WHAT IF WE ONLY HAD 4 CLASSES IN SCHSL? A Proposal.

[Belvedere]

I've had to KO a bunch of CE credit hours and company-mandated training to start the New Year, so... one's mind tends to wander during these hours of auto-play videos. From the re-alignment data (including appeals), from other posters' shared thoughts, and from my own experiences and opinions, I played Commissioner-For-A-Day and made my own mock realignment.

As your benevolent yet iron-fisted commissioner, I decree the following:

1. 4 Classes of equal size
2. No more 5-team regions
3. No more split FB / Non-FB regions
4. No more split state championships
5. 32-team brackets
6. Keep FB season at 10 games
7. Keep the multiplier for private/charter

These are based on both the grade 9-11 45-day ADM's given by the SCHSL, as well as the recent appeals process. To ensure equitable travel, I calculated school-to-school round-trip mileage within each region (listed in parentheses with each region/italics include non-FB schools).

*Only changes for geographical and numerical balance: Catawba Ridge (AAAA to AAA); North Augusta, May River, and Richland NE (AAA to AAAA); Oceanside (AAA to AA) and Swansea (AA to AAA). Kept Myrtle Beach and Westside as they were in the HSL alignment.

**Unintentionally convenient, based off where schools landed after appeals, all non-FB schools ended up in AA or A.

***AAA / AA / A on 2nd post

AAAA

1. Dorman 3106
2. Carolina Forest 2800
3. Summerville 2623
4. J F Byrnes 2540
5. Spring Valley 2502
6. Stratford 2312
7. Ashley Ridge 2300
8. Boiling Springs 2262
9. Lexington 2169
10. Clover 2107
11. West Ashley 2106
12. Wando 2100
13. Sumter 2054
14. Cane Bay 1980
15. Mauldin 1978
16. James Island 1968
17. Ridge View 1909
18. Blythewood 1901
19. J L Mann 1887
20. Spartanburg 1883
21. River Bluff 1882
22. Fort Dorchester 1858
23. R B Stall1844
24. Rock Hill 1833
25. Wade Hampton 1833
26. Dutch Fork 1823
27. Socastee 1741
28. Hillcrest 1699
29. Woodmont 1693
30. Goose Creek 1685
31. Conway 1670
32. Westwood 1664
33. White Knoll 1664
34. Greenville 1655
35. Berkeley 1644
36. Chapin 1643
37. Eastside 1633
38. Easley 1626
39. T L Hanna 1614
40. Fort Mill 1605
41. St James 1596
42. Greenwood 1587
43. West Florence 1558
44. Gaffney 1556
45. Northwestern 1534
46. Indian Land 1492
47. Nation Ford 1485
48. Lugoff-Elgin 1484
49. Riverside 1463
50. Lucy Beckham 1450
51. Irmo 1440
52. North Myrtle Beach 1420
53. North Augusta 1411
54. May River 1407
55. Richland Northeast 1400
56. Myrtle Beach 1362

1-AAAA (134 mi.):
Easley, Greenwood, Hillcrest, J L Mann, Mauldin, T L Hanna, Woodmont

2-AAAA (102 mi):
Boiling Springs, Dorman, Eastside, Greenville, J F Byrnes, Riverside, Spartanburg, Wade Hampton

3-AAAA (148 mi.):
Clover, Fort Mill, Gaffney, Indian Land, Nation Ford, Northwestern, Rock Hill

4-AAAA (183 mi.):
Chapin, Dutch Fork, Irmo, Lexington, North Augusta, River Bluff, White Knoll

5-AAAA (126 mi.):
Blythewood, Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast, Ridge View, Spring Valley, Sumter, Westwood

6-AAAA (198 mi.):
Carolina Forest, Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, St James, West Florence

7-AAAA (229 mi.):
Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester, James Island, May River, Summerville, West Ashley

