GHSA announces region and classification changes

THOMASTON, Ga. — The Georgia High School Association’s Executive Committee has approved the final reclassification and region arrangements for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) constructed the newly transformed regions for each of its seven classifications.

Of the seven classifications, there are eight regions within those classifications. The reclassification will establish new classifications and new regions for a two-year period that began in the fall of 2020. The GHSA first received the full-time enrollment counts of all of its member schools, and those schools were divided into seven classifications.

All five of the GHSA members from Houston County fell into respective classifications. Some of these member schools were realigned, and some of these schools will remain in the same region.

GHSA member schools had until early December 2 of last year to submit a request to compete in a higher classification. These requests are usually granted by the GHSA.

In the newly updated regions and classifications, Veterans High has moved from class 5A to class 6A in all competitions. Veterans was a member of GHSA region 1, class 5A prior to being moved to region 1 of class 6A. In this region remains Houston County High School and Northside (Warner Robins). Region 1 of class 6A now includes, Northside (Warner Robins), Houston County High School, Lee County, Thomas County Central, Tift County and Veterans.

Several 4A schools such as Perry have competed with their current region rivals before, and things will not change for the 2022 scholastic year. Chief Athletic Director Kevin Smith and the Perry Panthers won the GHSA athletic trophy for region 4-4A in 2021.

The Panthers won 8 region championships while competing in region 4-4A last year. Perry and other schools will leave region 4 of class 4A and move to region 2 of class 4A. The Panthers, Baldwin, Griffin, Howard (Macon), Spalding (Griffin), West Laurens and Westside Macon will make up the new region 2-4A.

Coach Marquis Westbrook and the athletic department at Warner Robins High School will become new members of region 2 within GHSA’s class 5A. The Demons won region titles in several sports in 2021. Dutchtown, Eagles Landing, Jones County, Locust Groves, OLA, Union Groves and Warner Robins will make up region 2-5A beginning this fall.

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