We are asking the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to reclassify the Jensen Beach High School Boys’ Lacrosse program from Class 1A to Class 2A.

This is not about avoiding strong competition or asking for an easier path to the playoffs.

In fact, Jensen Beach is asking to move UP to Class 2A and compete against larger schools.

This request is about competitive balance.

The numbers tell the story.

A review of six consecutive seasons of FHSAA Class 1A Boys’ Lacrosse postseason results from 2021 through 2026 shows an extraordinary pattern:

• 24 of 24 Class 1A Final Four positions were occupied by private schools.

• 12 of 12 State Championship and State Runner-Up positions were occupied by private schools.

• Not one public school reached the Class 1A Final Four.

• This has now occurred for six consecutive seasons.

This is bigger than one difficult season or one strong opponent. Six years of results involving different players, coaches, teams and playoff fields have produced the same outcome:

Zero public schools in the Class 1A Final Four.

Why does this matter?

Class 1A includes both public and private schools, but the two types of schools can operate under very different enrollment circumstances.

Traditional public schools such as Jensen Beach primarily serve students within defined geographic attendance areas. Private schools generally are not subject to comparable public-school attendance-zone boundaries and may enroll students from a much broader geographic area.

Yet enrollment size remains a major factor in determining athletic classification.

We are not accusing private schools of doing anything wrong, nor are we diminishing the accomplishments of their student-athletes and coaches. They are competing within the system established by the FHSAA.

Our concern is with the system itself.

When private schools occupy every Class 1A Final Four position for six consecutive seasons, we believe it is reasonable to ask whether the current classification structure is providing public-school student-athletes with an appropriately balanced competitive environment.

What are we asking the FHSAA to do?

We are asking the FHSAA to allow Jensen Beach High School Boys’ Lacrosse to move from Class 1A to Class 2A.

Jensen Beach is willing to compete against schools with larger student enrollments because we believe Class 2A offers a more appropriate competitive environment for our program.

We aren't asking for easier competition. We're asking for fairer competition.

We are also asking the FHSAA to review the six-year Class 1A postseason record and consider whether enrollment alone adequately addresses competitive balance between schools operating under substantially different enrollment models.

Please support our student-athletes.

If you are a Jensen Beach parent, student, alumnus, coach, educator, lacrosse supporter, Martin County resident, or simply believe high school athletics should provide meaningful and balanced opportunities for student-athletes, please sign this petition and share it with others.

Your signature will be presented with our formal request to the Florida High School Athletic Association.

24 Final Four positions. 24 private schools. 0 public schools. Six consecutive years.

We believe those numbers deserve the FHSAA's attention.

Please sign and help us give Jensen Beach Boys’ Lacrosse the opportunity to compete in Class 2A.

EXHIBIT A — FHSAA CLASS 1A BOYS’ LACROSSE FINAL FOUR RESULTS, 2021–2026

 

FHSAA Boys Lacrosse 1A Championships

2021 State Semifinals: St. Edward's (Private) 15, Bolles (Private) 13; St. Andrew's (Private) 11, Canterbury (Private) 1.

2021 State Championship: St. Andrew's (Private) 13, St. Edward's (Private) 5.

2022 State Semifinals: Saint Andrew's (Private) 11, Jesuit (Private) 3; Benjamin (Private) 13, Bolles (Private) 5.

2022 State Championship: Saint Andrew's (Private) 9, Benjamin (Private) 7.

2023 State Semifinals: Bolles (Private) 13, Jesuit (Private) 10; Saint Andrew's (Private) 13, Lake Highland Prep (Private) 4.

2023 State Championship: Saint Andrew's (Private) 9, Bolles (Private) 8.

2024 State Semifinals: Community School of Naples (Private) 11, Saint Andrew's (Private) 10; Benjamin (Private) 19, Bolles (Private) 7.

2024 State Championship: Benjamin (Private) 11, Community School of Naples (Private) 10.

2025 State Semifinals: Benjamin (Private) 10, Community School of Naples (Private) 5; Saint Andrew's (Private) 17, Bolles (Private) 4.

2025 State Championship: Benjamin (Private) 14, Saint Andrew's (Private) 11.

2026 State Semifinals: Benjamin (Private) 12, Bolles (Private) 4; Saint Andrew's (Private) 15, Community School of Naples (Private) 4

2026 State Championship: Benjamin (Private) 13, Saint Andrew's (Private) 11.