Notebook: IHSAA Releases New Enrollment Numbers
On Monday, the IHSAA released their new enrollment numbers and these numbers will be the backbone for the realignment that will begin next season and go for the next two years. We are looking at some possible changes, and big…
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Continue ReadingOn Monday, the IHSAA released their new enrollment numbers and these numbers will be the backbone for the realignment that will begin next season and go for the next two years. We are looking at some possible changes, and big ones, coming to boys basketball that will change the landscape a bit.
One thing to consider here is that these are guesses and until the IHSAA makes their determination, things are just up in the air. However, relatively speaking, we see about 100 teams per class so you can get a general idea and make some assumptions.
IPS Closings Changing Landscape
Last year, the Indianapolis Public School system made some big changes by closing Arlington, Broad Ripple, and Northwest and now those changes are going to be taking effect relatively soon. Those schools have now sent their students to other IPS schools like Shortridge, Crispus Attucks, Washington, Arsenal Tech, and new high school Riverside.
This has push a massive flow of students into those schools as Shortridge is up now the 103rd biggest school. Last enrollment release, they were 283rd. Indianapolis Washington will move from 229 to 149 and go from 2A to 3A. Attucks also saw a massive jump from 143rd to 98th. Tech actually went down a little bit and Riverside is still becoming a full fledge school program but when they do they look like they will become a 2A program at the rate they are moving. If things go the way we believe, Shortridge will bump from a 2A program nearing 1A status to 3A nearing 4A. Attucks will now firmly be in 4A starting next year.
Moving Attucks into 4A will be interesting as it will now break up one of the best Sectionals in the state and potentially more. The issue with moving Attucks up where do you put them. Obviously, they would fall into one of the handful of Indianapolis Sectionals but will it be #8, #10, or #11. Logistically, Sectional 10 would make some sense but all of those Sectionals have 6 teams so it isn’t as if there is a numbers fit unless they completely restructure everything.
Marion, Oak Hill Moving Up
One of the other big changes here is that Marion, who has been going back and forth from 4A to 3A will be back up next time around as they move to 4A again. That spot will be vacated but likely replaced by Oak Hill. They are another team moving up as they will be heading to 3A from 2A as they now will rank 191st in the state in enrollment.
Marion’s move will have a bigger impact as they will now spur a change in the area as their only option without giving a Sectional 8 teams would be to move them to Sectional 7 that is being held in Kokomo but built more from Lafayette area schools. Usually, Marion would go towards Fort Wayne but with New Haven will likely get the preference there. Now, they could switch a couple teams around in Sectional 5 and 6 to make it work better with travel.
2A Could See Massive Changes
The biggest moves impacted will be in 2A South where there are a ton of teams changing around and based on geographical location, which is usually what the IHSAA will lean towards in decision making, will get a little screwy. Southridge, Southmont, Riverton Parke, University, and Western Boone will move into 2A and that could make things different.
The old Shortridge Sectional will lose two teams but would Western Boone be a better fit there? Not likely over University so they may have to switch teams from Sectional 44. But 44 will also be possible to add Southmont and Riverton Parke as they are geographical fits. So, this is an area that dictates a bigger change to make it all work.
Also, Southridge moving down to 2A, it makes all the sense in the world to have them in Sectional 48 but that would give it 8 teams so things will be on the move, most likely to the old North Daviess Sectional that will now be down to 5 teams.
Predictions For Upcoming Changes
Listed below, we have our predictions for what will happen later this spring as the IHSAA will be realigning Sectionals and Classes. These are purely guesses based on location, old alignments, and general common sense. Really, we do expect some wholesale changes in 2A South and maybe some in 4A North.
Team |
Former Class (Old Rank) |
Predicted Class (New Rank) |
Current Sectional |
Predicted New Sectional |
Marion |
3A (102) |
4A (97) |
23 (Bellmont) |
Sectional 7 (Kokomo) |
Crispus Attucks |
3A (143) |
4A (98) |
27 (Guerin Catholic) |
Sectional 10 (Lawrence North) |
Gary West |
3A (103) |
4A (99) |
17 (Hammond Gavit) |
Sectional 1 (Crown Point) |
New Haven |
3A (106) |
4A (100) |
22 (Garrett) |
Sectional 6 (FW Wayne) |
Connersville |
4A (96) |
3A (102) |
9 (Richmond) |
Sectional 24 (New Castle) |
Shortridge |
2A (283) |
3A (103) |
43 (Shortridge) |
Sectional 27 (Guerin Catholic) |
Bishop Dwenger |
4A (99) |
3A (105) |
5 (DeKalb) |
Sectional 22 (Garrett) |
South Bend Clay |
4A (93) |
3A (106) |
3 (Penn) |
Sectional 19 (New Prairie) |
Jay County |
4A (100) |
3A (107) |
6 (Fort Wayne Wayne) |
Sectional 22 (Garrett) |
Indianapolis Washington |
2A (229) |
3A (149) |
43 (Shortridge) |
Sectional 27 (Guerin Catholic) |
River Forest |
2A (241) |
3A (189) |
33 (Lake Station) |
Sectional 18 (Calumet) |
Oak Hill |
2A (210) |
3A (191) |
37 (Oak Hill) |
Sectional 23 (Bellmont) |
Monrovia |
2A (205) |
3A (196) |
44 (South Putnam) |
Sectional 28 (Danville) |
Southridge |
3A (201) |
2A (205) |
31 (Washington) |
Sectional 48 (Forest Park) |
Western Boone |
3A (202) |
2A (204) |
25 (Crawfordville) |
Sectional 28 (Delphi) |
Blackford |
3A (193) |
2A (207) |
24 (New Castle) |
Sectional 37 (Oak Hill) |
Southmont |
3A (196) |
2A (210) |
25 (Crawfordsville) |
Sectional 44 (South Putnam) |
Rennselaer Central |
3A (200) |
2A (213) |
18 (Calumet) |
Sectional 34 (Winamac) |
University |
1A (311) |
2A (292) |
58 (University) |
Sectional 43 (Shortridge) |
South Central (Union) |
1A (307) |
2A (294) |
51 (Triton) |
Sectional 34 (Winamac) |
Westville |
1A (308) |
2A (295) |
49 (Morgan Twp.) |
Sectional 33 (Lake Station) |
Riverton Parke |
1A (304) |
2A (299) |
53 (North Vermillion) |
Sectional 44 (South Putnam) |
Cambridge City Lincoln |
2A (294) |
1A (303) |
41 (Hagerstown) |
Sectional 56 (Union City) |
North Daviess |
2A (303) |
1A (305) |
47 (North Daviess) |
Sectional 63 (Loogootee) |
Covington |
2A (301) |
1A (313) |
28 (Delphi) |
Sectional 53 (North Vermillion) |
North Miami |
2A (298) |
1A (314) |
27 (Oak Hill) |
Sectional 54 (Tri-Central) |