This is an opinion piece.
Here’s a look at five winners and five losers – a figure of speech, of course – in today’s AHSAA fall reclassification announcement.
WINNERS
Chelsea football
After a pair of tough years in the difficult Class 7A, Region 3, the Hornets drop back down to Class 6A. Todd Cassity’s team went just 3-17 in two 7A years. For the next two years, the Hornets will compete in Region 3 with Benjamin Russell, Calera, Chilton County, Helena, Pelham and Spain Park.
Bayside Academy football
The Admirals’ football team drops from Class 4A to Class 3A. Bayside went 8-3 in 4A, Region 1 in 2022 in Barrett Trotter’s first year as head coach. The Admirals drop into 3A, 1 with Cottage Hill, Excel, Flomaton, Hillcrest-Evergreen, Monroe County and T.R. Miller. Ironically, the Bayside volleyball team is moving to 7A by competitive balance.
Robertsdale football
For many struggling programs, a move up in classification might not be what the doctor ordered. But for Robertsdale, moving out of Class 6A, Region 1 may result in a sigh of relief. The Golden Bears were just 4-26 in the last 30 region games, including 0-8 in 2023. They move to 7A with Alma Bryant, Baker, Daphne, Davidson, Fairhope, Foley and reigning region champ Mary G. Montgomery.
Gadsden area football fans
Gadsden City and Southside-Gadsden will both compete in Class 6A, Region 8 for the next two seasons with Southside moving up from Class 5A. The two schools haven’t played since Emma Samson, Litchfield and Gadsden High merged to form Gadsden City following the 2005 season. Both are coming off good seasons in 2023. Gadsden City went 9-4 and reached the 6A quarterfinals. Southside went 8-3 and was upset in the first round of the 5A playoffs by Boaz. Other teams in Class 6A, Region 8 are Buckhorn, Fort Payne, Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville and Mae Jemison.
Class 5A, Region 2 football fans
Region 2 teams Carroll, Charles Henderson, Eufaula, Greenville and Headland get to welcome the last two Class 4A state champions in Montgomery Catholic and Andalusia. Catholic is 41-2 in three years under coach Kirk Johnson, including a perfect 2022 season. Andalusia is 24-3 in the last two years, including the 2022 state championship.
LOSERS
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Prattville football
Two perennially good programs move into the brutal Class 7A, Region 3. Hillcrest is 34-5 in the last three years in Class 6A. Prattville, which struggled to 3-7 this past season, moves from 7A, Region 2 into Region 3. Those two teams join Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Thompson, Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills.
Gulf Shores football
The Dolphins went 15-0 and won their first Class 5A state title in 2023. Their reward? A move back up to the always tough 6A, Region 1. Mark Hudspeth’s team will battle it out with Baldwin County, Blount, McGill-Toolen, Murphy, Saraland, Spanish Fort, St. Paul’s and Theodore.
Jasper, Rehobeth football
Both schools make the jump from 5A to 6A. Rehobeth joins Region 2 along with Park Crossing, Percy Julian, Pike Road, Russell County, Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka. Jasper will reside in Region 7 with Athens, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle and Muscle Shoals. Jasper was just 1-9 a year ago in 5A, Region 5. Rehobeth was 6-4 in 5A, Region 2. Neither made the playoffs.
Class 7A, Area 3 volleyball teams
Fairhope, Foley and Robertsdale get to welcome powerhouse Bayside Academy to their area. Ann Schilling’s Admirals moved up to 7A by competitive balance. They had their streak of 21 consecutive state titles halted this fall and likely will come back more determined than ever in a new classification.
Hatton football
Hatton makes the jump from 2A all the way to 4A. The Hornets were 7-4 in Class 2A, Region 8 this year. Denton Bowling’s team lost 43-12 to Sulligent in the first round of the playoffs. In Class 4A, Region 7, they will compete against Central-Florence, Danville, Deshler, East Lawrence, West Limestone, West Morgan and Wilson.
Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.
