My Version of Realignment Conferences

[GrizzlyDevil]

So we all know that the conferences first draft should be public knowledge within a month. I've sat on this for a while...and I sent it to my local realignment committee representative for their review/consideration. There are a lot of unknowns still overall (east/west split, goal of number of split conferences, how many classes in a split conference (2,3,4), and how automatic qualifiers will work with multiple split conferences and/when conferences that'll have only one classification schools in it (1 2A, 5 3A, and 1 4A as an example)), but I have a set of my own "rules" I went by that I thought were most equitable and/or that I thought the association should lean towards.

Overall:

• I wanted less mandatory travel time so the number of split conferences were high
• If there is a chance to have all schools in one class for a conference, I took it
• I started in 1A on the edges and worked my way in
• There are several conferences with 3 or more classes in it (in some cases unavoidable)
• I am banking on a strictly RPI seeding system for playoff placement
  • I could see the highest finishing school from a class get an auto bid if they are at least 0.500 on the season
  • How teams qualify is up to a bigger discussion but I would lean heavy on RPI and adjust the RPI equation a tad...maybe add something to it?
• I split east/west per classification instead of wholesale across the state for all classes and instead of going no split until playoffs

Class breakdown east and west:

Class	East	West
8A	19	13	32
7A	32	27	59
6A	30	29	59
5A	30	29	59
4A	26	33	59
3A	28	31	59
2A	31	28	59
1A	34	24	58
	230	214	444

Football split and Playoff qualifiers recommendation:

Football Split	Football Playoffs	Football Playoffs Qualifiers
8A - 19E and 13W	20 Team playoff	10 east and 10 west - 1-6 seeds get 1st RD bye
7A - 32E and 27W	32 Team playoff	16 east and 16 west
6A - 30E and 29W	32 Team playoff	16 east and 16 west
5A - 29E and 29W	32 Team playoff	16 east and 16 west
4A - 25E and 32W	32 Team playoff	16 east and 16 west
3A - 26E and 30W	32 Team playoff	16 east and 16 west
2A - 22E and 22W	1A/2A 32 Team playoff (33E and 30W)	16 east and 16 west
1A - 11E and 8W

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

For the West:

I tried to maintain at least 6 schools per conference

Playoff seeding:

Football Playoff Seeding - West
Class	Most CC Possible	Out of Available Seeds	Remaining Spots
8A	4	10	6
7A	6	16	10
6A	7	16	9
5A	8	16	8
4A	9	16	7
3A	9	16	7
1A and 2A	6 and 7 (13)	16	3

Conferences:

** = non football playing schools
I tried to keep these schools in their own conference as much as possible

IND WEST 1A	1A	NC School for the Deaf**	Burke	22
IND WEST 1A	1A	NCSSM-Morganton**	Burke	300

01 WEST 1A	1A	Hiwassee Dam**	Cherokee	137
01 WEST 1A	1A	Tri-Count Early College**	Cherokee	151
01 WEST 1A	1A	Blue Ridge Early College**	Jackson	74
01 WEST 1A	1A	Summit Charter School**	Jackson	82
01 WEST 1A	1A	Nantahala**	Macon	31
01 WEST 1A	1A	Highlands**	Macon	90

02 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Valor Prep Academy**	Cabarrus	191
02 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Carolina International**	Cabarrus	270
02 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Jackson Day School**	Mecklenburg	203
02 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Sugar Creek Charter**	Mecklenburg	409
02 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Bradford Prep**	Mecklenburg	517
02 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Queens Grant**	Mecklenburg	572
02 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Gray Stone Day**	Stanly	405

03 WEST 1A/2A	1A	NC Leadership Academy**	Forsyth	348
03 WEST 1A/2A	1A	College Prep Leadership Academy**	Guilford	217
03 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Triad Math-Science**	Guilford	383
03 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Bethany Community**	Rockingham	379
03 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Millenium Charter**	Surry	126
03 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Cornerstone Charter**	Guilford	417
03 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Piedmont Classical**	Guilford	478

04 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Andrews	Cherokee	225
04 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Robbinsville	Graham	334
04 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Murphy	Cherokee	422
04 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Hayesville	Clay	387
04 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Cherokee	Swain	389
04 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Swain County	Swain	535

05 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy	Mecklenburg	263
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Cherryville	Gaston	484
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Highland Tech	Gaston	538
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Mountain Island Charter	Gaston	559
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Christ the King	Mecklenburg	434
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Corvian Community	Mecklenburg	454
05 WEST 1A/2A	2A	CS of Davidson	Mecklenburg	558

06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Winston-Salem Prep	Forsyth	177
06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	North Stokes	Stokes	309
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Bishop McGuinness	Forsyth	477
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	South Stokes	Stokes	580
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Elkin	Surry	401
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Starmount	Yadkin	557

07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	1A	South Davidson	Davidson	368
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	2A	North Rowan	Rowan	544
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	2A	South Stanly	Stanly	501
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	2A	Albemarle	Stanly	528
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	3A	Thomasville	Davidson	595
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	3A	East Davidson	Davidson	735
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	3A	West Davidson	Davidson	781
07 WEST 1A/2A/3A	3A	North Stanly	Stanly	651

>>South Davidson is not really around any other 1A schools where it wouldn't demand a lot of travel time. So I kept them with other Davidson County schools in this league.

