Remnants of the Southwestern 3A Conference

[sasha_nc]

Richard Walker with the Gaston Gazette has written a column about how the old Southwestern 3A Conference still impacts high school football today in the Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland county area. A great read for those of us who experienced the classic period referenced in the piece.

 

[No Dog in the Fight]

In the early 80's, SWC member Chase was scheduled for 5 homecomings on all 5 of their away games. One team had a really early in the season homecoming and at least one had homecoming late in the season. Yeah, Chase lost all 5. Seems like Crest RB Herbert Harbison ran for 400 yards or somthing ridiculous.

 

[sasha_nc]

With the latest NCHSAA realignment proposal putting South Point, East Gaston and Shelby in with Rutherford County schools, it was mentioned on another thread how some of this resembled the old 3A Southwestern Conference. I came across a breakdown of conference teams over the years and thought it might be worth sharing.

3A 1977-1980 & 1981-1984
Burns
Chase
Crest
East Gaston
East Rutherford
Kings Mountain
North Gaston
Rutherfordton-Spindale
Shelby
South Point

3A 1985-1988
Burns
Chase
East Rutherford
Kings Mountain
North Gaston
R-S Central
Shelby
South Point

Crest - moved to the 4A Tri-County (1985)
East Gaston - moved to the 4A Tri-County (1985)

3A 1989-1992 & 1993-1996
Burns
East Rutherford
Kings Mountain
North Gaston
R-S Central
Shelby
South Point

Chase - moved to the 2A Southern District 7 (1989)
Chase - moved to the 2A Apple Country (1993)
Crest - 4A Tri-County (1989)
East Gaston - 4A Tri-County (1989)
Crest - moved to the 4A Northwestern (1993)
East Gaston - moved to the 4A MEGA 7 (1993)

3A 1997-2000
Burns
East Rutherford
Kings Mountain
North Gaston
R-S Central
South Point

Shelby - 2A Southern Piedmont (1997)
Chase - moved to the 2A Southern Piedmont (1997)
Crest - 4A Northwestern (1993)
East Gaston - 4A MEGA 7 (1993)

3A 2001-2004 - a major realignment of the 3A Southwestern and creation of the 3A Big South

Southwestern
Burns
Crest
FT Foard
Hickory
Kings Mountain
R-S Central
St Stephens

Big South
Ashbrook
Forestview
East Gaston
Hunter Huss
North Gaston
South Point
East Lincoln

East Rutherford - moved to 2A Midwest