Staff Reports
The day anxiously awaited by high schools across the state finally came Tuesday morning as the Alabama High School Athletic Association announced its new classifications and fall sports realignments.
Two area schools moved down in classification: Spring Garden (from Class 2A to 1A) and Collinsville (Class 3A to 2A).
Spring Garden, which made the state football semifinals in 2A in 2020 and the quarterfinals this past season, now drops back into the new Class 1A, Region 6. The Panthers are joined by Ragland, Talladega County Central, Donoho, Victory Christian, Wadley and Winterboro.
The move didn’t come as much of a shock to Spring Garden football coach Jason Howard.
“We’ve always been 1A. It was more of a shock when we went to 2A, but we knew we were going to be back in 1A,” Howard said. “We could’ve gone in there with Cedar Bluff and them, or we could’ve gone where we went. I think it could’ve gone either way.”
Howard feels the Panthers are in a competitive region, even with the move down.
“You’ve got Wadley in there, who we only beat by two points this year and they made it all the way to the state championship game. Winterboro is a really good team in there. Ragland was a playoff team. I think it’ll be a competitive region that we’re going in to. We’re just ready to get back to work,” Howard said.
Staying in Class 1A, Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville continue to be region rivals in Region 7, along with Appalachian, Coosa Christian, Decatur Heritage, Valley Head and Woodville.
In Class 2A, Region 7, Collinsville and Fyffe both moved down and will now be competing with Sand Rock, Ider, North Sand Mountain, Pisgah, Section and Whitesburg Christian.
Reigning Class 3A state champion Piedmont continues to be a 3A school. The Bulldogs will now compete in the new Region 6, which also features Geraldine, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Ohatchee, Plainview, Sylvania and Westbrook Christian.
In Class 4A, the Cherokee County Warriors moved from the South’s Region 4 back North into Region 6. The Warriors will now compete against Ashville, Etowah, Fultondale, Good Hope, Hanceville and this year’s state runner-up Oneonta.
You can see the complete AHSAA fall sports realignments here:
https://www.ahsaa.com/Schools/2022-2024-Alignments