08 WEST 1A/3A	1A	Rosman	Transylvania	254
08 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Owen	Buncombe	738
08 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Hendersonville	Henderson	789
08 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Madison	Madison	603
08 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Polk County	Polk	660
08 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Mountain Heritage	Yancey	628

>>Rosman is in a unique location. There is more mandatory travel time by having them play schools in Cherokee/Clay/Graham county (west). So they'll be placed with schools north/east of them. There are no other 1A schools around them, and no 2A schools, therefore they must be placed in a conference with the 5 closest 3A schools.

09 WEST 1A/3A	1A	Thomas Jefferson	Rutherford	356
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Shelby	Cleveland	792
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Bessemer City	Gaston	590
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Piedmont Community**	Gaston	630
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	West Lincoln	Lincoln	731
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Lincolnton	Lincoln	793
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	Chase	Rutherford	642
09 WEST 1A/3A	3A	East Rutherford	Rutherford	691

>>Thomas Jefferson Academy is in a similar situation as Rosman. In their situation, I've placed them with other 3A schools along the 74 corridor and I added Lincoln County since Piedmont Community doesn't have a football team.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	2A	Avery County	Avery	550
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	2A	Mitchell	Mitchell	480
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	Draughn	Burke	686
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	Patton	Burke	776
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	West Caldwell	Caldwell	763
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	East Burke	Burke	893
10 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	Hibriten	Caldwell	947

11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	2A	Alleghany	Alleghany	394
11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	2A	East Wilkes	Wilkes	504
11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	North Wilkes	Wilkes	617
11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	West Wilkes	Wilkes	677
11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	Ashe County	Ashe	912
11 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	Wilkes Central	Wilkes	815

12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	2A	Langtree Charter	Iredell	465
12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	3A	Pine Lake Prep	Iredell	685
12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	Lake Norman Charter	Iredell	808
12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	West Iredell	Iredell	830
12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	Salisbury	Rowan	916
12 WEST 2A/3A/4A	4A	South Rowan	Rowan	929

>>Langtree Charter and Pine Lake Prep are in unique locations for 2A and 3A. So they'll be placed with the 4 closest 4A schools from Iredell and Rowan Counties

13 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Walkertown	Forsyth	684
13 WEST 3A/4A	3A	East Surry	Surry	588
13 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Mount Airy	Surry	613
13 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Surry Central	Surry	701
13 WEST 3A/4A	4A	Carver	Forsyth	867
13 WEST 3A/4A	4A	West Stokes	Stokes	872
13 WEST 3A/4A	4A	North Surry	Surry	811
13 WEST 3A/4A	4A	Forbush	Yadkin	800

14 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Eastern Randolph	Randolph	585
14 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Providence Grove	Randolph	587
14 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Wheatmore	Randolph	664
14 WEST 3A/4A	3A	Trinity	Randolph	673
14 WEST 3A/4A	4A	Ledford	Davidson	806
14 WEST 3A/4A	4A	Lexington	Davidson	876
14 WEST 3A/4A	4A	Central Davidson	Davidson	935

15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	3A	Union Academy	Union	633
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	4A	Anson	Anson	925
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	4A	Mount Pleasant	Cabarrus	894
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	4A	West Stanly	Stanly	914
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	4A	Central Academy**	Union	875
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	5A	Forest Hills	Union	963
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	5A	Parkwood	Union	1079
15 WEST 3A/4A/5A	5A	Monroe	Union	1192

>>Similar to above notes, Union Academy is in a unique location for 3A. For travel time, I stuck them here.

16 WEST 4A	4A	Newton-Conover	Catawba	808
16 WEST 4A	4A	Bunker Hill	Catawba	834
16 WEST 4A	4A	Maiden	Catawba	838
16 WEST 4A	4A	Foard	Catawba	903
16 WEST 4A	4A	Bandys	Catawba	909
16 WEST 4A	4A	East Gaston	Gaston	917
16 WEST 4A	4A	Cramer	Gaston	953

17 WEST 4A/5A	4A	Tuscola	Haywood	851
17 WEST 4A/5A	4A	Pisgah	Haywood	852
17 WEST 4A/5A	4A	East Henderson	Henderson	929
17 WEST 4A/5A	4A	Brevard	Transylvania	798
17 WEST 4A/5A	5A	North Henderson	Henderson	1041
17 WEST 4A/5A	5A	West Henderson	Henderson	1050
17 WEST 4A/5A	5A	Smoky Mountain	Jackson	994
17 WEST 4A/5A	5A	Franklin	Macon	1010

18 WEST 4A/5A	4A	Burns	Cleveland	925
18 WEST 4A/5A	4A	Lincoln Charter	Lincoln	815
18 WEST 4A/5A	4A	R-S Central	Rutherford	843
18 WEST 4A/5A	5A	Crest	Cleveland	1098
18 WEST 4A/5A	5A	East Lincoln	Lincoln	1043
18 WEST 4A/5A	5A	North Lincoln	Lincoln	1123

19 WEST 5A	5A	Concord	Cabarrus	1128
19 WEST 5A	5A	Northwest Cabarrus	Cabarrus	1142
19 WEST 5A	5A	Robinson	Cabarrus	1186
19 WEST 5A	5A	Montgomery Central	Montgomery	1117
19 WEST 5A	5A	West Rowan	Rowan	956
19 WEST 5A	5A	East Rowan	Rowan	974
19 WEST 5A	5A	Carson	Rowan	1052

