As far as it being a regional qualifier, I'm not sure. It is early, but from what I heard last year the regions that were late had a hard time getting alternate kids in to fill up brackets. It should be the next best, based upon criteria, or rotate by region, but apparently it was not done that way, so early may be better. However, as far as a JV/ girls event if was great for our kids. Had 3 teams not pulled out there would have been about as many girls there as we had at state last year.