By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
MONTGOMERY – The rumors of a public/private high school athletic split in the state of Alabama are now true.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced its reclassification model for fall sports on Friday morning. As expected, private schools will now compete separately from public schools in two new classifications of their own. The public schools will now compete in six instead of seven classes.
For most of the WEIS football coverage area football teams, their new regions consist of familiar foes. One of the biggest changes, however, is for Class 4A Cherokee County High School.
The Warriors, under the direction of first-year head coach Bayley Blanchard, will now compete in the new Region 8 along with Brewer (down from 5A), Crossville, Fairview (down from 5A), Good Hope, Guntersville (down from 5A), Hayden (down from 5A), and Sardis (down from 5A).
For the past two years, the Warriors competed in the old Class 4A, Region 6 against Anniston, Alexandria, Ashville, Oneonta, Hokes Bluff, White Plains, and Etowah.
Cedar Bluff will experience a drop down from Class 2A to Class 1A for the next two years into the new Region 8, but the Tigers will be reunited with familiar county rivals Gaylesville and Spring Garden. The rest of Class 1A, Region 8 includes Appalachian, Ragland, Valley Head, and Woodville.
Sand Rock remains in Class 2A and will compete in the new Region 8, along with Collinsville (down from 3A), Fyffe (down from 3A), Ider (up from 1A), North Sand Mountain, Pisgah, Section, and Brindlee Mountain.
Piedmont drops down from Class 3A into the new Class 2A, Region 6. The Bulldogs’ region rivals for the next two years include Gaston, Ohatchee, Pleasant Valley, Saks, Vincent, Wellborn, and West End.
In volleyball, defending Class 4A state champion Cherokee County will now compete in the new Area 16, along with Crossville, Guntersville, and Sardis.
The new Class 2A, Area 15 is comprised on Collinsville, Fyffe, Gaston, and Sand Rock. Area 11 consists of Ohatchee, Piedmont, Pleasant Valley, Saks, and Wellborn.
Appalachian, Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville, and Spring Garden will compete in the new Class 1A, Area 15.
In cross country, Class 1A-2A Section 4 is comprised of 15 teams, including Cedar Bluff, Collinsville, Fyffe, Gaston, Gaylesville, Ider, North Sand Mountain, Piedmont, Pisgah, Pleasant Valley, Saks, Sand Rock, Section, Skyline, and Woodville.
For more statewide regions, areas, and maps in the fall sports, you can visit the AHSAA website link below.