20 WEST 5A/6A	5A	South Point	Gaston	989
20 WEST 5A/6A	5A	North Gaston	Gaston	1061
20 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Forestview	Gaston	1133
20 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Huss	Gaston	1165
20 WEST 5A/6A	6A	Kings Mountain	Cleveland	1305
20 WEST 5A/6A	6A	Ashbrook	Gaston	1386

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

21 WEST 5A/6A	5A	North Davidson	Davidson	967
21 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Oak Grove	Davidson	1008
21 WEST 5A/6A	5A	North Forsyth	Forsyth	1160
21 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Atkins	Forsyth	1187
21 WEST 5A/6A	6A	Glenn	Forsyth	1488
21 WEST 5A/6A	6A	Mount Tabor	Forsyth	1491

22 WEST 5A/6A	5A	North Buncombe	Buncombe	997
22 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Erwin	Buncombe	1082
22 WEST 5A/6A	5A	Enka	Buncombe	1166
22 WEST 5A/6A	6A	A.C. Reynolds	Buncombe	1271
22 WEST 5A/6A	6A	Asheville	Buncombe	1529
22 WEST 5A/6A	6A	T.C. Roberson	Buncombe	1550

23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	5A	Hickory	Catawba	1195
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	6A	Alexander Central	Alexander	1407
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	6A	Freedom	Burke	1337
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	6A	South Caldwell	Caldwell	1481
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	6A	St. Stephens	Catawba	1209
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	6A	Watauga	Watauga	1583
23 WEST 5A/6A/7A	7A	McDowell	McDowell	1702

>>Hickory is in a unique spot...I needed them to go north to make this conference have at least 6 schools. McDowell got put in because I know personally that they will request to play to the east of them and not with Buncombe county schools. So I made it work here.

24 WEST 6A	6A	Southeast Guilford	Guilford	1270
24 WEST 6A	6A	Northern Guilford	Guilford	1328
24 WEST 6A	6A	Eastern Guilford	Guilford	1344
24 WEST 6A	6A	Western Guilford	Guilford	1381
24 WEST 6A	6A	Ragsdale	Guilford	1457
24 WEST 6A	6A	Dudley	Guilford	1468
24 WEST 6A	6A	Ben L. Smith	Guilford	1523
24 WEST 6A	6A	Asheboro	Randolph	1286

25 WEST 6A	6A	Central Cabarrus	Cabarrus	1369
25 WEST 6A	6A	Harding University	Mecklenburg	1344
25 WEST 6A	6A	Charlotte Catholic	Mecklenburg	1369
25 WEST 6A	6A	Berry Academy	Mecklenburg	1527
25 WEST 6A	6A	Olympic	Mecklenburg	1613
25 WEST 6A	6A	Sun Valley	Union	1256
25 WEST 6A	6A	Piedmont	Union	1264

26 WEST 6A/7A	6A	Statesville	Iredell	1244
26 WEST 6A/7A	6A	North Iredell	Iredell	1248
26 WEST 6A/7A	7A	Davie	Davie	1949
26 WEST 6A/7A	7A	South Iredell	Iredell	1841
26 WEST 6A/7A	7A	Mooresville	Iredell	1953
26 WEST 6A/7A	7A	Lake Norman	Iredell	1981

27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	East Forsyth	Forsyth	1695
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Parkland	Forsyth	1758
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	R.J. Reynolds	Forsyth	1819
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Reagan	Forsyth	2167
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Southwest Guilford	Guilford	1662
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Page	Guilford	1808
27 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Grimsley	Guilford	2044
27 WEST 7A/8A	8A	West Forsyth	Forsyth	2205
27 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Northwest Guilford	Guilford	2240

28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	West Cabarrus	Cabarrus	1626
28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Hickory Ridge	Cabarrus	1671
28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	A.L. Brown	Cabarrus	1726
28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Cox Mill	Cabarrus	1772
28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Hopewell	Mecklenburg	2098
28 WEST 7A/8A	7A	North Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg	2102
28 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Mallard Creek	Mecklenburg	2304
28 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Hough	Mecklenburg	2593

29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Butler	Mecklenburg	1926
29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Ballantyne Ridge	Mecklenburg	2133
29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Porter Ridge	Union	1802
29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Cuthbertson	Union	1853
29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Weddington	Union	1895
29 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Marvin Ridge	Union	1959
29 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Providence	Mecklenburg	2248
29 WEST 7A/8A	8A	South Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg	2615
29 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Ardrey Kell	Mecklenburg	3125

30 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Rocky River	Mecklenburg	1848
30 WEST 7A/8A	7A	West Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg	1914
30 WEST 7A/8A	7A	Independence	Mecklenburg	2148
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	West Charlotte	Mecklenburg	2332
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Garinger	Mecklenburg	2348
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Palisades	Mecklenburg	2460
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	East Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg	2498
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Chambers	Mecklenburg	2686
30 WEST 7A/8A	8A	Myers Park	Mecklenburg	3317

>>For these last three conferences, I put all the schools on a map for Mecklenburg, Union, and Cabarrus Counties and placed them together by distance.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

East Playoff Seeding:

Football Playoff Seeding - East
Class	Most CC Possible	Out of Available Seeds	Remaining Spots
8A	6	10	4
7A	9	16	7
6A	8	16	8
5A	7	16	9
4A	9	16	7
3A	8	16	8
1A and 2A	5 and 6 (11)	16	5

IND EAST 1A	1A	Cape Hatteras**	209	Dare
IND EAST 1A	1A	Mattamuskeet**	98	Hyde
IND EAST 1A	1A	Ocracoke**	54	Hyde

