Grand could face new opponents if UHSAA approves realignments
Nov 21, 2012 | 2299 views | 0 0 comments | 61 61 recommendations | email to a friend | print
by Jeff Richards

contributing writer

  The Utah High School Activities Association’s board of trustees is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss and approve a new classification alignment for 2013-15.

  Bryon Walston of Moab, a Grand County School District board member who is also a member of the UHSAA board of trustees, said that a public hearing on the proposed realignment will take place at the UHSAA offices in Midvale, Utah, (199 East 7200 South) at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. Walston said the board is scheduled to finalize a new alignment the following day.

Some 136 high schools statewide belong to the UHSAA, which governs high school sports and activities.

  Every two years, the UHSAA adjusts classifications and region alignments of member schools, basing the changes on enrollment numbers, along with geographic, historic, and other considerations.

  According to the initial alignment consideration (posted on the uhsaa.org website), the number of 2A schools will expand from 22 to 24, while the number of 3A schools will drop from 27 to 22. Although Grand’s long-time status as a 2A school almost certainly won’t change, the Red Devils will likely see new region opponents starting next fall.

  For most sports, Grand is currently a member of Region 15, along with Emery, Richfield, San Juan, and South Sevier. Under the new alignment, Richfield would move up to the 3A classification, while North Sevier and Wasatch Academy would move into the new six-team region, joining Grand, San Juan, Emery, and South Sevier.

  For football, there are currently two 2A divisions (North and South), each of which has eight teams. The UHSAA’s new proposed alignment splits the 3A classification into two separate classifications (3AA and 3A) for football only. A handful of 2A schools could be moving up to 3A for football, leaving only 13 schools in the 2A football classification. There are six 2A schools – mostly private academies – that don’t field football teams.

  Grand’s current division for football, the 2A South, is comprised of Beaver, Enterprise, Grand, Kanab, Parowan, Richfield, San Juan, and South Sevier. Under the new proposal, Richfield would move up to 3A and Beaver would move to the 2A North division, while North Sevier would join the other six current members of the 2A South division. The 2A North division would have six teams: Beaver, Millard, North Summit, South Summit, Gunnison, and Layton Christian.

  Grand County High School, with 231 students in grades 11 and 12 (and 336 counting sophomores), would be the sixth largest 2A school out of 24 under the current proposal. Grand would also be the largest of the 13 2A schools listed in the newly proposed football classification. The three largest 2A schools overall would be, in order, Manti, Emery, and Delta, all of which have more than 415 students in grades 10-12. The smallest of the two-dozen 2A schools would be Kanab, with 175 students enrolled in grades 10-12.

  Walston said that prior to next week’s public hearing, the UHSAA board of trustees is seeking public comment regarding the proposed realignment. The comment form, along with the alignment charts and other related documents, is available online at uhsaa.org. The direct link to the comment form is uhsaa.org/realignment/comment.htm.
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