8-AAAA (103 mi.):
Berkeley, Cane Bay, Goose Creek, Lucy Beckham, R B Stall, Stratford, Wando

[Belvedere]

AAA

1. Westside 1379
2. South Florence 1358
3. Midland Valley 1326
4. Catawba Ridge 1319
5. Gray Collegiate 1296
6. South Pointe 1275
7. Travelers Rest 1274
8. Bluffton 1262
9. Dreher 1246
10. Laurens 1241
11. South Aiken 1236
12. Airport 1232
13. Fountain Inn 1227
14. Greer 1226
15. Aiken 1220
16. York 1210
17. A C Flora 1208
18. Fox Creek 1177
19. Wilson 1158
20. Beaufort 1156
21. Berea 1147
22. Colleton County 1139
23. Pickens 1137
24. Lancaster 1118
25. Brookland-Cayce 1114
26. Lower Richland 1109
27. Bishop England 1099
28. D W Daniel 1084
29. Hilton Head Island 1050
30. Hartsville 1049
31. Wren 1045
32. Southside 1042
33. Blue Ridge 1037
34. Gilbert 1027
35. Emerald 990
36. Camden 966
37. Seneca 958
38. Darlington 956
39. Christ Church 952
40. Crestwood 946
41. Georgetown 933
42. Chapman 929
43. Palmetto 929
44. Lakewood 892
45. Walhalla 888
46. Hanahan 874
47. Marlboro County 874
48. North Charleston 873
49. Powdersville 869
50. W J Keenan 866
51. Union County 857
52. Belton-Honea Path 851
53. Carolina 851
54. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 849
55. Aynor 828
56. Swansea 801

1-AAA (116 mi.):
D W Daniel, Palmetto, Pickens, Powdersville, Seneca, Walhalla, Wren

2-AAA (147 mi.):
Belton-Honea Path, Carolina, Emerald, Fountain Inn, Laurens, Southside, Westside

3-AAA (144 mi.):
Berea, Blue Ridge, Chapman, Christ Church Episcopal, Greer, Travelers Rest, Union County

4-AAA (196 mi.):
A C Flora, Camden, Catawba Ridge, Lancaster, South Pointe, W J Keenan, York

5-AAA (184 mi.):
Aiken, Fox Creek, Gilbert, Midland Valley, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, South Aiken, Swansea

6-AAA (124 mi.):
Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Crestwood, Dreher, Gray Collegiate, Lakewood, Lower Richland

7-AAA (242 mi.):
Aynor, Darlington, Georgetown, Hartsville, Marlboro County, South Florence, Wilson

8-AAA (248 mi.):
Beaufort, Bishop England, Bluffton, Colleton County, Hanahan, Hilton Head Island, North Charleston

[Belvedere]

AA

1. Greenville Tech* 1131
2. Greer Middle College* 1090
3. York Prep* 991
4. American Leadership 934
5. Brashier Middle College* 840
6. Oceanside Collegiate 814
7. High Point Academy* 808
8. Loris 777
9. Waccamaw 770
10. Battery Creek 769
11. Mountain View Prep 768
12. Pendleton 764
13. Broome 753
14. St Joseph's 748
15. Crescent 724
16. Woodruff 724
17. Silver Bluff 686
18. West-Oak 686
19. Dillon 683
20. Southside Christian 676
21. Newberry 673
22. Landrum 776
23. Bridges Prep* 689
24. Lake City 655
25. Strom Thurmond 654
26. Chesnee 633
27. Clinton 625
28. Manning 613
29. Chester 610
30. Columbia 609
31. Philip Simmons 608
32. Saluda 601
33. Liberty 580
34. Timberland 580
35. Academic Magnet 572
36. Pelion 572
37. Blacksburg 566
38. Woodland 562
39. Lake Marion 559
40. Mid-Carolina 554
41. Cheraw 553
42. Andrew Jackson 552
43. Kingstree 551
44. Edisto 550
45. Pageland Central 549
46. Eau Claire 543
47. North Central 540
48. Hampton County 533
49. Andrews 518
50. Mullins 516
51. Buford 511
52. Fairfield Central 506
53. Marion 499
54. Batesburg-Leesville 481
55. Barnwell 474
56. Atlantic Collegiate 470