01 EAST 1A	1A	North East Carolina Prep**	331	Edgecombe
01 EAST 1A	1A	Hobgood Charter**	132	Halifax
01 EAST 1A	1A	KIPP Gaston**	344	Northampton
01 EAST 1A	1A	Sallie B Howard**	280	Wilson
01 EAST 1A	1A	Wilson Prep**	191	Wilson
01 EAST 1A	1A	East NC School for Deaf**	23	Wilson

02 EAST 1A	1A	Clover Garden**	269	Alamance
02 EAST 1A	1A	River Mill Academy**	175	Alamance
02 EAST 1A	1A	Chatham Charter**	194	Chatham
02 EAST 1A	1A	Woods Charter**	185	Chatham
02 EAST 1A	1A	Discovery Charter**	220	Durham
02 EAST 1A	1A	Excelsior Classical**	185	Durham
02 EAST 1A	1A	Phoenix Academy**	335	Orange

03 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Falls Lake Academy**	356	Granville
03 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Oxford Prep**	263	Granville
03 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Vance Charter**	334	Vance
03 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Henderson Collegiate**	392	Vance
03 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Roxboro Community**	394	Person
03 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Eno River Academy**	393	Orange
03 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Research Triangle**	570	Durham
03 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Voyager Academy**	418	Durham

04 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Neuse Charter**	232	Johnston
04 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Ascend Leadership**	346	Lee
04 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Central Carolina Academy**	226	Lee
04 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Southern Wake Academy**	285	Wake
04 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Raleigh Charter**	551	Wake
04 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Franklin Academy**	528	Wake
04 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Triangle Math-Science**	468	Wake
04 EAST 1A/2A	2A	East Wake Academy**	407	Wake

05 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Northside - Pinetown	381	Beaufort
05 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Bear Grass Charter	245	Martin
05 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Columbia	176	Tyrrell
05 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Washington County	319	Washington
05 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Southside	422	Beaufort
05 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Bertie	550	Bertie
05 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Manteo	552	Dare

06 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Southeast Collegiate	271	Halifax
06 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Weldon	254	Northampton
06 EAST 1A/2A	1A	North Edgecombe	371	Edgecombe
06 EAST 1A/2A	1A	Rocky Mount Prep	242	Nash
06 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Northwest Halifax	386	Halifax
06 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Northampton County	400	Northampton
06 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Tarboro	520	Edgecombe
06 EAST 1A/2A	2A	Warren County	500	Warren

07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	1A	East Columbus	383	Columbus
07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	2A	West Columbus	460	Columbus
07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	2A	East Bladen	517	Bladen
07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	3A	South Columbus	669	Columbus
07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	3A	Whiteville	646	Columbus
07 EAST 1A/2A/3A	3A	West Bladen	707	Bladen

>>East Columbus is the only 1A school in its area - will be placed with 2A/3A schools around it for a 6 team conference

08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	1A	Jones	336	Jones
08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	2A	East Carteret	519	Carteret
08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	2A	Lejeune	444	Onslow
08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	2A	Pamlico County	424	Pamlico
08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	4A	West Craven	848	Craven
08 EAST 1A/2A/4A	4A	Southwest Onslow	797	Onslow

>>Jones is the only 1A school in its area - there are only three 2A schools around it and no 3A schools, added the 2 closest 4A schools to give the conference 6 members - chose Onslow county instead of Beufort county since the mandatory travel time for SW Onslow would be less than for Washington

09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	1A	Chatham Central	335	Chatham
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	3A	Northwood	676	Chatham
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	3A	North Moore	606	Moore
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	4A	Jordan-Matthews	901	Chatham
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	4A	Uwharrie Charter**	875	Randolph
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	4A	Randleman	868	Randolph
09 EAST 1A/3A/4A	4A	Southwestern Randolph	800	Randolph

>>Chatham Central is the only 1A school in its area - there are no 2A schools so CC will be placed in a conference with 3A/4A schools closest to it

10 EAST 2A	2A	Union	505	Sampson
10 EAST 2A	2A	Lakewood	474	Sampson
10 EAST 2A	2A	Hobbton	473	Sampson
10 EAST 2A	2A	North Duplin	400	Duplin
10 EAST 2A	2A	Rosewood	460	Wayne
10 EAST 2A	2A	American Leadership Academy	505	Johnston

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	2A	Camden County	582	Camden
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	2A	Holmes	551	Chowan
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	2A	Gates County	436	Gates
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	2A	Perquimans	558	Perquimans
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	3A	Northeastern	652	Pasquotank
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	3A	Pasquotank County	646	Pasquotank
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	4A	First Flight	902	Dare
11 EAST 2A/3A/4A/5A	5A	Currituck County	1054	Currituck

>>This northeastern corner of the state will always have a problem placing First Flight and Currituck County into a conference, it seems even more "sparse" now with 8 classes - FF and CC will be placed with the 2A and 3A schools in the NE corner. If deemed more appropriate, First Flight could always be removed from this conference and placed in East Conf 05 with 1A and 2A schools

12 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Heide Trask	772	Pender
12 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Pender	692	Pender
12 EAST 3A/4A	3A	James Kenan	745	Duplin
12 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Wallace-Rose Hill	727	Duplin
12 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Midway	725	Sampson
12 EAST 3A/4A	4A	East Duplin	854	Duplin
12 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Clinton	809	Sampson

