Section V Athletics executive director discusses girls wrestling, live streaming

Spring sports have sprung, and that means Kathy Hoyt is near the end of her eighth year as Section V executive director.

In big picture language, Hoyt and other members of Section V Athletics are "to provide safe, positive, memorable postseason events for student-athletes", through the work of committees and sports coordinators, who work in school districts and schools. They want all of that to take place in "learning environments."

The details about Hoyt's role include the enforcement of rules set by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Section V is one of 11 members of the NYSPHSAA, an organization that answers to the state education board.

And for Hoyt, there is also feedback, a healthy amount that ranges from criticism to suggestions to praise. Hoyt also said Section V needs to be a resource for and support athletic directors, the men and women in charge of the sports programs at your schools.

"Everybody we hear from assumes that Section V makes schools have a sport," Hoyt said. "The section can't make a school have a sport."

The section has little, if any, say or power to hire, dismiss or suspend coaches, Hoyt said. There are rules about student-athletes eligibility to play in Section V, but most are linked to NYSPHSAA rules. Schools and school districts usually make the final call when it comes to eligibility.

Hoyt agreed to answer other questions from the Democrat and Chronicle during an interview that included discussion about the growth of girls flag football and the retention or recruitment of officials.

Below are thoughts of Hoyt on other subjects. These questions and answers were edited for clarity.

Can you give an update on the growth of girls wrestling?

There were 115 girls spread among the boys teams and three all-girls teams in Section V who wrestled in the winter: Alexander, Canandaigua and Red Creek, according to Hoyt. The number of girls include wrestlers without teams to join, which went to meets and matches.

The first New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Wrestling Championships take place in 2025. This is a technicality, since the NYSPHSAA has supported the first two Girls Wrestling Invitationals held in 2023 and 2024.

What led to this new or re-emergence of this AAA sports classification?

There are AAA classes or group of teams in seven sports: baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball and girls volleyball.

The NYSPHSAA examined the number of state championships offered and participants in sports, and compared those numbers to other states. The 11 sections in the NYSPHSAA voted whether to add a sixth classification. "It's not like we haven't done six classifications before," Hoyt said. "Our section was in support of it."

Are there three legacies of the coronavirus pandemic in Section V sports?

• "Live streaming was in place even before the pandemic," Hoyt said. "The capabilities of the Section V Broadcasting Network have grown, and that's hugely positive.

"Initially yes, (streaming sports reduced attendance) but I think (attendance) has slowly increased back to more of a normal number." Hoyt shared that Section V officials receive calls of praise about the streaming of high school events, especially from people who might be less mobile than most or live out of state.

• "Everybody learned how to be flexible and adaptable, because you had no other choice. It was two year of complete change, and a different way to live."

• "You have to be a little more present in the moment and appreciate today, because life could change."

Businesses, school districts and other organizations take on different projects at the same time, but perhaps focus more on one or two more than the others. What about Section V?

"We are really emphasizing athletic director and coach professional development. We have done so every year since I took over as executive director. There were 30 new athletic directors this school year. That's one-quarter of our membership. That's huge."

"We are offering a comprehensive student-athlete leadership program." Subjects this year included top mental health and wellness, social justice and equity, sportsmanship and leadership, Hoyt said. There is a plan to include training for modified-level athletes next year, Hoyt added. "The last 15 years we've been expanding it," she said.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V Athletics director discusses girls wrestling, live streaming