Athletic Directors Respond to New GHSA Classification

The Georgia High School Association executive committee Tuesday voted in a new 6-A classification that could include Snellville schools.

The 50-member panel, meeting in Macon, rejected a controversial 4/8 system that would have changed groupings during playoffs. Instead, by a vote of 26-24, the the committee approved the six classification system proposed by former Brookwood High School Athletic Director Dave Hunter.

The change would put Snellville's three high schools -- Brookwood, South Gwinnett and Shiloh -- in a new class effective for the 2012-2013 school year. The schools have been competing in Class AAAAA, formerly the largest of five in the state.

A published report of the proposed reallignment shows a new Region 8 Class AAAAAA to include 10 high schools: Archer, Berkmar, Winder-Barrow, Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Parkview, Grayson, South Gwinnett, Shiloh and Dacula.

"We like that we still have the opportunity to play schools that are in close proximity to Shiloh and also schools that we have a history of playing over the years," said Michael Nicholson, athletic director for Shiloh High School. "Also, it will only intensify the competition within Region 8 with 10 teams now fighting for four play-off spots."

Formal classification assignments are not set yet, and may not be determined until the fall. The top 15 percent in enrollment are expected to go to the new 6-A class. The formal head count likely will be this fall.

"I don't see it affecting us a great deal," said Mark Kimbro, athletic director at Brookwood High. "Our region may add a team but should be just about the same. We will know a lot more when the regions are actually put together in the fall."

The committee was scheduled to vote in March on the 4/8 plan, which would have reduced the number of classifications from five to four during the regular season, then split the four into an upper and lower tier for the playoffs, thus producing champions in eight categories.

The 4/8 plan was recommended by a 7-5 vote of the GHSA'srReclassification committee. Supporters say it would have allowed teams to play opponents closer to home, thus reducing the time and expense of traveling long distances.

(Patch freelancer Bill Johnson contributed to this article.)