13 EAST 3A/4A	3A	McMichael	770	Rockingham
13 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Bartlett Yancey	624	Caswell
13 EAST 3A/4A	3A	NCSSM-Durham**	675	Durham
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Morehead	857	Rockingham
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Reidsville	795	Rockingham
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Graham	839	Alamance
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Cummings	821	Alamance
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	T.W. Andrews	843	Guilford
13 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Carrboro	896	Orange

>>NCSSM Durham is the only 3A school in its area - was placed in a conference with schools along the I40 corridor through Orange, Alamance, Guilford counties

14 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Hertford County	732	Hertford
14 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Martin County	765	Martin
14 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Wake Prep Academy**	721	Franklin
14 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Louisburg	671	Franklin
14 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Nash Central	886	Nash
14 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Roanoke Rapids	885	Northampton
14 EAST 3A/4A	4A	SouthWest Edgecombe	801	Edgecombe
14 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Bunn	848	Franklin

15 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Farmville Central	767	Pitt
15 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Ayden - Grifton	748	Pitt
15 EAST 3A/4A	3A	South Lenoir	722	Lenoir
15 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Kinston	659	Lenoir
15 EAST 3A/4A	4A	North Lenoir	954	Lenoir
15 EAST 3A/4A	4A	North Pitt	838	Pitt
15 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Washington	805	Beaufort

16 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Greene Central	778	Greene
16 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Princeton	602	Johnston
16 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Spring Creek	734	Wayne
16 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Goldsboro	656	Wayne
16 EAST 3A/4A	3A	Beddingfield	630	Wilson
16 EAST 3A/4A	4A	North Johnston	823	Johnston
16 EAST 3A/4A	4A	Eastern Wayne	926	Wayne

17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	4A	Red Springs	872	Robeson
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	4A	Fairmont	796	Robeson
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	5A	St. Pauls	1186	Robeson
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	5A	Douglas Byrd	1194	Cumberland
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	6A	Lee County	1614	Lee
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	6A	Southern Lee	1321	Lee
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	6A	Union Pines	1491	Moore
17 EAST 4A/5A/6A	6A	Scotland	1518	Scotland

>>With only two 4A schools and two 5A schools in the Robeson/Cumberland county area - it seemed more feasible to pair them with the "odd schools out" from the 6A class around them. So 6A schools from Lee/Moore/Scotland get paired with them

18 EAST 5A	5A	Western Alamance	1187	Alamance
18 EAST 5A	5A	Southeast Alamance	1143	Alamance
18 EAST 5A	5A	Eastern Alamance	990	Alamance
18 EAST 5A	5A	High Point Central	1193	Guilford
18 EAST 5A	5A	Northeast Guilford	1100	Guilford
18 EAST 5A	5A	Southern Guilford	1002	Guilford
18 EAST 5A	5A	Seaforth	1123	Chatham
18 EAST 5A	5A	Rockingham County	1010	Rockingham

19 EAST 5A	5A	Rocky Mount	1182	Nash
19 EAST 5A	5A	Southern Nash	1165	Nash
19 EAST 5A	5A	C.B. Aycock	1144	Wayne
19 EAST 5A	5A	Southern Wayne	1028	Wayne
19 EAST 5A	5A	Hunt	1102	Wilson
19 EAST 5A	5A	Fike	1019	Wilson

20 EAST 5A	5A	West Carteret	1078	Carteret
20 EAST 5A	5A	Croatan	1018	Carteret
20 EAST 5A	5A	Havelock	1075	Craven
20 EAST 5A	5A	Dixon	1083	Onslow
20 EAST 5A	5A	Northside - Jacksonville	1050	Onslow
20 EAST 5A	5A	Richlands	1021	Onslow

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	Durham School of Arts**	1070	Durham
21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	South Granville	1065	Granville
21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	J.F. Webb	999	Granville
21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	Orange	1153	Orange
21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	Cedar Ridge	1141	Orange
21 EAST 5A/6A	5A	Person	1205	Person
21 EAST 5A/6A	6A	Franklinton	1212	Franklin
21 EAST 5A/6A	6A	Vance County	1530	Vance

22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	5A	South Brunswick	1154	Brunswick
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	6A	West Brunswick	1466	Brunswick
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	7A	North Brunswick	1620	Brunswick
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	7A	Ashley	2045	New Hanover
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	7A	New Hanover	1691	New Hanover
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	8A	Laney	2525	New Hanover
22 EAST 5A/6A/7A/8A	8A	Hoggard	2235	New Hanover

>>Much like the NE part of the state, the SE part of the state will tend to pair these schools together regardless of class - South Brunswick and West Brunswick have no schools around them in their classification

23 EAST 6A	6A	South View	1616	Cumberland
23 EAST 6A	6A	Seventy-First	1608	Cumberland
23 EAST 6A	6A	Gray's Creek	1560	Cumberland
23 EAST 6A	6A	Westover	1396	Cumberland
23 EAST 6A	6A	Terry Sanford	1353	Cumberland
23 EAST 6A	6A	E.E. Smith	1243	Cumberland

24 EAST 6A	6A	Harnett Central	1534	Harnett
24 EAST 6A	6A	Western Harnett	1338	Harnett
24 EAST 6A	6A	Triton	1280	Harnett
24 EAST 6A	6A	Middle Creek	1613	Wake
24 EAST 6A	6A	Cardinal Gibbons	1605	Wake
24 EAST 6A	6A	Felton Grove	1400	Wake

