Some major shakeups with Central Georgia teams as GHSA releases latest reclassification move

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

           

The main level of suspense is over.

            And Central Georgia’s high schools have a new world coming in 2020-21 with the new regions, released Tuesday by the GHSA.

            Two area schools were involved in appeals, and one won and one lost.

            Central was bumped to Class 4A because of a multiplier regarding out-of-zone students, which are counted twice for reclassification. The additional 304 students put it the middle third of Class 4A.

            The reclassification committee unanimously approved returning Central to Class 3A.

            Rutland sought to moved down from Class 3A to 2A, and the committee unanimously denied that appeal.

            Mary Persons and Dublin had dropped a class when the full-time enrollment figures were released last week, and neither appealed to return to their classifications.

            So Mary Persons is in 3A and Dublin in A Public.

            Upson-Lee was the smallest 4A school, and was allowed to drop to 3A because of teams moving up from 3A to 4A.

            The shuffling in 4A and 3A is big.

            The new Central Georgia 3A region gains Americus-Sumter, Crisp County, Mary Persons and Upson-Lee, making it substantially stronger in many sports. It remains the only Class 3A region in the area.

            Region 4-4A takes a hit, losing Mary Persons and Upson-Lee while gaining Baldwin.

            Class AA is shaken up, with Dublin dropping down and the area teams getting split up some.

            East Laurens moves to Region 2, while the new 3-AA adds Lamar County and Monticello with East Laurens and Dublin leaving. Putnam County is now in Region 4, with all new region opponents.

            A major point in this round was another split in Class A, with public and private regions.

            The four Macon private schools are together, with Strong Rock Christian and Deerfield-Windsor, for a six-team region.

            Taylor County and Macon County remain region rivals on the public side in Region 5, with the 4-A Public consisting of Dooly County, Dublin, Hawkinsville, and Twiggs County, with three South Georgia teams.

            ACE is in Region 7, with Crawford County, GMC, Hancock Central, and Wilkinson County, plus Glascock County.

            Jones County’s Region 4-5A is the only area region staying the same.

            Regions remaining close: 1-6A, which loses Coffee to 5A, and Region 1-5A picks up Coffee, and loses Bainbridge and Harris County.

            The GHSA released initial region alignments Tuesday evening, the next major step in the latest round of reclassification, for 2020-2022, starting with the next school year. The GHSA returned to a two-year reclassification period after one four-year reclassification.

            The Reclassification Committee will meet next Tuesday in Thomaston for appeals on lateral moves to another region or from Class A teams wanting to play up but had that request denied. There are reportedly a number of likely appeals involving Central Georgia regions and lateral moves that will be made, but the most of what was released Tuesday is expected to stay the same.