AHSAA announces 2024-26 reclassifications, fall sports alignments

Published 3:54 pm Monday, December 18, 2023

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The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board met Monday and approved the reclassification for 2024-26 and the alignments for football, volleyball, cross country, and swimming and diving.

Three Covington County football teams were affected by the latest region alignments, which are compiled every two years.

Andalusia will make the jump from Class 4A to Class 5A. The Bulldogs were placed in a seven-team Region 2, which also includes Carroll-Ozark, Charles Henderson, Eufaula, Greenville, Headland, and Montgomery Catholic.

The latest volleyball alignment places Andalusia in 5A Area 3 with Brewbaker Tech, Charles Henderson, and Greenville.

In cross country, Andalusia will compete in 5A Section 1. They will be joined by Booker T. Washington Magnet, Carroll-Ozark, Charles Henderson, Citronelle, Elberta, Eufaula, Faith Academy, Headland, LeFlore, Providence Christian, and Vigor.

Opp and Straughn will make the jump from Class 3A to Class 4A. The Bobcats and Tigers were placed in an eight-team Region 2, which also includes Ashford, Dale County, Daleville, Geneva, New Brockton, and Pike County.

The latest volleyball alignment for Opp and Straughn sees the only change in the class of competition, as New Brockton and Pike County remain as opponents in what is now 4A Area 4.

In cross country, both teams will compete in 4A Section 1. They will be joined by ACCEL Academy, Ashford, Bayshore Christian, Geneva, Houston Academy, Jackson, New Brockton, Orange Beach, Satsuma, and St. Michael Catholic.

Florala, Pleasant Home, and Red Level were not affected by the latest football alignments and will remain in Class 1A. The Wildcats, Eagles, and Tigers will stay in what is now an eight-team Region 2, which also includes Brantley, Elba, Georgiana, Kinston, and McKenzie. The region remains the same as the last two years with the exception of Houston County who moved to Class 2A.

The latest volleyball alignment places Red Level in 1A Area 2 with Brantley, Elba, and McKenzie. Florala and Pleasant Home will be in 1A Area 3 with Emmanuel Christian of Dothan and Kinston.

In cross country, all three teams will compete in 1A-2A Section 1. They will be joined by Emmanuel Christian, Francis Marion, Goshen, Holy Spirit Catholic, Kinston, Pike Liberal Arts, Tuscaloosa Academy, University Charter, and Zion Chapel.

In swimming and diving, Andalusia, Opp, and Straughn were placed in Class 1A-5A Section 1 alongside Bayside Academy, Cottage Hill, Elberta, Eufaula, Faith Academy, Houston Academy, Jackson, LAMP, LeFlore, Orange Beach, Satsuma, St. Luke’s Episcopal, St. Michael Catholic, and T.R. Miller.

The Alabama State Department of Education provides average daily enrollment numbers to the AHSAA, which assists with each re-classification period. Only students in ninth through eleventh grades plus eighth-grade hold-back students are counted. The latest school enrollment numbers are as follows:

  • Andalusia – 386.5
  • Straughn – 321.05
  • Opp – 297.45
  • Pleasant Home – 119.3
  • Florala – 113.95
  • Red Level – 106.5

These regions and areas will go into effect for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

To view the AHSAA’s re-classification in its entirety, visit https://www.ahsaa.com/Schools/2024-2026-Classification-Alignments.

To view the AHSAA’s entire list of school enrollment numbers, visit https://www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/PDF’s/AHSAA/AHSAA/Re-Classification/2024-2026/2024-2026%20Classification.pdf.