25 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Williams	1255	Alamance
25 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Southern Alamance	1218	Alamance
25 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Northern Durham	1492	Durham
25 EAST 6A/7A	6A	East Chapel Hill	1455	Orange
25 EAST 6A/7A	7A	Riverside-Durham	2113	Durham
25 EAST 6A/7A	7A	Hillside	1831	Durham
25 EAST 6A/7A	7A	Southern School	1797	Durham
25 EAST 6A/7A	7A	Chapel Hill	1638	Orange

26 EAST 6A/7A	6A	West Johnston	1614	Johnston
26 EAST 6A/7A	6A	South Johnston	1335	Johnston
26 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Northern Nash	1225	Nash
26 EAST 6A/7A	6A	J.H. Rose	1538	Pitt
26 EAST 6A/7A	7A	D.H. Conley	1744	Pitt
26 EAST 6A/7A	7A	South Central	1706	Pitt

27 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Jacksonville	1428	Onslow
27 EAST 6A/7A	6A	White Oak	1241	Onslow
27 EAST 6A/7A	6A	Swansboro	1228	Onslow
27 EAST 6A/7A	7A	New Bern	1678	Craven
27 EAST 6A/7A	7A	Topsail	2010	Pender

>>I tried to avoid a 5 team conference, but New Bern is by itself as a 7A, the next closest 7A to pair with it would be Topsail - As much as I would want to pair Topsail with schools in New Hanover and Brunswick counties, that would cause this conference to only be 4 teams - this conference is paired like this only due to necessity

28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Jack Britt	2064	Cumberland
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Pine Forest	1720	Cumberland
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Cape Fear	1623	Cumberland
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Richmond	2181	Richmond
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Lumberton	1945	Robeson
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Purnell Swett	1636	Robeson
28 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Overhills	2006	Harnett
28 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Hoke County	2536	Hoke
28 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Pinecrest	2346	Moore

29 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Sanderson	1687	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Cary	2084	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Athens Drive	2514	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Broughton	2504	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Leesville Road	2443	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Panther Creek	2624	Wake
29 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Jordan	2397	Durham

30 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Holly Springs	2039	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Fuquay - Varina	1903	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Green Hope	2589	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Green Level	2292	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Apex Friendship	2768	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Apex	2481	Wake
30 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Willow Spring	2248	Wake

31 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Wake Forest	2070	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Heritage	1797	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Knightdale	1775	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	7A	East Wake	1840	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Millbrook	2538	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Wakefield	2467	Wake
31 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Rolesville	2368	Wake

32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Clayton	1983	Johnston
32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Cleveland	1941	Johnston
32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Smithfield-Selma	1617	Johnston
32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	South Garner	1883	Wake
32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Southeast Raleigh	1867	Wake
32 EAST 7A/8A	7A	Garner	1735	Wake
32 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Corinth Holders	2253	Johnston
32 EAST 7A/8A	8A	Enloe	3005	Wake

>>Similar to the West - I put all the schools from Johnston, Wake, and Durham together on a map and placed them together based solely on location to each other.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

Who knows what we'll get - either way - this next alignment should be fresh and exciting.

 

[amaidendevil]

Who knows what we'll get - either way - this next alignment should be fresh and exciting.

I can live with ours if that's what it is.

 

[BleedBurnsBlue]

Always enjoy reading your stuff Grizz....I know this takes a ton of time. Burns conference would be a tough one in football and only 4 conference games since Lincoln Charter doesn't have a football team. R.S. would suffer badly. With only 4 conference games, scheduling non-conference could be difficult.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

Always enjoy reading your stuff Grizz....I know this takes a ton of time. Burns conference would be a tough one in football and only 4 conference games since Lincoln Charter doesn't have a football team. R.S. would suffer badly. With only 4 conference games, scheduling non-conference could be difficult.

Lincoln Charter will have football. And yes non conference scheduling will be tougher for some schools. I doubt you guys will have a problem though.

 

[Squirrel Gravy]

I'd put Rosman in the SMC (conference 04 in the west) and TJC in the conference 05 in the west.

A lot of work and good judgement here though!

 

[owen98]

I like Owen to go into the the Burke County conference and Rosman in the SMC. Then move Mitchell and Avery back to the conference with Heritage. Going down 40 Owen district butts up to McDowell county. The next county after McDowell is Burke. Owen is in Buncombe but is the farthest East of Buncombe. I think the travel would be much easier just down 40 for Burke. Then you have Caldwell County

 

[RD28327]

Union Pines in a 4A/5A/6A league? Definitely NOT happening! North Moore in a 3A/4A split? Possible. Pinecrest in a nine-team 7A/8A split? Most likely.

I can possibly see this league happening:

(1A) South Davidson and Chatham Central (2A) South Stanly, Albemarle Gray Stone Day, and North Rowan (3A) North Stanly and North Moore.

It bears resemblance of when North Moore was part of the old Yadkin Valley Conference.

Always interesting stuff to look at! And, we've usually got to agree to disagree. It's all good!

 

[thekidd12]

This is great work sir and I know it takes a ton of time. One question please. Why did you, in your proposed conferences, send Eastern Randolph west while sending Roundabout High, the Charter, and SWR east? ER is much closer to those other schools than those you have going.
Great read and great job as well sir.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

This is great work sir and I know it takes a ton of time. One question please. Why did you, in your proposed conferences, send Eastern Randolph west while sending Roundabout High, the Charter, and SWR east? ER is much closer to those other schools than those you have going.
Great read and great job as well sir.

