NCHSAA releases conference proposal; brings change for many Observer-area teams
The N.C. High School Athletic Association released its first conference proposals for its next realignment which will run for four years beginning in the fall of 2017.
The member schools were split into four groups, based on attendance: 20 percent 4A, 30 percent 3A, 30 perecent 2A and 20 percent 1A. Then, the NCHSAA drew up the conference proposals. Schools will have a chance to appeal by April 1.
A few highlights of the conference draft:
▪ Charlotte Catholic would leave the SoMeck 8 conference of Mecklenburg County teams and join a group of Union County Schools in a 3A league. Charlotte Catholic won the N.C. 4A state football championship last week, and its basketball team -- currently No. 4 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll -- is unbeaten. Catholic would likely be an immediate power in multiple sports playing in a lower classification.
▪ With Catholic’s exodus, the SoMeck 8 would now have seven teams: Ardrey Kell, Berry, Harding, Olympic, Providence, South Meck and West Meck.
▪ Lake Norman and Mooresville would return to the MECKA conference full of basketball and football state powers.
▪ Cabarrus County’s Hickory Ridge joins what is now the Southwestern 4A league of Mecklenburg County schools plus Union County’s Porter Ridge. Hickory Ridge will be moving up a class from 3A to 4A.
▪ A.L. Brown leaves the MECKA conference of Mecklenburg County 4A teams and returns to a 3A league of Cabarrus County-area teams. The move also means the rivalry games with Concord would again be conference games and likely much later in the season. The two teams opened the 2015 football season playing against each other, for example.
▪ South Point and East Gaston would leave the Big South 2A/3A conference, made up of primarily Gaston County teams and join a 2A league with 2A state power Shelby. South Point reached the N.C. 3A state football championship this season and the Red Raiders could immediately be a power in a lower classification.
Conference K 4A
Ardrey Kell
Berry Academy
Harding University
Olympic
Providence
South Mecklenburg
West Mecklenburg
Conference L 4A
Hopewell
Hough
Lake Norman
Mallard Creek
Mooresville
North Mecklenburg
Vance
West Charlotte
Conference M 4A
Butler
East Mecklenburg
Garinger
Hickory Ridge
Independence
Myers Park
Porter Ridge
Rocky River
Conference F 3A
Charlotte Catholic
Cuthbertson
Marvin Ridge
Monroe
Parkwood
Piedmont
Sun Valley
Weddington
Conference D 1A
Bessemer City
Cherryville
Highland Tech
Piedmont Community Charter
Polk County*
Thomas Jefferson*
Conference E 1A
Bradford Preparatory
Carolina International School
Community School of Davidson
Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter
Pine Lake Preparatory
Queen's Grant
Union Academy
Conference E 2A
Chase*
East Gaston
East Rutherford *
RS Central *
Shelby*
South Point
Conference F 2A
Bunker Hill *
Draughn*
East Burke*
Fred T. Foard *
Hibriten*
Newton-Conover *
Patton*
West Iredell
Conference G 2A
Bandys*
East Lincoln
Lake Norman Charter
Lincolnton
Maiden*
North Lincoln
West Lincoln
Conference N 2A
Anson County *
Central Academy
East Montgomery *
Forest Hills
Mount Pleasant
West Stanly*
Conference C 3A
East Rowan *
Jesse Carson *
North Iredell
South Iredell
Statesville
West Rowan*
Conference D 3A
A.L. Brown
Central Cabarrus
Concord
Cox Mill
Jay M. Robinson
Northwest Cabarrus
Conference E 3A
Ashbrook
Burns*
Crest *
Forestview
Hunter Huss
Kings Mountain *
North Gaston
Stuart Cramer
*-Denotes school not in Observer primary coverage zone
This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 10:15 AM with the headline "NCHSAA releases conference proposal; brings change for many Observer-area teams."