1-AA (156 mi./159):
Crescent, Liberty, Pendleton, Southside Christian, St Joseph's Catholic, West-Oak, Brashier Middle College*, Greenville Tech*

2-AA (147 mi./154):
Blacksburg, Broome, Chesnee, Landrum, Mountain View Prep, Woodruff, Greer Middle College*, High Point Academy*

3-AA (150 mi.):
Clinton, Columbia, Eau Claire, Fairfield Central, Mid-Carolina, Newberry

4-AA (187 mi./211):
Andrew Jackson, Buford, Cheraw, Chester, North Central, Pageland Central, York Prep*

5-AA (246 mi.):
Atlantic Collegiate, Dillon, Lake City, Loris, Marion, Mullins, Waccamaw

6-AA (161 mi.):
American Leadership, Batesburg-Leesville, Pelion, Saluda, Silver Bluff, Strom Thurmond

7-AA (237 mi./241):
Barnwell, Battery Creek, Edisto, Hampton County, Lake Marion, Woodland, Bridges Prep*

8-AA (202 mi.):
Academic Magnet, Andrews, Kingstree, Manning, Oceanside Collegiate, Philip Simmons, Timberland

[Belvedere]

A

1. GREEN Upstate* 770
2. Horse Creek Academy* 751
3. Charleston Charter for M&S* 672
4. Ninety Six 473
5. Burke 469
6. Chesterfield 463
7. Palmetto Scholars* 455
8. Whale Branch 437
9. East Clarendon 406
10. Latta 396
11. St John's 387
12. Carvers Bay 384
13. Abbeville 379
14. Dixie 362
15. Hannah-Pamplico 358
16. Lewisville 349
17. Johnsonville 337
18. C A Johnson 336
19. Green Sea-Floyds 335
20. Lee Central 334
21. Lake View 329
22. Calhoun County 323
23. Riverwalk Academy* 323
24. Ridgeland 322
25. Bamberg-Ehrhardt 316
26. McBee 311
27. Hardeeville 288
28. Ridge Spring-Monetta 280
29. Baptist Hill 279
30. Allendale-Fairfax 246
31. Lamar 229
32. Great Falls 225
33. Ware Shoals 225
34. Wagener-Salley 215
35. Lowcountry Leadership* 212
36. Thornwell 210
37. Williston-Elko 192
38. Military Magnet 184
39. Bethune-Bowman 176
40. McCormick 171
41. Royal Live Oaks* 163
42. Whitmire 151
43. Governor's School for S&M* 150
44. Branchville 149
45. Cross 149
46. Scott's Branch 149
47. Hemingway 145
48. Denmark-Olar 142
49. Polaris Tech* 128
50. Blackville-Hilda 122
51. North 118
52. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 112
53. Calhoun Falls 83
54. Midlands STEM* 63
55. SC School for Deaf & Blind^ 39

1-A (187 mi./268):
Abbeville, Calhoun Falls, Dixie, McCormick, Ninety-Six, Thornwell, Ware Shoals, Whitmire, GREEN Upstate*, SCSDB^

2-A (232 mi./282):
C A Johnson, Chesterfield, Great Falls, Lamar, Lee Central, Lewisville, McBee, Governor's School*, Midlands STEM*, Riverwalk Academy*

3-A (159 mi./161):
Blackville-Hilda, Calhoun County, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, North, Ridge Spring-Monetta, Wagener-Salley, Williston-Elko, Horse Creek Academy*

4-A (204 mi.):
Carvers Bay, East Clarendon, Green Sea-Floyds, Hannah-Pamplico, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Lake View, Latta