Doing the east/west split per classification caused that. Some classes have a bigger western presence so the border counties can flop east in some classes and West in others.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

Union Pines in a 4A/5A/6A league? Definitely NOT happening! North Moore in a 3A/4A split? Possible. Pinecrest in a nine-team 7A/8A split? Most likely.

I can possibly see this league happening:

(1A) South Davidson and Chatham Central (2A) South Stanly, Albemarle Gray Stone Day, and North Rowan (3A) North Stanly and North Moore.

It bears resemblance of when North Moore was part of the old Yadkin Valley Conference.

Always interesting stuff to look at! And, we've usually got to agree to disagree. It's all good!

The more classes you have the weirder conference creation can get, especially when doing the east/west split per class. Sometimes you get schools of a classification that are in a dead zone and you can have them in several different conferences...I tried to do what was best for travel.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

I'd put Rosman in the SMC (conference 04 in the west) and TJC in the conference 05 in the west.

A lot of work and good judgement here though!

I thought about that more than I should haha...for me it boiled down to travel time for the schools. I know I don't have the final answer for this...but I felt the placement for these schools was better for travel.

 

[GrizzlyDevil]

I like Owen to go into the the Burke County conference and Rosman in the SMC. Then move Mitchell and Avery back to the conference with Heritage. Going down 40 Owen district butts up to McDowell county. The next county after McDowell is Burke. Owen is in Buncombe but is the farthest East of Buncombe. I think the travel would be much easier just down 40 for Burke. Then you have Caldwell County

this change makes good sense. In conference creation I looked no deeper than what county schools are in, not where in the county they are (Owen). What you have makes sense...if there were two of me then I would have the time to do a deeper dive and would have probably done what you said.

This whole thing moves fast for one person so I had to get done what I could and get it to the committee.

I'm not looking to be right...I just wanted to do something that was equitable and from a different point of view.

The committee will have mine and the associations realignment...I'm sure they'll have HSOT too to look at. Plus their own and whoever else took a stab at it and sent it in.

The goal is to have all the options and pick what's best. Then next realignment, tweak the parts that weren't as good as you thought and keep moving forward.

 

[JKTigers0713champs]

The conference that you have for us
Wallace
James Kenan
East Duplin
Clinton
Midway
Pender
Trask
I heard that Pender, and Midway doesn't want to come. And that East Duplin would prefer to go with Onslow county. I don't know, just rumors thus far.

 

[owen98]

this change makes good sense. In conference creation I looked no deeper than what county schools are in, not where in the county they are (Owen). What you have makes sense...if there were two of me then I would have the time to do a deeper dive and would have probably done what you said.

This whole thing moves fast for one person so I had to get done what I could and get it to the committee.

I'm not looking to be right...I just wanted to do something that was equitable and from a different point of view.

The committee will have mine and the associations realignment...I'm sure they'll have HSOT too to look at. Plus their own and whoever else took a stab at it and sent it in.

The goal is to have all the options and pick what's best. Then next realignment, tweak the parts that weren't as good as you thought and keep moving forward.

Hey bro you do great work. I couldn’t do what you did and if I could I’m sure it would have taken way more time than it took you which I know was already a huge undertaking. Not bashing your work in anyway. Great job!

 

[Strick68]

Looks great. I know you are a true football fan, or you wouldn't have spent all the time you did putting this together. Very good work.

 

[thekidd12]

Doing the east/west split per classification caused that. Some classes have a bigger western presence so the border counties can flop east in some classes and West in others.

Yes sir I get that ER could go either way just like in the olden days. However in the proposed two 3A/4A conferences you have proposed in the middle of the state activity buses will be meeting each other on highway 64. I realize you did that to get 4A numbers in the east to line up but seems odd to me. Not your work. This whole realignment process actually.
As I stated initially nice work sir.

 

[RD28327]

This looks more reasonable ...


(5A) Douglas Byrd and St. Pauls (4A) Red Springs, Fairmont, and Clinton (3A) Midway

 

[woodsboy1991]

For the greater Sandhills (minus North Moore) I would try to do something like this:

7A/8A
Pinecrest (8A)
Hoke County (8A)
Richmond County (7A)
Jack Britt (7A)
Lumberton (7A)
Purnell Swett (7A)

6A/7A
Pine Forest (7A)
Overhills (7A)
Cape Fear (7A)
Terry Sanford (6A)
EE Smith (6A)
Westover (6A)

Straight 6A
Lee County
Southern Lee
Triton
Harnett Central
Western Harnett
Union Pines

5A/6A
St Pauls (5A)
Douglas Byrd (5A)
Gray's Creek (6A)
South View (6A)
71st (6A)
Scotland (6A)

This is just an idea

 

[FreedomAlum]

South Davidson fits in with these schools just fine:

06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Winston-Salem Prep	Forsyth	177
06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	North Stokes	Stokes	309
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Bishop McGuinness	Forsyth	477
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	South Stokes	Stokes	580
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Elkin	Surry	401
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Starmount	Yadkin	557

As near as I could tell the trip to North Stokes was only about an hour and 22 minutes, which is the longest trip for them.

 

[wncbowhunter]

No idea what it will look like but just wanted to say Thanks for GrizzlyDevil for the work on this.
I do think somehow that Mitchell and Avery will be in a conference with Mt. Heritage. But I have no idea.

Go Mountaineers

 

[Sportsnut17]

Great job. That’s a lot of work.

 

[SimmonsRatings]

Thanks - great work - I would love to take a stab at it myself but can't find the time right now.

