So is this the NEW Region D for the future?

[PVVikings2006]

IMO...since Lee has already set the precedent for hardship with the VHSL with the argument over academics....and it is a good one for them.... I would think that you could possibly see an outlook like this.....POSSIBLY....not for sure.

By looking at this new Region D configuration and going to maps.google.com, I think it is easy to see that building the new 3000 seat Convocation Center at UVA-Wise had a lot of vision going into it. If UVA-Wise were to put in some really nice seating at their football field....say enough for about 5000 people (and with the introduction now of Divisional play in the Group A with Division 1 and Division 2)....I believe UVA-Wise would be able to showcase itself more and become a great destination place for the Group A, Region D football and basketball championships. I am not saying this just because I feel that everyone needs to come to Wise County. If you look at the faciliites and the vision that UVA-Wise has right now, I believe they have the ability to give this region a chance to showcase who we are and what we are all about....plus this gives them the needed exposure that they need as a very fine instituon of learning.


Lonesome Pine District
----------------------------
Union Bears - 720
Eastside Spartans - 590
Wise Central Warriors - 700
Lee Generals - 712
Dickenson County Wolfpack - 700


Black Diamond District
------------------------------
Twin Valley Panthers - 260 (absorb students from Council)
Grundy Golden Wave - 450 (absorb students from Council)
Honaker Tigers - 470 (absorb students from Council)
Hurley Rebels - 201
Richlands Blue Tornado - 781
Tazewell Bulldogs - 724



Cumberland District
-----------------------------
JI Burton Raiders - 320
Twin Springs Titans - 244
Rye Cove Eagles - 255
Thomas Walker Pioneers - 279
Castlewood Blue Devils - 279
Lebanon Pioneers - 546


Clinch Mountain District
--------------------------------
Virginia High Bearcasts - 680
John Battle Trojans - 655
Gate City Blue Devils - 681
Abingdon Falcons - 960 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Patrick Henry Rebels - 425 (Region C to Region D with Marion Scarlet Hurricanes being moved to Region C - Hogoheegee District)


Hogoheegee District - Region C
-----------------------------
Holston Cavaliers - 312
Northwood Panthers - 329
Rural Retreat Indians - 347
Chilhowie Warriors - 437
Marion Scarlet Hurricanes - 788 (hardship to Group A for academics)
George Wythe Maroons - 473

[PVVikings2006]

Since Region D has gone to the new format for football....and these new schools would also affect that format......
IMO this is how things would look for a new divisional format for volleyball, baseball and basketball. Very interesting and very competitive if you ask me for the Region D divisional tournaments.


Group A – Region D - Division 2
Abingdon Falcons - 960 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Richlands Blue Tornado – 781 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Tazewell Bulldogs – 724 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Union Bears – 720
Lee Generals - 712
Wise Central Warriors - 700
Dickenson County Wolfpack – 700
Gate City Blue Devils – 681
Virginia High Bearcasts – 680
John Battle Trojans - 655
Eastside Spartans – 590


Group A – Region D – Division 1
Lebanon Pioneers – 546
Honaker Tigers - 470 (absorb students from Council)
Grundy Golden Wave - 450 (absorb students from Council)
Patrick Henry Rebels - 425 (Region C to Region D with Marion Scarlet Hurricanes being moved to Region C - Hogoheegee District)
JI Burton Raiders – 320
Thomas Walker Pioneers - 279
Castlewood Blue Devils - 279
Twin Valley Panthers - 260 (absorb students from Council)
Rye Cove Eagles – 255
Twin Springs Titans - 244

[aoaofficial]

With 21 teams, you would have 11 in D1 and 10 in D2, so Eastside would bo down to D1.


Group A – Region D - Division 2
Abingdon Falcons - 960 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Richlands Blue Tornado – 781 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Tazewell Bulldogs – 724 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Union Bears – 720
Lee Generals - 712
Wise Central Warriors - 700
Dickenson County Wolfpack – 700
Gate City Blue Devils – 681
Virginia High Bearcasts – 680
John Battle Trojans - 655
Eastside Spartans – 590


Group A – Region D – Division 1
Lebanon Pioneers – 546
Honaker Tigers - 470 (absorb students from Council)
Grundy Golden Wave - 450 (absorb students from Council)
Patrick Henry Rebels - 425 (Region C to Region D with Marion Scarlet Hurricanes being moved to Region C - Hogoheegee District)
JI Burton Raiders – 320
Thomas Walker Pioneers - 279
Castlewood Blue Devils - 279
Twin Valley Panthers - 260 (absorb students from Council)
Rye Cove Eagles – 255
Twin Springs Titans - 244[/QUOTE]

[Jason]

Isnt the VHSL trying to get away from evening out Divisions and have true cutoffs?

