Hillcrest Principal Susan Malone used to love going to her high school's games. She loved the excitement of Friday night football games, the enthusiasm at volleyball games and how rowdy the student body got at basketball games.

But now she can't go to one of her school's extracurricular activities without feeling a little nervous, without feeling that knot forming in her stomach. Because she knows there will be questions she just doesn't have answers to.

"You want to be a leader in the school and have control in a situation you can't have control over," Malone said. "It's very difficult."

The questions are nothing she hasn't asked herself already.

Parents are growing concerned, watching their kids compete in the toughest region in the state across the board, struggling to just compete. Almost every athlete or team that wears a Hillcrest jersey faces an uphill battle every game.

The Huskies have an enrollment of 1,461, but that will change by Monday. Hillcrest is a revolving door for some as it has a high turnover rate among its students. And there is a significant number enrolled in niche programs like International Baccalaureate and special education classes that don't yield that kind of athletes who can compete with Class 5A schools like Alta and the Lone Peak. Even with those students, Hillcrest's enrollment alone classifies it as a 4A school (the cutoff is 1,500 for 5A).

Other schools have the same gripe. There are some people at Granger and Murray who don't think their school should be in 5A. But at least those schools, along with West and Cyprus -- which all moved up together from 4A -- compete against each other in the same region. Hillcrest is thrown to the wolves. In football, Region 4 had four serious state title contenders, and Brighton, a team that beat three region champions, failed to make the postseason. Basketball should be just as competitive.

"I want these kids to be able to play for the playoffs," said football coach Kirk Merhish. "But when I'm fielding 40 kids and other teams can field twice that and have a full defense and full offense, it takes a toll. We just have to look week to week and for any opportunities to get a win."

Those didn't come up often. The Huskies finished last in the seven-team region and were winless. The struggles weren't limited to the football team, which played without a JV team for most of the season. The Huskies saw a little more success with individual sports like girls' tennis and cross country but the volleyball team finished 8-15 and the girls' soccer team fared better with a 9-7-1 overall record. But both teams failed to make the postseason.

"It's really hard to come in day after day and get beat up," Malone said. "Everybody likes to win but it's really nice to be able to go into a game and know you have a shot. It's not just about winning. We want to play where we belong."

Malone hasn't quit trying to get her school into Class 4A since the realignment changes were made. And in November, there were some signs of encouragement. Malone talked to Rob Cuff, the executive director at the UHSAA, and she said he was willing to help Hillcrest get in front of the board of trustees, the branch that makes the decisions.

"We're hopeful to be able to let them hear our concerns and maybe get immediate relief for next year," Malone said. "Region 4 voted at their last meeting and they unanimously voted to have the board of trustees move us. The conversation is getting started."

For now, the Huskies can't do anything but try their best. The boys' basketball team is 6-5 and the student body has been behind it for every win.

"The school support has been crazy. I think the school is just hungry for some success," senior point guard Bridger Dallimore said. "Sometimes it's discouraging when the crowd is cheering for us and we're not able to compete. But we'll play whoever they throw at us. We can play the Utah Jazz and we'll play our hardest."

It's not just about getting into the playoffs or dominating their opponents. The players just want to play. And maybe win.

mthach@sltrib.com