5-A (225 mi./225):
Allendale-Fairfax, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Branchville, Denmark-Olar, Hardeeville, Ridgeland, Whale Branch, Polaris Tech*, Royal Live Oaks*

6-A (223 mi./228):
Baptist Hill, Bethune-Bowman, Burke, Cross, Military Magnet, Scotts Branch, St John's, Charleston M&S*, Lowcountry Leadership*, Palmetto Scholars*

[7timechamps]

AAA

1. Westside 1379
2. South Florence 1358
3. Midland Valley 1326
4. Catawba Ridge 1319
5. Gray Collegiate 1296
6. South Pointe 1275
7. Travelers Rest 1274
8. Bluffton 1262
9. Dreher 1246
10. Laurens 1241
11. South Aiken 1236
12. Airport 1232
13. Fountain Inn 1227
14. Greer 1226
15. Aiken 1220
16. York 1210
17. A C Flora 1208
18. Fox Creek 1177
19. Wilson 1158
20. Beaufort 1156
21. Berea 1147
22. Colleton County 1139
23. Pickens 1137
24. Lancaster 1118
25. Brookland-Cayce 1114
26. Lower Richland 1109
27. Bishop England 1099
28. D W Daniel 1084
29. Hilton Head Island 1050
30. Hartsville 1049
31. Wren 1045
32. Southside 1042
33. Blue Ridge 1037
34. Gilbert 1027
35. Emerald 990
36. Camden 966
37. Seneca 958
38. Darlington 956
39. Christ Church 952
40. Crestwood 946
41. Georgetown 933
42. Chapman 929
43. Palmetto 929
44. Lakewood 892
45. Walhalla 888
46. Hanahan 874
47. Marlboro County 874
48. North Charleston 873
49. Powdersville 869
50. W J Keenan 866
51. Union County 857
52. Belton-Honea Path 851
53. Carolina 851
54. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 849
55. Aynor 828
56. Swansea 801

1-AAA (116 mi.):
D W Daniel, Palmetto, Pickens, Powdersville, Seneca, Walhalla, Wren

2-AAA (147 mi.):
Belton-Honea Path, Carolina, Emerald, Fountain Inn, Laurens, Southside, Westside

3-AAA (144 mi.):
Berea, Blue Ridge, Chapman, Christ Church Episcopal, Greer, Travelers Rest, Union County

4-AAA (196 mi.):
A C Flora, Camden, Catawba Ridge, Lancaster, South Pointe, W J Keenan, York

5-AAA (184 mi.):
Aiken, Fox Creek, Gilbert, Midland Valley, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, South Aiken, Swansea

6-AAA (124 mi.):
Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Crestwood, Dreher, Gray Collegiate, Lakewood, Lower Richland

7-AAA (242 mi.):
Aynor, Darlington, Georgetown, Hartsville, Marlboro County, South Florence, Wilson

8-AAA (248 mi.):
Beaufort, Bishop England, Bluffton, Colleton County, Hanahan, Hilton Head Island, North Charleston

This region plus Westside in 1AAA would be awesome

[SF Band dad]

The 3A classification would have some interesting match-ups. The top half of 5A would crush the lower half.

[Belvedere]

The 3A classification would have some interesting match-ups. The top half of 5A would crush the lower half.

I'd counter that White Knoll, Greenville, Hanna, Gaffney, Northwestern, and Irmo in the bottom half would be legitimate threats, and another 8-10 would more than hold their own. Final Four teams this past year were ranked 19, 26, 33, and 3 by size in AAAAA, along with 34 and 51 from AAAA.

[Ddub14]

This is more reasonable and sensible than the mess that the schsl has come up with. At least it creates some quality depth in each classification. It sucks that you can look at essentially 6 classifications now and pick out the 3-5 teams in each that will be there at the end. Some classifications even less.

