Bandys, Bunker Hill will go back into the same league in August
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
The third draft of statewide realignment for high schools, released Thursday, did not change anything from the second draft for schools now playing in Greater Hickory area conferences.
Final appeals are due to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) by Feb. 17, and the NCHSAA votes on a final realignment at a date to be determined in March.
The realignment will cover the 2021 through 2025 school years.
Proposed 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
CONFERENCE NO. 51 (2A)
W. Caldwell 876
E. Burke 865
Maiden 840
Bunker Hill 838
W. Lincoln 827
Bandys 818
Newton-Conover 816
Lincolnton 788
CONFERENCE NO. 51 (3A)
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
GLANCE AT WHERE SCHOOLS ARE GOING
SOUTH FORK 2A
Bandys: 2A, Conference No. 45
East Lincoln: 3A, Conference No. 51
Lake Norman Charter: 3A, Conference No. 48
Lincolnton: 2A, Conference No. 45
North Lincoln: 3A, Conference No. 51
Maiden: 2A, Conference No. 45
Newton-Conover: 2A, Conference No. 45
West Lincoln: 2A, Conference No. 45
Note: Bandys and Bunker Hill will again be in the same conference. They were original members of the Southern District 7 2A in 1959 and together until Bunker Hill was moved in the last realignment.
NORTHWESTERN FOOTHILLS 2A
Bunker Hill: 2A, Conference No. 45
Draughn: 1A, Conference No. 42 (1A-2A)
East Burke: 2A, Conference No. 45
Fred T. Foard: 3A, Conference No. 51
Hibriten: 3A, Conference No. 52 (3A/4A)
Patton: 2A, Conference No. 41
West Caldwell: 2A, Conference No. 45
West Iredell: 3A, Conference No. 51
NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A
Alexander Central: 4A, Conference No. 52 (3A/4A)
Freedom: 3A, Conference No. 52 (3A/4A)
Hickory: 3A, Conference No. 51
McDowell: 4A, Conference No. 53 (3A/4A)
St. Stephens: 3A, Conference No. 51
South Caldwell: 4A, Conference No. 52 (3A/4A)
Watauga: 4A, Conference No. 52 (3A/4A)
KEY REMAING DATES
Wednesday, if needed: Deadline for appeals must be received by NCHSAA. Only those schools whose conference membership has been altered somehow from previous draft.
Wednesday, Feb. 17: Final appeals to realignment committee with a realignment report due in to the NCHSAA board of directors.
March, date TBA: NCHSAA board of directors hears final appeals based on procedural errors only, then vote on 2021-2025 realignment plan that begins Aug 1.
COMPLETE THIRD DRAFT: https://www.nchsaa.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2021-2025ConferenceAlignment_ThirdDraft.pdf
REVIEW SECOND DRAFT: https://hobbsdailyreport.com/north-carolina-high-school-athletic-association/realignment-patton-w-caldwell-go-to-new-leagues-in-second-draft/
