NCHSAA 3rd & Final Draft For 2025-2029 Released 2/14/25

[TD-FridayNight]

The 3rd & Final Draft was Released today.

Committee-Draft #3 - 2/14/25

NCHSAA releases third draft of 2025-29 conference realignment plan - NCFootballNews

More than 50 conferences would feature schools from multiple classifications in 2025-29

ncfootballnews.com

 

[TD-FridayNight]

Northwest 2A/3A (No Change from 2nd Draft)
East Surry (3A)
Mount Airy (3A)
Alleghany (2A)
East Wilkes (2A)
Elkin (2A)
Starmount (2A)

 

[FreedomAlum]

My first impression is that it looks better, but the "football only" conference with Thomas Jefferson will have some long drives. They crossed three classes in making conferences, but only where they had to, so I think it's better.

 

[TD-FridayNight]

SMC 1A/2A ( Football Schools Only)
Cherokee (2A)
Hayesville (2A)
Murphy (2A)
Swain County (2A)
Andrews (1A)
Robbinsville (1A)
Rosman (1A)

 

[TD-FridayNight]

Foothills Conference ? 3A/4A​

North Wilkes (3A)
Surry Central (3A)
West Wilkes (3A)
Ashe County (4A)
Forbush (4A)
North Surry (4A)
West Stokes (4A)
Wilkes Central (4A)

 

[TD-FridayNight]

Western Highlands 2A/3A
Hendersonville (3A)
Madison (3A)
Mountain Heritage (3A)
Owen (3A)
Polk County (3A)
Avery (2A)
Mitchell (2A

 

[FreedomAlum]

? 3A/4A
Hendersonville (3A)
Madison (3A)
Mountain Heritage (3A)
Owen (3A)
Polk County (3A)
Avery (2A)
Mitchell (2A

That one will be Western Highlands. Has most of the current members.

 

[ocdavis31]

Not perfect for Thomasville but better than a lot of alternatives.

 

[Thunder_struck8712]

Glad everyone's refresh button is getting a break tonight

 

[TD-FridayNight]

Northwest 2A/3A (No Change from 2nd Draft)
East Surry (3A)
Mount Airy (3A)
Alleghany (2A)
East Wilkes (2A)
Elkin (2A)
Starmount (2A)

This was the first NWC draft but the 2nd & 3rd stayed the same.

 

[Slasher Killer]

This was the first NWC draft but the 2nd & 3rd stayed the same.

Replace Walkertown with Ashe or WC and that woulda been a dang solid conference. 2nd time in 8 years we were gonna be in the NWC and we got taken out of it after. We were gonna be in it when it was going to be the Surry/Stokes league in 2021, and the state changed it up too. Now we lose our awesome non conference schedule wasting it on rivalry games we don't need to play in August. Yuck!

Only + is Ashe is back in the area where they need to be and East/MA/Star get to play again, but the NW is gonna be so top heavy. I honestly feel sorry for the other schools. Elkin and Alleghany will have to depend on non conference to get wins. N/S Stokes get a steal conference wise, they could be .500 if they get the breaks. S Stokes especially with that RB if he stays, they will be neck and neck with Bishop for the conference.

 

[Thunder_struck8712]

Unless they wanted to stay with North Surry, I dont understand why Surry Central isn't with East Surry and Mount Airy. East Wilkes, Elkin, Starmount, and Alleghany go right through Dobson to get to Mount Airy and East Surry and vise versa.

You could have made a 3A conference with West Wilkes, North Wilkes, Surry Central, East Surry, Mount Airy, and Walkertown.

2A conference with East Wilkes, Elkin, Starmount, Alleghany, Bishop, and South Stokes.

Many of these splits could have been avoided but I'm sure this is what many schools requested.

 

[woodsboy1991]

Other than South Brunswick and West Brunswick, I see no issue with the Eastern half

 

[sbbbfan]

Unless they wanted to stay with North Surry, I dont understand why Surry Central isn't with East Surry and Mount Airy. East Wilkes, Elkin, Starmount, and Alleghany go right through Dobson to get to Mount Airy and East Surry and vise versa.

You could have made a 3A conference with West Wilkes, North Wilkes, Surry Central, East Surry, Mount Airy, and Walkertown.

