By By Matthew Nascone
Schools are being shuffled around all throughout the state of Alabama. They may not be physically moving, but they are moving up and down on the classification chart.
The Escambia County Blue Devils stayed in Class 4A, Region 1, but they have some new company in football and basketball. T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal moved up from 3A and Monroe County dropped from 5A.
As far as football is concerned, teams exiting Class 4A were Choctaw County, Gulf Shores and UMS Wright. UMS Wright and Gulf Shores moved up to 5A while Choctaw County was downgraded to 3A. The new football Class 4A Region 1 will consist of ECHS, T.R. Miller, W.S. Neal, Monroe County, Jackson, Thomasville, Hillcrest (Evergreen) and Andalusia.
ECHS head football coach Kyle Davis said he is ready for the new challenges attached with a reclassification.
"These changes will make for some good county football for us," Davis said. "I believe with T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal now in our region we will have a lot more riding on our games with them."
Davis said even with the reclassification football is still football.
"We have to line up and win no matter who is on the other side of the field," he said. "I believe next year we will have two teams at the top of the region, two at the bottom and three or four fighting for that third spot. I hope we are battling for that one or two spot and if we work hard we should be able to accomplish that."
The rearranging of areas in basketball moves Monroe County from 5A Area 2 and Thomasville from 4A Area 5 to 4A Area 1 with Escambia County and Jackson. T.R. Miller and W.S Neal move from 5A Area 1 to 4A Area 2 with Hillcrest and Andalusia.
Dan Washburn announced the reclassification of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Nov. 18. This procedure occurs every two years and is approved by the Central Board of Control.
The six classifications of the AHSAA (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A) are determined by the number of students in the school.