Superintendent, President, CEO or Head of School. Superintendents won each of those four seats, as Pontiac’s Dr. Ryan McGuckin, Riverside-Brookfield’s Dr. Kevin Skinkis, Collinsville’s Dr. Brad Skertich, and Carbondale’s Dr. Daniel Booth were all seated on the Board.

They were joined by Monmouth-Roseville Principal Eric Matthews and Timothy Christian Official Representative Jack LeGrand, who both were elected to the Board in early October.

ACTION
1. The Board approved a recommendation to name DeKalb High School the host of the 2027 IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Finals. The one-year contract will encompass the 2027 state tournament.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“We appreciate DeKalb High School hosting the 2027 IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Finals. DeKalb has been an exemplary host of the IHSA Girls Badminton State Finals and we know they will bring the same level of passion and professionalism to hosting the girls individual wrestling state tournament. Last December, our member schools voted to change the date of the IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Finals in 2027. Several of the venues that we had in mind as potential hosts were already booked. As a result, DeKalb has agreed to host for one year and then we will mutually reevaluate the future hosting plan for 2028 and beyond.”

2. The Board approved a recommendation to update IHSA Policy 38, which governs Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (i.e. drones). Drones were previously not allowed at outdoor State Series contests, but the changes now allow them at outdoor events within certain constraints. Read the updated Drone Policy here.

3. The Board approved multiplier waiver requests for spring sports. The IHSA will be posting the spring sport classification data on the IHSA website later this month.

4. The Board approved a recommendation to appoint the following individuals to open seats on the Legislative Commission:
District 6 | Hattie Llewellyn, New Berlin High School
District 11 | Matt Huber, Annawan High School

5. The Board approved a recommendation to modify a cooperative agreement in girls wrestling between Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, and Stagg High School in Palos Hills. Andrew has enough participants to field its own program and will withdraw from the cooperative.

6. The Board approved a recommendation to dissolve a cooperate agreement in boys bowling between Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago and North Grand High School in Chicago.

7. The Board approved a recommendation to approve Chicago Arts High School for full IHSA membership.

8. The Board approved a recommendation to approve Chicago Frederick Douglass Academy High School for reinstatement as a full IHSA member school.

9. The Board approved a recommendation to make updates to the IHSA Personnel Policies.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Minutes from all Advisory Committees can be viewed by clicking the sport/activity page on the IHSA website and selecting the advisory committee option.

1. The Board approved the consent items from the Advisory Committees in the following sports & activities: Baseball, Badminton, Softball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Water Polo, Bass Fishing, Esports, Officials, Sports Medicine, Student Advisory.

Consent items are recommendations that received approval from the sport/activity advisory committee, the Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee, and the IHSA staff. Consent items can be viewed here: October 14, 2026 Consent Items

Non-consent items are recommendations from sport or activity committees that did not receive a majority vote from the Athletic Advisory Committee or IHSA staff.

No Non-consent items were approved.

APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
Appeals 1-7 were held with the IHSA Hearing Board, a subset of the IHSA Board of Directors, virtually on September 30, 2026. Appeal 2 was initially heard on September 30, but was reviewed by the entire Board on October 14. Appeals 9-10 were heard by the full board on October 14.

1. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Richwoods High School in Peoria. The student was initially ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030, but was granted limited eligibility for the remainder of the school year.

2. The Board did not act on an appeal to the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Benet Academy in Lisle. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and is seeking full eligibility. The Board has requested more information prior to making their ruling.

3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040.

4. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Plainfield East High School. The student was initially ruled ineligible for football for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.047, but based upon information attained during the hearing, the period of ineligibility was extended through the remainder of the school year.

5. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Marist High School in Chicago. The student was ruled ineligible for cross country based on IHSA By-law 3.042, and granted limited eligibility for the remainder of the school year. The Board granted the student full eligibility in all sports with the exception of cross country.

6. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030.

7. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Metea Valley High School in Aurora. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.020.

8. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Benet Academy in Lisle. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.

9. The Board modified a ruling by the Executive Director on the use of a medical device for a student-athlete from Anna-Jonesboro High School. The Executive Director had approved a portion of the request, but a second portion required Board approval because it requires an exemption to NFHS rules.

10. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Lake Forest High School. The student was seeking an exemption to IHSA by-law 3.051 to allow for participation beyond eight semesters.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action was taken, or action may not be required. The following is a report of those items from the October 14, 2026, agenda:

1. The Board heard a report on the by-law proposals that have been submitted for review and consideration during the IHSA’s annual legislative process in November and December. The proposals will be sent to member high schools and posted publicly in late October.

2. The Board heard a report on the IHSA’s role and attendance at the upcoming Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Conference in Peoria in October, as well as the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Conference in Chicago in November.

3. The Board heard a report on the New Administrators workshop that was held by the IHSA staff in September.

4. The Board heard a report on the Executive Director’s role on the CSIET Board.

5. The Board reviewed a classification waiver request from St. Bede Academy in Peru, but took no action.

6. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff attendance at the upcoming IADA Division Meetings this fall.

7. The Board heard a report on the October meeting of the IHSA’s Competitive Balance Committee.

8. The Board heard from representatives from the British International School of Chicago and Bennett Day School in Chicago regarding request for full IHSA membership, but the Board took no action.

9. The Board heard a report on the 2026 IHSA Playoff Pairing Show, which will air on Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 PM. For streaming and TV info, click here.