Leading off today: The addition of at-large berths in most classes of team tournaments in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships has generated considerable discussion.
The change in format came about when the NYSPHSAA Central Committee voted over the summer to implement the Three-Region Rotation beginning with the new school year. The concept had been discussed at the local and state levels for many months, but approval came with the reminder that unanticipated issues might materialize despite numerous revisions made along the way to head off potential problems.
What has captured the attention and sparked the most commentary thus far has been the number of champions from sections supplying the fall 2025 at-large berths that have opted to use the at-large berth themselves, sending the sectional runner-up into he state tournament in what would have been the actual champions spot in the brackets.
Doing so requires those teams to travel to an opening game against a Section 4 opponent, with the typical tradeoff being that it would take just one victory to reach the state semifinals instead of two.
The 11 NYSPHSAA sections set their own policies on determining whether their champions can use at-large berths. You may notice that Section 8 and 11 champions in classes in which there is an at-large berth are not using that option, thus preserving their long-established Long Island Championship matchups in the first round or quarterfinals.
With that as the background, the New York State Sportswriters Association is tracking the results of teams from the sections providing the at-large berths:
Boys soccer
Sectional champions that kept the champions' place in the brackets
None.
Sectional champions using the at-large slot in the brackets
Class AAA: Guilderland (Section 2)
• Quarterfinal vs. Elmira (4), Nov. 8
Class AA: Cornwall (9)
• Quarterfinal vs. Binghamton (4), Nov. 8
Class A: New Hartford (3)
• Quarterfinal vs. Maine-Endwell (4), Nov. 8
Class B: Ogdensburg Free Academy (10)
• Quarterfinal vs. Chenango Valley, Nov. 8
Class D: Colton-Pierrepont (10)
• Quarterfinal vs. Edmeston (4), Nov. 8
Sectional runners-up using the champions' place in the brackets
Class AAA: Shenendehowa (Section 2)
• First round: Lost to Baldwinsville (3), 2-1
Class AA: Warwick (9)
• First round: Lost to Harrison (1), 3-0
Class A: Central Valley Academy (3)
• First round: Lost to Malone (10), 3-2 (overtime)
Class B: Canton (10)
• First round: Lost to Westhill (3), 8-1
Class D: Heuvelton (10)
• First round: Lost to Hamilton (3), 5-2
Sectional runners-up using the at-large slot in the brackets
None.
Girls soccer
Sectional champions that kept the champions' place in the brackets
Class AAA: Northport (Section 11)
• Quarterfinal vs. Oceanside (8), Nov. 8
Sectional champions using the at-large slot in the brackets
Class AA: Warwick (Section 9)
• Quarterfinal vs. Horseheads (4), Nov. 8
Class A: New Hartford (3)
• Quarterfinal vs. Maine-Endwell (4), Nov. 8
Class B: Canton (10)
• Quarterfinal vs. Chenango Forks (4), Nov. 8
Class C: Tuckahoe (1)
• Quarterfinal vs. Groton (4), Nov. 8
Sectional runners-up using the champions' place in the brackets
Class AA: Washingtonville (Section 9)
• First round: Lost to Albertus Magnus (1), 3-0
Class A: Jamesville-Dewitt (3)
• First round: Defeated Malone (10), 8-0
Class B: Salmon River (10)
• First round: Lost to Marcellus (3), 10-0
Class C: North Salem (1)
• First round vs. Burke Catholic, Nov. 6
Sectional runners-up using the at-large slot in the brackets
Class AAA: Commack (Section 11)
• Quarterfinal vs. Ithaca, Nov. 8
Field hockey
Sectional champions that kept the champions' place in the brackets
Class A:
•
Class B: Eastport-South Manor (11)
• Quarterfinal vs. Garden City (8), Nov. 9
Class C: Carle Place (8)
• Quarterfinal vs. Bayport-Blue Point, Nov. 9
Sectional champions using the at-large slot in the brackets
Class A:
•
Sectional runners-up using the champions' place in the brackets
Class A:
•
Sectional runners-up using the at-large slot in the brackets
Class A:
•
Class B: Harborfields (11)
• Quarterfinal vs. Vestal, Nov. 8
Class C: Locust Valley (8)
• Quarterfinal vs. Whitney Point (4), Nov. 8
Girls tennis
Sectional champions that kept the champions' place in the brackets
Division I: Half Hollow Hills East (Section 11)
• Quarterfinal: Lost to Syosset (8), 6-1
Sectional champions using the at-large slot in the brackets
Division II: Scotia-Glenville (Section 2)
• Quarterfinal: Defeated Chenango Forks (4), 5-0
Sectional runners-up using the champions' place in the brackets
Division II: Voorheesville (Section 2)
• First round: Lost to Oneida (3), 5-0
Sectional runners-up using the at-large slot in the brackets
Division I: Westhampton Beach (Section 11)
• Quarterfinal: Defeated Vestal (4) 4-3
• Semifinal vs. Horace Greeley, Nov. 7
Girls volleyball
To come
Boys volleyball
To come
