AISA releases remaining classifications for 2020-21
Eastwood Christian celebrating A championship in 2018, now one of 40 schools competing in AISA volleyball. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
The Alabama Independent School Association released its classifications for all sports other than football on Monday, expanding their volleyball from two to three classifications and utilizing the same classification for basketball, baseball and softball.
AISA officials released in early March the football classification, which is based on the number of male students enrolled in grades eight through 11. The volleyball classification took a little longer because of the change in classification from A-AA to A-AA-AAA based on female enrollment in grades eight through 11.
The basketball, baseball and softball classifications are based on total enrollment in grades eight through 11.
The volleyball figures classified 40 programs, up from 38 two years ago. Northside Methodist Academy left the organization but three schools came on board. Springwood School added volleyball and will be an AAA member in 2020-22 in Region 1 Area 1 with Glenwood and Lee-Scott. Two new programs are in Class A Region 2 Area 1, with Banks Academy and Central Park Christian joining second-year member Heritage Christian Academy.
Two of the biggest changes in volleyball occurred for Southern Academy and Macon East Academy. Southern went from Class A to Class AAA in volleyball, but from A to AA in all other sports. Macon East went from AA (because there were only two classifications) to AAA in volleyball, but dropped from AAA to AA in all other sports.
In basketball, baseball and softball, seven schools moved up and three dropped from the last classification, including Macon East’s drop from AAA to AA. The Knights were part of a three-team area that included Northside Methodist and Pike Liberal Arts in 2018-20. With Northside leaving and Macon East dropping in classification, Pike Liberal is now paired with Success Unlimited and Valiant Cross, a Montgomery school playing its first season at the varsity level.
Neither Success nor Valiant Cross – which only has male students – has a softball team, leaving Pike Liberal as the only team in that sport in AAA Region 1 Area 2.
In addition to Macon East, Coosa Valley and Pickens also dropped in classification, falling from AA to A. Coosa Valley is now part of an area that includes Restoration Academy, Central Park Christian and Banks Academy – all Birmingham-area schools – while Pickens will compete in area play with North River and Heritage Christian.
Forty schools made up the 2018-20 classification for basketball, baseball and softball, while 42 schools are classified for 2020-22. In addition to Central Park, Banks and Valiant Cross, Southern Prep Academy (formerly Lyman Ward) will be competing next year at the varsity level for the first time, joining Glenwood, Lee-Scott and Springwood in AAA Region 1 Area 1.
The addition of those four schools helped make up for the loss of Northside Methodist, which joined the Alabama High School Athletic Association, and East Memorial Christian Academy, which closed.
Seven schools will jump in classification, including AAA schools Clarke Prep and Monroe, up from AA, and AA programs Chambers, Cornerstone Christian, Southern, Wilcox and Sparta, all former A schools.
Chambers will join AA Region 1 Area 1 rivals Macon East and Lakeside, while Sparta and Wilcox will join AA Region 2 Area 1 with Escambia and Lowndes.
VOLLEYBALL
CLASS A
Region 1 Area 1 – Abbeville Christian, Crenshaw Christian, Evangel Christian
Region 1 Area 2 – Escambia, Jackson, Snook Christian, Wilcox
Region 2 Area 1 – Banks, Central Park Christian, Heritage Christian
Region 2 Area 2 – Capitol School, Meadowview Christian, North River Christian, Pickens
CLASS AA
Region 1 Area 1 – Chambers, Eastwood Christian, Lakeside
Region 1 Area 2 – Coosa Valley, Cornerstone Christian, Restoration
Region 2 Area 1 – Autauga, Edgewood, Hooper, Lowndes
Region 2 Area 2 – Monroe, Patrician, South Choctaw
CLASS AAA
Region 1 Area 1 -- Glenwood, Lee-Scott, Springwood
Region 1 Area 2 – Macon East, Pike Liberal, Success Unlimited
Region 2 Area 1 – Clarke Prep, Fort Dale, Morgan
Region 2 Area 2 – Bessemer, Russell Christian, Southern, Tuscaloosa
BASKETBALL/BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
CLASS A
Region 1 Area 1 – Abbeville Christian, Crenshaw Christian, Eastwood Christian, Evangel Christian
Region 1 Area 2 – Jackson, Meadowview Christian, Snook Christian
Region 2 Area 1 – Banks, Central Park Christian, Coosa Valley, Restoration
Region 2 Area 2 – Heritage Christian, North River Christian, Pickens
CLASS AA
Region 1 Area 1 – Chambers, Macon East, Lakeside
Region 1 Area 2 – Autauga, Cornerstone Christian, Edgewood, Hooper
Region 2 Area 1 – Escambia, Lowndes, Sparta, Wilcox
Region 2 Area 2 – Patrician, South Choctaw, Southern
CLASS AAA
Region 1 Area 1 -- Glenwood, Lee-Scott, Southern Prep, Springwood
Region 1 Area 2 – Pike Liberal, Success Unlimited, Valiant Cross
Region 2 Area 1 – Clarke Prep, Fort Dale, Monroe, Morgan
Region 2 Area 2 – Bessemer, Russell Christian, Tuscaloosa