Quote Originally Posted by Jason View Post
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.
The VHSL never "wants" to have combined districts, but if (when) Abingdon ends up as the only AA school in far SWVa what's the better alternative? Without a combo district, you either have to...

1) Force them into the River Ridge with Pulaski, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Salem, Hidden Valley, and Cave Spring (plus Carroll County would probably end up there as well). Think Abingdon or any of the RRD members are going to be happy with that arrangement? --OR--

2) Allow them to play down in Group A. Now Abingdon might be for that, but I'd say few, if any, Group A schools would.

IIRC, the Eastern Shore and Dogwood ceased being combined districts mainly because the AA schools in those leagues (Northampton, Appomattox, Gretna, Dan River, maybe another I'm forgetting) got small enough to drop down to Group A and there was no longer a need for the combo setup.

It's not the ideal arrangement, but it's the lesser of three evils so to speak.

As for Tazewell, what makes you think they favor joining a district with Graham over joining Richlands? Tazewell is just as close to Richlands geographically and they are each other's biggest rival (Graham's is Bluefield, WV). If forced to choose between a CMD with Richlands, Lebanon and the Bristol-area schools or the MED with Graham and the likes of Galax, Fort Chiswell and Grayson, I'd be willing to bet Tazewell would take the CMD in a heartbeat.

I agree that all other factors being equal, Graham would rather be in Region C for travel purposes, but if they have an opportunity to rejoin Tazewell and Richlands, even in Region D, they might go that route. Also, Richlands is much closer to Region D schools than they are Region C--they can get to any school in SWVA (except for Lee and TW) in 90 minutes tops. That isn't the case for them with the Three Rivers and Pioneer schools in Region C.