2A conference with East Wilkes, Elkin, Starmount, Alleghany, Bishop, and South Stokes.

Many of these splits could have been avoided but I'm sure this is what many schools requested.

That would have made to much sense.

 

[Bobert253]

SMC 1A/2A ( Football Schools Only)
Cherokee (2A)
Hayesville (2A)
Murphy (2A)
Swain County (2A)
Andrews (1A)
Robbinsville (1A)
Rosman (1A)

Glad to have Rosman back

 

[Thunder_struck8712]

That would have made to much sense.

I do bet Surry Central didn't want anything to with being with Mount Airy, Starmount, East Wilkes and East Surry. They'll be competitive with West Wilkes, North Wilkes, Forbush, and maybe Wilkes Central.

 

[Deana_King]

Most here are speaking in terms of football. Surry Central is very competitive in other sports so when I hear people talk about conferences they need to look at overall athletic picture.

 

[EWCards#1]

So is this the final deal? I heard it could still change again?

 

[TD-FridayNight]

So is this the final deal? I heard it could still change again?

I have read in two different newspapers that called it the final draft, The Asheville Citizens Times and I forgot the other but I found them when I did a search after the NCHSAA posted it I wanted to read what the details were that may not have been posted.

NCHSAA conference realignments' third draft for 2025 brings back Mountain 7, MAC divide

Under the third draft of the NCHSAA's conference realignment, there will be no 11-team conference. Schools can still appeal before it is finalized.

www.citizen-times.com

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the third and final draft of the conference realignment proposals on Friday.

 

[Hon Dines]

Teams can still appeal to Board of Directors. The BOD will finalize the conferences.

 

[Thunder_struck8712]

Most here are speaking in terms of football. Surry Central is very competitive in other sports so when I hear people talk about conferences they need to look at overall athletic picture.

I think football dictates many of these decisions because ultimately that pays many of the bills.

If you look at it from the whole picture and an economical standpoint considering you have to put teams that dont make money on the road so much, why wouldn't you go the route that makes more sense geographically and economically?

From SC mileage

West Wilkes-42 Miles
North Wilkes-29
Ashe-62
North Surry-10
West Stokes-26
Forbush-23

Alleghany-35
East Wilkes-21
Elkin-15
East Surry-18
Mount Airy-12
Starmount-17

 

[Bearmod1]

Northwest 2A/3A (No Change from 2nd Draft)
East Surry (3A)
Mount Airy (3A)
Alleghany (2A)
East Wilkes (2A)
Elkin (2A)
Starmount (2A)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I am glad to see the stokes county schools absent from the conference, however.

 

[Bobert253]

Western Highlands 3A/4A
Hendersonville (3A)
Madison (3A)
Mountain Heritage (3A)
Owen (3A)
Polk County (3A)
Avery (2A)
Mitchell (2A

That is much better than the 2nd draft and maybe even the 1st!!

 

[bigtime_87]

Not perfect for Thomasville but better than a lot of alternatives.

That league features some former CCC teams, potential good gates and limited travel. Secondary sports will tough for the Dogs. Might be what they need to get back on track to winning in football.

 

[buzzcoach]

I do bet Surry Central didn't want anything to with being with Mount Airy, Starmount, East Wilkes and East Surry. They'll be competitive with West Wilkes, North Wilkes, Forbush, and maybe Wilkes Central.

I bet they did!!!!! Should have been surry county schools with MA in same Conference with Forbush.

 

[TD-FridayNight]

My bet is Surry Central will play Mount Airy and East Surry non-conference. I think they have always played the Surry County schools against each other as long as I remember keeping the gate money in Surry County. That is besides Elkin who is more in line with Yadkin and Wilkes County but they are in the conference again this year. But things are changing so much this time, who knows what the NCHSAA will allow.

 

[Longship233]

I'm excited to see Surry Central take on Mount Airy and East Surry! It’s like a family reunion out there for these Surry County schools, always keeping the gate money close to home! And Elkin is back in the mix—can’t wait to see how this all unfolds. With so many changes happening, it feels like anything could happen this season.

 

[RD28327]

Still half baked.