When an entire system gets an overhaul, it seems likely that it’ll need almost immediate changes and re-tooling. That’s certainly the case with VHSL’s new realignment system, and it appears in the 2015-2017 cycle there will be some major changes involving local squads due to changes in school population.
It’s unclear just yet if the VHSL will make major changes at each cycle like Texas, who realigns in a huge way every two years, but in this second cycle that’s clearly at least the initial plan.
The VHSL posted the Initial Conference alignment plan for 2015-2016 2016-2017 on it’s website this week and here is a first look at what local schools are potentially looking at if the plan is adopted.
Fluvanna County will make a major shift, moving down from the 4A North to the 3A West where it’ll join Conference 29, home to Monticello and Western Albemarle this year. Both the Mustangs and Warriors will return to Conference 29, which is now packed with eight teams, two more than any other conference in the 3A West Region. Conference 31 and 32 have six teams each and Conference 30 has just five.
Albemarle and Orange County would stay in Conference 16 of the Region 5A North but the Conference will expand from four teams to six teams, with Halifax leaving and Atlee, Deep Run and Mills Godwin coming into the conference.
William Monroe would stay in Conference 28 in Region 3A East, but it’ll have an entirely new look with Brentsville, Culpeper and Manassas Park coming into the conference along with a new high school, Riverside that takes the conference from six to seven teams.
Charlottesville and Louisa will move from Conference 23 in Group 4A North to a renamed 4A East region in Conference 19. They’ll now face Caroline, Chancellor, Courtland and King George as part of a six-team conference. Powhatan moves to Conference 20 in Group 4A East.
Goochland’s Conference 34 in Group 2A East faces no changes while Madison’s Conference 35 will welcome a new member in Central Woodstock. The Mountaineers know Woodstock well from the school’s current stint in the Bull Run. Nelson welcomes Stuarts Draft into Conference 36. Buckingham’s Conference 37 faces no changes.
This is just the beginning of the process for building realignment for the 2015-2017 cycle as appeals will now be heard. The appeals process produced a number of changes last time around.
