Area schools see change in this years classification, next years football classification

Topeka, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Tuesday was the big day that many schools who were on the bubble on a possible classification change were waiting for. In the end, there were four area schools who saw a shift up or down. The newly-formatted football classification saw a shift in how the landscape looks for the 2018 and 2019 football seasons, with most schools pushed down one classification.

Four schools change classifications
Starting off with a couple of schools in Class 3A and Class 4A, Hugoton moved back into Class 4A, after having success across the board in Class 3A last year. The Eagles increased their enrollment to 281, and join Holcomb and Ulysses 4A. Both Holcomb and Hugoton will also be in Class 4A, Division II, for team sports. Holcomb ended up being the second smallest 4A school. Scott City returns back to Class 3A after a one-year stint in 4A. The Beavers were the second largest 3A school. Fellow GWAC members Colby and Goodland also dropped down a classification to 3A.

After a two-year stint in Class 3A, Syracuse returned to Class 2A, and are the fourth largest school in that classification. Also moving up was Hodgeman County. The Longhorns have bounced back and forth between Class 1A and 2A since merging Jetmore and Hanston, and are the eighth smallest Class 2A school.

Garden City is the fourth largest school in the state with 2075 students, while Healy is the smallest school among KSHSAA member schools with 20.

Here’s the complete list of how the breakdown of the 2017-18 classification looks in descending order. Click Here

Football has drastic changes
The new-look classification change saw some surprises across the state, including some big changes in southwest Kansas. Football classifications take grades 9-11 for the count, and are implemented for the 2018 and 2019 football seasons. While Dodge City and Garden City will not see any changes, Classes 4A and below see significant changes with the new setup that was passed by KSHSAA member schools in June.

Ulysses will remain in Class 4A, but will not have any district games, as 4A has adopted the 5A and 6A format, and will present a scheduling conflict for the Tigers. Being the lone 4A school in the region and in the GWAC, they will only be able to play three league schools and have to find five games. As for the remainder of the GWAC schools, Colby, Goodland, Holcomb, Hugoton and Scott City will all drop to Class 3A in a 48-team classification. They will be put into districts of six teams and the top four will qualify for the playoffs.

Dropping to Class 2A were Cimarron, Lakin and Southwestern Heights, after being long time 3A schools. Class 2A will have 48 teams as well, and will follow the same district and playoff guidelines as 3A. Making the move down to the revived Class 1A classification were Elkhart, Meade, Stanton County, Sublette and Syracuse. Class 1A will be a its own classification for the first time since 1984, and has only 31 teams.

No area schools made the move from 11-man to 8-man football, although Ashland, Deerfield, Fowler, Moscow and Rolla were not listed playing 8-man football, and are believed to be playing 6-man football starting in 2018.

Here’s a complete list of the football classifications for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Click Here

Schools will meet in Salina on Wednesday, October 4 to see their districts revealed, and to finalize their schedule for the next two seasons.