[HoodRoad]

I've had to KO a bunch of CE credit hours and company-mandated training to start the New Year, so... one's mind tends to wander during these hours of auto-play videos. From the re-alignment data (including appeals), from other posters' shared thoughts, and from my own experiences and opinions, I played Commissioner-For-A-Day and made my own mock realignment.

As your benevolent yet iron-fisted commissioner, I decree the following:

1. 4 Classes of equal size
2. No more 5-team regions
3. No more split FB / Non-FB regions
4. No more split state championships
5. 32-team brackets
6. Keep FB season at 10 games
7. Keep the multiplier for private/charter

These are based on both the grade 9-11 45-day ADM's given by the SCHSL, as well as the recent appeals process. To ensure equitable travel, I calculated school-to-school round-trip mileage within each region (listed in parentheses with each region/italics include non-FB schools).

*Only changes for geographical and numerical balance: Catawba Ridge (AAAA to AAA); North Augusta, May River, and Richland NE (AAA to AAAA); Oceanside (AAA to AA) and Swansea (AA to AAA). Kept Myrtle Beach and Westside as they were in the HSL alignment.

**Unintentionally convenient, based off where schools landed after appeals, all non-FB schools ended up in AA or A.

***AAA / AA / A on 2nd post

AAAA

1. Dorman 3106
2. Carolina Forest 2800
3. Summerville 2623
4. J F Byrnes 2540
5. Spring Valley 2502
6. Stratford 2312
7. Ashley Ridge 2300
8. Boiling Springs 2262
9. Lexington 2169
10. Clover 2107
11. West Ashley 2106
12. Wando 2100
13. Sumter 2054
14. Cane Bay 1980
15. Mauldin 1978
16. James Island 1968
17. Ridge View 1909
18. Blythewood 1901
19. J L Mann 1887
20. Spartanburg 1883
21. River Bluff 1882
22. Fort Dorchester 1858
23. R B Stall1844
24. Rock Hill 1833
25. Wade Hampton 1833
26. Dutch Fork 1823
27. Socastee 1741
28. Hillcrest 1699
29. Woodmont 1693
30. Goose Creek 1685
31. Conway 1670
32. Westwood 1664
33. White Knoll 1664
34. Greenville 1655
35. Berkeley 1644
36. Chapin 1643
37. Eastside 1633
38. Easley 1626
39. T L Hanna 1614
40. Fort Mill 1605
41. St James 1596
42. Greenwood 1587
43. West Florence 1558
44. Gaffney 1556
45. Northwestern 1534
46. Indian Land 1492
47. Nation Ford 1485
48. Lugoff-Elgin 1484
49. Riverside 1463
50. Lucy Beckham 1450
51. Irmo 1440
52. North Myrtle Beach 1420
53. North Augusta 1411
54. May River 1407
55. Richland Northeast 1400
56. Myrtle Beach 1362

1-AAAA (134 mi.):
Easley, Greenwood, Hillcrest, J L Mann, Mauldin, T L Hanna, Woodmont

2-AAAA (102 mi):
Boiling Springs, Dorman, Eastside, Greenville, J F Byrnes, Riverside, Spartanburg, Wade Hampton

3-AAAA (148 mi.):
Clover, Fort Mill, Gaffney, Indian Land, Nation Ford, Northwestern, Rock Hill

4-AAAA (183 mi.):
Chapin, Dutch Fork, Irmo, Lexington, North Augusta, River Bluff, White Knoll

5-AAAA (126 mi.):
Blythewood, Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast, Ridge View, Spring Valley, Sumter, Westwood

6-AAAA (198 mi.):
Carolina Forest, Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, St James, West Florence

7-AAAA (229 mi.):
Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester, James Island, May River, Summerville, West Ashley

8-AAAA (103 mi.):
Berkeley, Cane Bay, Goose Creek, Lucy Beckham, R B Stall, Stratford, Wando

This makes way too much sense to be considered by the SCHSL LOL!!! I like it.