AHSAA delays reclassification until Jan. 23
The Alabama High School Athletic Association has delayed its much-anticipated reclassification of Alabama high schools until Jan. 23.
During halftime of the Class 6A football finals on Dec. 5, AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon said the new reclassification numbers would be released on Dec. 15. On Dec. 8, leaked or fabricated documents began circulating around the state showing supposed classification numbers and potential regions for football.
Locally, these documents showed Russellville moving up to Class 6A, Phil Campbell remaining in Class 3A, Tharptown and Red Bay remaining in Class 2A, Belgreen falling to Class 1A, and Vina remaining in Class 1A.
The day after these documents were released, the AHSAA released its statement delaying reclassification to late January citing “ongoing mediation.”
On Dec. 16, photos of a spreadsheet began circulating that showed private schools were grouped into their own classification. Also, Class 7A was limited to 32 schools and Class 6A was limited to 32 schools. This spreadsheet showed Russellville in Class 5A. Phil Campbell, Tharptown and Red Bay in Class 2A. Belgreen and Vina in Class 1A.
Speculation among coaches locally and statewide is that the AHSAA is considering some form of a hybrid system that would place private schools in their own playoff division, but leave them in regions and areas with public schools.
Two years ago, when the most reclassification occurred, some schools filed complaints after the AHSAA released its official listings. Locally, two of those schools were Winfield and Brooks. Winfield was originally listed as Class 4A and Brooks was listed as Class 6A.
The AHSAA released new numbers a few days later that moved Winfield down to Class 3A and Brooks down to Class 5A.
Schools in regions affected had to go back and remake schedules after the confusion.
