The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced its new classification for the 2016-2018 school year on Wednesday and there were several shakeups for area teams.

 

Keith moved from 1A to 2A and Southside dropped from 4A to 3A.

 

Selma stayed at 6A, Dallas County is still 5A and Ellwood Christian remained at 1A, but the opponents they’ll be facing in each sport have changed.

 

Keith jumped from 137.90 10th-12th grade students during the last AHSAA classification in 2014 to 161.65 this time, which was enough for the school to move to 2A.

 

Southside’s numbers dropped from 319.55 for the 2014-2016 classification to 294.5 this time around.

 

“We were kind of expecting it,” said Southside athletic director Cedric Brown. “I think the superintendent noted at the beginning of the year that we lost 20 students or so, so that was to be expected.”

 

The changes mean a new set of opponents for both the Bears and Panthers, but they aren’t the only ones. Many teams around the area will see different area opponents for the next two years.

Here’s a look at all the changes for the five area schools that participate in athletics under the AHSAA:

ELLWOOD CHRISTIAN

• CLASSIFICATION: 1A
• FOOTBALL: The Eagles have been moved to class 1A, region 3 in football and will have a brand new cast of opponents. Keith has been moved out and Sunshine and Akron both closed down in 2015, leaving the AHSAA to rework the 1A areas. Ellwood will now play Autaugaville, Highland Home, Isabella, Lochapoka, Maplesville and Notasulga.
• BASKETBALL: Ellwood Christian will play in area 5 in basketball with Autaugaville, Isabella and Maplesville. Ellwood and Isabella already play in the same basketball area.
• BASEBALL: Ellwood is also in area 5 in baseball. The Eagles will play the same teams they do in basketball on the baseball field — Autaugaville, Isabella and Maplesville.
• SOFTBALL: Ellwood will play in area 5 and plays the same three schools in softball that the Eagles do in baseball. They’ll face Autaugaville, Isabella and Maplesville.
• VOLLEYBALL: Ellwood will face Autaugaville, Isabella and Maplesville in volleyball in area 5.
• TRACK & FIELD: Ellwood Christian has been placed into section 1 for track and field. Other teams in section 1 are A.L. Johnson, Autaugaville, Florala, Isabella, J.F. Shields, Keith, Linden, Maplesville, Marengo, McIntosh, Red Level and Sweet Water.

 

KEITH

• CLASSIFICATION: 2A
• FOOTBALL: The Bears will now play in class 2A, region 4 in football with a new group of opponents. Keith will play Aliceville, Billingsley, Francis Marion, R.C. Hatch, Thorsby and Verbena.
• BASKETBALL: Keith’s basketball teams will now take part in area 7, which will include Aliceville, Francis Marion and R.C. Hatch. All three schools have a strong basketball history.
• BASEBALL: Keith’s baseball program is starting back in 2015, but next year the Bears will have a brand new group of opponents. Keith will participate in area 7 with Central Hayneville and Francis Marion.
• VOLLEYBALL: The Bears will play in area 6 in volleyball with Choctaw County. Those are the only two teams in the area.
• TRACK & FIELD: Keith is in section 2 in track and field. Also in section 2 are Aliceville, Atamont, Billingsley, Choctaw County, Francis Marion, R.C. Hatch, Lamar County, Southern Choctaw, Sulligent, Tarrant, Thorsby and Verbena.

 

SOUTHSIDE

• CLASSIFICATION: 3A
• FOOTBALL: With the move to 3A, the Panthers will play a new group of opponents. The Panthers are in region 3 with B.B. Comer, Beulah, Central Coosa, Montgomery Academy, Pike County and Prattville Christian. Southside did not play any of those teams over the last two seasons.
• BASKETBALL: Southside has been slotted into area 5 in basketball. The Panthers will play Montevallo, Montgomery Academy and Prattville Christian.
• BASEBALL: Southside will also be a part of area 5 in baseball. The Panthers will play Montevallo, Montgomery Academy and Prattville Christian.
• SOFTBALL: Southside is a part of class 3A’s area 5 in softball too. The Panthers will play in a three-team area with Montevallo and Prattville Christian.
• VOLLEYBALL: Southside will be in area 5 in volleyball with Montgomery Academy and Prattville Christian.
• TRACK & FIELD: Southside is in class 3A’s section 2. Also in section 2 are American Christian, Carbon Hill, Fultondale, Greene County, Montgomery Academy, Holly Pond, Locust Fork, J.B. Pennington, Montevallo, Prattville Christian and Susan Moore.

 

DALLAS COUNTY

• CLASSIFICATION: 5A
• FOOTBALL: Dallas County is slotted into class 5A, region 3, which will look very similar to the way it looked for the last two seasons. Calera, Central Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Jemison and Sumter Central are still in the region, just like the past few years. The only major change is that Marbury has replaced Helena after Helena moved up to 6A.
• BASKETBALL: Dallas County has moved to class 5A, area 6 in basketball. The teams they’ve played the last few years are in area 7, meaning a new group of opponents for the Hornets. Dallas County will now play Calera, Jemison and Marbury in area play.
• BASEBALL: Dallas County is in area 6 for baseball, but the Hornets will face the same teams on the diamond that they do on the basketball court. Dallas County will play Calera, Jemison and Marbury in area play.
• SOFTBALL: The Hornets are in area 7 in softball and will face Central Tuscaloosa and Demopolis.
• VOLLEYBALL:  Dallas County is in area 6 in volleyball and will face Calera, Jemison and Marbury.
• TRACK & FIELD: Dallas County is in section 2 in track and field. Also in section 2 are Alexandria, Beauregard, Brewbaker Tech, Calera, Central Clay County, Cleburne County, Jemison, Lincoln, Marbury, Shelby County, Sylacauga, Valley, Talladega and Booker T. Washington – Tuskegee.

 

SELMA

• CLASSIFICATION: 6A
• FOOTBALL: Nothing has changed for Selma’s football region. The Saints will play in region 4 with Bessemer City, Brookwood, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, McAdory, Northridge and Paul Bryant. Those are the same opponents Selma played this year.
• BASKETBALL: Selma’s basketball area has changed drastically. The Saints will now play in a three-team area 5 and will face Chilton County and Stanhope Elmore.
• BASEBALL: Selma has been slotted in area 5 in baseball and will face Chilton County and Stanhope Elmore.
• SOFTBALL: Selma will also play softball in area 5 with Chilton County and Stanhope Elmore.
• VOLLEYBALL: Selma will play volleyball in area 5 with Chilton County and Stanhope Elmore.
• TRACK & FIELD: Selma is in section two of track and field. Also in section 2 area Bessemer City, Brookwood, Carver-Montgomery, Chelsea, Chilton County, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Hueytown, McAdory, Minor, Northridge, Paul Bryant, Park Crossing, Pelham, Sidney Lanier, Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka.
• WRESTLING: Selma will be in the south of class 6A’s wrestling section. Also in the south are Baldwin County, Benjamin Russell, Brookwood, Carver-Montgomery, Daphne, Gulf Shores, Hueytown, McAdory, Northridge, Opelika, Oxford, Park Crossing, Paul Bryant, Pell City, Russell County, Sidney Lanier, Spanish Fort, Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka.
• CROSS COUNTRY: Selma is listed in section 4 in cross country. Also in section 4 are Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, McAdory, Hueytown, Helena, Minor, Northridge, Paul Bryant and Walker.
• WRESTLING DUALS: Selma will be in region 3 for wrestling duals along with Park Crossing, Sidney Lanier, Stanhope Elmore, Wetumpka and Carver Montgomery.