By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
A new eight-team 3A high school conference that begins play in August will be named the Western Foothills Athletic Conference.
Conference officials announced the name selection earlier this month.
The league, formed by statewide realignment, will consist of East Lincoln, Fred T. Foard, Hickory, North Iredell, North Lincoln, St. Stephens, Statesville and West Iredell.
East Lincoln and North Lincoln and Fred T. Foard and West Iredell are moving up from 2A. The first two are currently in the South Fork 2A and the latter two are currently in the Northwestern Foothills 2A.
Lavell Hall, an East Lincoln graduate and former head boys’ basketball coach at Lincolnton and Hickory, will be the league’s chief administrator. He is currently in the same role with the Northwestern 3A-4A.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) will allow 10 varsity football games in the fall, meaning Western Foothills Athletic 3A teams can each schedule three non-league games.
Finalized conferences with average number of students
CONFERENCE NO. 42 (1A/2A)
Black Mountain Owen (2A) 748
Madison (2A) 712
Draughn 630
Mountain Heritage 614
Avery County 539
Mitchell County 489
Rosman 299
CONFERENCE NO. 41 (2A)
R-S Central 845
Patton 834
Brevard 791
E. Rutherford 766
Hendersonville 745
Chase 722
Polk County 614
CATAWBA VALLEY 2A ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
W. Caldwell 876
E. Burke 865
Maiden 840
Bunker Hill 838
W. Lincoln 827
Bandys 818
Newton-Conover 816
Lincolnton 788
WESTERN FOOTHILLS 3A ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Hickory 1,204
Statesville 1,193
St. Stephens 1,163
N. Iredell 1,133
N. Lincoln 996
Fred T. Foard 890
E. Lincoln 877
W. Iredell 861
CONFERENCE NO. 48 (3A)
Carson 1,238
Central Cabarrus 1,192
W. Rowan 1,092
NW Cabarrus 1,048
Concord 974
S. Rowan 942
E. Rowan 939
Lake Norman Charter 801
CONFERENCE No. 52 (3A-4A)
S. Caldwell (4A) 1,630
Watauga (4A) 1,462
Alexander Central (4A) 1,432
Freedom 1,275
Hibriten 1,001
Ashe County 907
CONFERENCE NO. 53 (3A/4A)
McDowell (4A) 1,638
Asheville Roberson (4A) 1,484
Asheville (4A) 1,376
A.C. Reynolds (4A) 1,296
Asheville Erwin 1,257
Enka 1,124
N. Buncombe 1,110