 

[Shelby Lion]

Hey Griz!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kingbluedevil]

Great job hope this is conferences

 

[RD28327]

For North Moore, here's what I am thinking ...

3A: North Moore, Bartlett Yancey, and Northwood
4A: Graham, Cummings, Jordan-Matthews, and Carrboro

OR

1A: South Davidson and Chatham Central
2A: South Stanly, Albemarle, Gray Stone, and North Rowan
3A: North Stanly and North Moore

 

[woodsboy1991]

For North Moore, here's what I am thinking ...

3A: North Moore, Bartlett Yancey, and Northwood
4A: Graham, Cummings, Jordan-Matthews, and Carrboro

OR

1A: South Davidson and Chatham Central
2A: South Stanly, Albemarle, Gray Stone, and North Rowan
3A: North Stanly and North Moore

I like your 3A/4A idea

 

[ocdavis31]

Grizz, first thank you for all the hard work. Can’t imagine doing that. And I really appreciate the need for limited travel time. With the gate, especially football, critical to the financial aspect of athletics, that’s really important.
Having said that, I really hope there aren’t any split three class conferences and hope even more there aren’t any with four. I can’t think of any way to create a fair playoff format with that. And it seems to me that would mostly negate the reason for going to eight classifications.

But maybe that’s just me.

 

[Wow71]

The purpose is to separate the small schools from the unfair disadvantage they have from larger schools. I like the plans mostly, but having split 1A/2A/3A leagues does not fix things for the small schools. It puts them right back into a league with schools twice their size or more. I think there will be splits, but just two divisions possible (1A/2A). With 8 classes there just are not enough 1A teams with all sports to make leagues other than maybe the SMC. Some teams may have to find as many as 6 non conference games so the state needs to get it out soon and allow coaches/AD's to plan for fall 2025 games.

 

[Fox2XYHook]

South Davidson fits in with these schools just fine:

06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	Winston-Salem Prep	Forsyth	177
06 WEST 1A/2A	1A	North Stokes	Stokes	309
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Bishop McGuinness	Forsyth	477
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	South Stokes	Stokes	580
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Elkin	Surry	401
06 WEST 1A/2A	2A	Starmount	Yadkin	557

As near as I could tell the trip to North Stokes was only about an hour and 22 minutes, which is the longest trip for them.

ETA based on a normal driving conditions in a car, not on an activity bus that can only travel up to 55 MPH
SD to WSP: 50 minutes (1h 40m round trip)
SD to NS: 1h 22m (2h 44m round trip)
SD to BM: 47m (1h 34m round trip)
SD to SS: 1h 12m (2h 24m round trip)
SD to Elkin: 1h 26m (2h 52m round trip)
SD to Starmount: 1h 17m (2h 34m round trip)

That's a lot of travel one way and round trip. For football it wouldn't be as bad as it would be for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball. Imagine if the basketball team has to play at South Stokes on Tuesday and at Elkin on Thursday. That's roughly 6 hours spent on a bus.

SD is tough to project because they're an outlier. Too small to fit with the Davidson County schools and too remote to fit with the schools their size.

 

[JKTiger40]

Grizz, first thank you for all the hard work. Can’t imagine doing that. And I really appreciate the need for limited travel time. With the gate, especially football, critical to the financial aspect of athletics, that’s really important.
Having said that, I really hope there aren’t any split three class conferences and hope even more there aren’t any with four. I can’t think of any way to create a fair playoff format with that. And it seems to me that would mostly negate the reason for going to eight classifications.

But maybe that’s just me.

I think the most should be two, for the sake of fairness. Also this allows rival schools who got split up in classification to still play a rivalry game with more meaning to it than just a non conference game. Atleast that would be the case for schools that got split from like 3a to 4a if it’s one 3a and the rival is moved to 6a I think it’s best to just be shit out of luck and play it non conference

 

[FreedomAlum]

ETA based on a normal driving conditions in a car, not on an activity bus that can only travel up to 55 MPH
SD to WSP: 50 minutes (1h 40m round trip)
SD to NS: 1h 22m (2h 44m round trip)
SD to BM: 47m (1h 34m round trip)
SD to SS: 1h 12m (2h 24m round trip)
SD to Elkin: 1h 26m (2h 52m round trip)
SD to Starmount: 1h 17m (2h 34m round trip)

That's a lot of travel one way and round trip. For football it wouldn't be as bad as it would be for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball. Imagine if the basketball team has to play at South Stokes on Tuesday and at Elkin on Thursday. That's roughly 6 hours spent on a bus.

SD is tough to project because they're an outlier. Too small to fit with the Davidson County schools and too remote to fit with the schools their size.

And yet we have no problems putting Rosman in with schools where they have bus rides longer than any of those above (it's more than two hours between Rosman and Draughn right now and it would be even longer if they go back in with Murphy). Outliers suck, but in the new model it's either put them in with similar schools relatively far away or create conferences of three (or more) classifications. Schools here in the west have to deal with those kinds of travel times, so I see no reason why schools in other parts of the state shouldn't.

Frankly, we could schedule more non-revenue sports (revenue sports being mainly basketball and football), so that games start around six (or earlier) and kids get home at a more reasonable hour. Even with revenue sports starting at seven or eight those travel times gets kids home around eleven about eight or nine times a year. That's not ideal, but most of those will be on Fridays, so not a school night. About the worst you can say is that basketball players get home around 11 three or four times a year on a school night if they ride the bus with those times. At Freedom that's something we have to deal with playing Watauga and Ashe, so I don't have much sympathy for anyone else.