[PVVikings2006]

Group A - Region D - Football under the new proposed D2 (475 and up) and D1 (474 and lower) format

Give Wilson Memorial, Stuarts Draft, Buffalo Gap and Riverheads to the eastern side of the bracket


Group A – Western Bracket - Division 2
Abingdon Falcons - 960 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Richlands Blue Tornado – 781 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Tazewell Bulldogs – 724 (hardship precedent set by Lee)
Union Bears – 720
Lee Generals - 712
Wise Central Warriors - 700
Dickenson County Wolfpack – 700
Gate City Blue Devils – 681
Virginia High Bearcasts – 680
Appomattox – 667
Gretna – 661
John Battle Trojans - 655
Chatham – 644
Glenvar – 638
Dan River – 637
Grayson County – 628
Floyd County – 620
Eastside Spartans – 590
Nelson County – 571
Graham – 553
Lebanon Pioneers – 546
Giles – 520
Fort Chiswell – 494
James River Buchanan - 480



Group A - Western Bracket - Division 1
George Wythe - 471
Honaker - Honaker Tigers - 470(absorb students from Council)
Grundy Golden Wave - 450 (absorb students from Council)
Chilhowie - 445
Radford - 437
Patrick Henry Rebels - 425 (Region C to Region D with Marion Scarlet Hurricanes being moved to Region C - Hogoheegee District)
Galax - 389
Rural Retreat - 360
JI Burton Raiders – 320
Bland / Rocky Gap - 316
Holston - 300
Northwood - 288
Thomas Walker Pioneers - 279
Castlewood Blue Devils - 279
Twin Valley Panthers - 260 (absorb students from Council)
Rye Cove Eagles – 255
Narrows - 255
Twin Springs Titans - 244

[PVVikings2006]

While I know there has been a lot of possibilities and what ifs on here.... the main thing that I hope everyone keeps in mind is that consolidation is not the opportunity to build an athletic power. Athletics are but one of the great aspects of being apart of an instituion of learning. What we must remember is that with the building of new schools with new logos and new mascots with new meanings and a new pride about them.... we are definitely enhancing our students horizons in the realm of academics with new areas of studies and new curriculum.

I believe if done correctly as well..... and Wise County in general does things the right way...... they can showcase their county by building FOR THE KIDS the great facilities that they deserve to have to bring out the best and bring out the pride in their new schools. If they go in mourning about the death of what is past, they are going to miss out on the new opportunities that lie on the horizons of their future. People who look at the past and dwell in it are HOPELESS....People who look at the past and take the wisdom from it and then push to the future to make it greater..... they will be WISE....literally and figuratively . So... if we are to be as the namesake of our county, WISE, we need to look at the opportunity now being afforded to us and make the most of it.... not for us or the people who went before us....but for our children and those future Wise Countians who are to come after us....our children. Our children will remember the great heritage we have had in the past if we teach them about it in the right ways and with it....use it for their goals of prosperity in the future.

IMO, in the realm of athletics and academics,........ it would be amazing if we took all of the trophies and awards and banners (LPD, Region D and VHSL designated) and such won by all of our great Wise County schools.....and in one section or wing of each newly built school.... it would be great to have a trophy case with all of the previous schools trophies together.... COMBINED. And only put trophies in the case that indicate that the school was a LPD, Region D or State academic or athletic award winner or runnerup. No Wise County trophies or anything of the sort that has a PV or Appy or JJK or Pound or Coe or St Paul name or inference on it. In this way, when the students look at this wing of the excellence that their two schools has brought forth in the past and how it looks now together, they should be motivated to want to add to this era of excellence and bring forth a greater pride .....not in just being from the area where they are from..... but just in being from Wise County. To be competitive and want to defeat your opponent is a great attribute to have in your personality.....but remember... at the end of the day... we are all brothers and in some sense.... we are all family. If we forget to realize that, then that makes the worst battle in the history of this nation and its coming together seem all the more the miracle. For in the American Civil War, you had state against state....brother against brother... especially in Virginia. Even after the war... the Union extended its hand to the Confederates for help .... they didnt continue to kick them when they were down. Did they have their disagreements, yes. It took a few years for the South to acclimate into the unified new nation that was now the United States. The only thing that kept the Confederacy back was the people who thought that their "heritage" would be destroyed with the destruction of the Confederacy. Little did these "backward" and "unlearned" people know (to put it nicely) that in building a new nation... you do not have to lose the heritage and pride of the area from which you come. I believe this most certainly applies to people from Wise County. Many feel that by consolidation, they are losing their heritage and the pride of their small town..... when really... I believe that some of you....not all....of you are afraid of change.... and afraid that if you were someone back in the day... that with consolidation .... future people are not going to remember you or the heritage of your family at the school or some other weird crazy mindset running through your crazy brains. The truth of the matter is.... no one really remembers anyones names.......only great teams. I mean.... really....unless they did something pretty spectacular or amazing in the past... no one will remember you. Do I remember the Stallion from Appalachia? Yes I do... not for the great records or stats he had in school.... I could care less about that. But the fact that he was not only a great athlete but a great person who lost his life in the hopes that another person may live. THIS....is the heritage of which I want my kids to be apart of. To know that my kids are going to be apart of a heritage such as this.... this makes me proud of the school that my kids will be apart of in the future. To know that we could have athletes who think more of others than themselves........ gives me hope that this future school of Wise County is going to have some of the most amazing athletic and academic squads in Southwest Virginia.....because the best teams have those student-athletes who do not care as much about themselves....but care about others....those others being their teammates. THIS is the new WISE COUNTY I want to be apart of...... and I hope that one day..... everyone else will feel the same way too.

