So is this the NEW Region D for the future?

[hoard]

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.

[collegetrumpet2010]

I think they need to change this whole classification system.

[Jason]

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.

The biggest thing about Abingdon being able to get a hardships and drop to D2 is it opening the gates so to speak as Lee did for some Eastern teams to drop. Then we would be back to square one with the unfair enrollment advantages in certain Divisions.If all sports were to go to a format like football is doing before Abingdon would be affected then Abingdon could go Independent since District Champs will no longer get auto bids to playoffs. As for Tazewell I dont think the VHSL would allow them to choose what Region they want to join. That is what makes me think they will go to Region C. But then again that may not even be a factor by the time they decide to drop. Regions may be done away with in all sports by then.

[Jason]

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

[Jason]

Its about time you get in on this Elliot. hahaha

[VHSLhelper]

Again? So Soon ?!?!?! You remind me of... well, nevermind.

true cutoffs? Haven't heard a peep about that anywhere, other than ppl. on msg boards saying it should be like that again.

The biggest thing about Abingdon being able to get a hardships and drop to D2 ...

Don't know why that keeps coming up... will NOT happen. Numbers are just waaayyy too far off. Lee got a hardship because they just missed the cutoff and was A-bound anyway. Falcons aren't in that boat... they won't be A-sized anytime soon.
It's either to the NRD, errrrr, River Ridge (no way) or a combined district... they'll be in the SWD or whatever with Marion, Va, Battle, whoever, for the regular season. District playoffs - who knows, but come Regionals time, they'll still be in IV.

[Jason]

I agree 100% about Abingdon. Totally different boat. BTW. If Richlands and Tazewell was to drop to single A tomorrow What Regions would they likely join. I know they will likely stay where they are for the next couple cycles. Just curious as to what your opinion is on the matter.

[hoard]

Oh I agree that Tazewell and Richlands couldn't "choose" where they want to go. The VHSL would initially place them somewhere then if either wanted to go to another district they can appeal the placement. I think a lot of it would hinge upon if the district they would want to change to would be willing to take them. The VHSL usually gives the regions a fair amount of leeway to align themselves.

Part of the reason I think both would end up in Region D is because by the time they are ready to drop, Region D could have already lost five schools between the Dickenson and Wise consolidations. At that point Region C would be significantly bigger than D. The VHSL would probably put Richlands and Tazewell in the CMD or maybe even the BDD in order to keep the regions relatively balanced numbers-wise. I make this assumption because they wouldn't let Va High and John Battle go to the Hogoheegee a few years ago when VHS dropped mainly because of Region C's size.

[hoard]

OK, more pointless speculation and moving off the original topic even further (again, assuming Richlands, Tazewell and Marion have dropped, dissolving the SWD).....

It's possible Abingdon and Carroll Co. could go to the River Ridge with ONLY Pulaski, Blacksburg and Christiansburg.

Salem, Hidden Valley and Cave Spring could then move over to the Blue Ridge with Northside, William Byrd, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Lord Botetourt and Staunton River. The Blue Ridge then moves over to Region IV to balance out the regions numbers-wise. Those nine schools could even realign into one four- and one five-team district--especially since the other two Region IV districts (River Ridge and Piedmont) would have only five teams also.

That would still suck for Abingdon, though it wouldn't be nearly as bad as going to Roanoke three times per sport per season as they would be with the current River Ridge schools.

[UTVols2]

Call me crazy but I think JIB should be able to compete against the consolidated schools even if they have 700 kids. I say keep em in the LPD, I would rather play the tougher competition.