[JJK guy]

That's definitely interesting to think of the region and Group A with those numbers and changes.
Also great sentiment expressed in your comment about bringing the schools and communities together...hits the nail on the head IMO.

[hoard]

I think Richlands and Tazewell (and possibly Graham) end up in a combined A/AA district with come of the current CMD schools. Maybe something like this:

CMD: Abingdon (AA), Richlands, Tazewell, Lebanon, VHS, Battle (and maybe Graham)
BDD: Grundy, Dickenson Co., Hurley, Twin Valley, Honaker, Council
LPD: Union, Wise Central, Lee, Gate City plus Eastside and/or Burton
CD: Thomas Walker, Rye Cove, Twin Springs, Castlewood, plus Eastside or Burton

It makes more sense from an enrollment standpoint for Burton to be in the Cumberland and Eastside in the LPD, obviously, but who knows which way either would want to go.

[Jason]

I think Richlands and Tazewell (and possibly Graham) end up in a combined A/AA district with come of the current CMD schools. Maybe something like this:

CMD: Abingdon (AA), Richlands, Tazewell, Lebanon, VHS, Battle (and maybe Graham)
BDD: Grundy, Dickenson Co., Hurley, Twin Valley, Honaker, Council
LPD: Union, Wise Central, Lee, Gate City plus Eastside and/or Burton
CD: Thomas Walker, Rye Cove, Twin Springs, Castlewood, plus Eastside or Burton

It makes more sense from an enrollment standpoint for Burton to be in the Cumberland and Eastside in the LPD, obviously, but who knows which way either would want to go.

A few things wrong with this. One you will never see Gate City back in the LPD. I see the GC going to the LPD posted a lot here but I can for a 110% beyond the shadow of doubt fact they would fight against rejoining the LPD with everything they have. Two the VHSL I dont think wants to create another A/AA district after ridding the ones they had(atleast I think there are no more). Graham will want to stay in Region C as Tazewell will want to join them since the two are just minutes apart. I just dont see Tazewell in Region D at all. Richlands would likely go either way as they are actually somewhat in the middle as far as travel time goes. I really see them leaning more toward the CMD though but it will be a huge decision. I myself hope that is their decission. They would make a great fit to the CMD.


To PVVikings2006 on Abingdon dropping due to hardships. That will never happen. Way too big enrollment. As for theTazewell and Richlands like others have said they could drop next cycle without using hardships as there are Single A teams with bigger enrollments. VHSLHELPER needs to chime in on this.

[VHSLhelper]

why? I'm getting a kick just sitting back and watching all of this.
But, what the hey. I'll just ramble through some things.

Council - Don't see them closing. Too many mtns. between them and the other county schools. With Haysi closing, Honaker would get the majorty of 'em. Buchanan slashed expenses a decade ago by consolidating 5 elem. schools and Garden/Whitewood highs.

Hurley - Might close in 15 years if their numbers stay low. When the CFX is done, they'll be a lot closer to Grundy, and we might get a new HS up on Poplar Gap. Too far down the road, though.

Burton - Conundrum. They'd be a better fit, numbers wise, in the Cumberland, but tradition is a powerful thing (just ask Grundy). Since so many sports are split now, being in a district with "bigs" isn't a biggie... they'll have tough opponents, but also will have to travel more due to a lower seed in the playoffs. Also have the possibility of combining with Wise Co... politics makes them a wildcard.

Grundy - The forced move hurt us. Hearing we only have 8 fb games right now. I don't see us going to the LPD next cycle. Actually think there will be TALK of going back to AA, but it won't happen, either. Again, politics.

4 or 5 Groups - Won't happen. AAA has never been for it, so A started Divisions. Now that it's spread to other sports, and fb changed the split method, A won't be for it, either. I think I counted 82 teams right now in A... going to 4 means 76 teams. So 1 title per 76 teams or 2 titles for 82 teams.. YOU do the math.

Tazewell - Don't know the politics of Tazewell County, but I don't expect Richlands to drop to A in the next 2 cycles. After that, who knows. Region IV will see changes by then.

Abingdon - 2nd sure bet... they WON'T get a hardship. Marion - who knows. Would like to see them in the CMD rather than the Hogo

Region D - I see a lot of changes this decade.. just don't see how they can keep things balanced. The small schools too spread out. I could see Castlewood in the BDD, but the Cumb. needs teams, too

Here's how I'd LIKE to see Region D in 4-6 years...

BDD: Lebanon, Honaker, Grundy, Hurley, Twin Valley, Councill = 6 (5 in football)
CD: Thomas Walker, Rye Cove, Twin Springs, Castlewood, JI Burton = 5
LPD: Lee, Gate City, Union, Wise Central, Eastside, Dickenson Co. = 6
SWD: Va, John Battle, Marion, Tazewell, Richlands = 5 (6 if Abingdon makes it a combined District)

That's 21 fb schools, or 1/4th of 84, which is about the number of schools playing in Group A.