AHSAA releases new classifications for winter sports in '24-25 and '25-26

By TIM GAYLE

The Alabama High School Athletic Association released its 2024-25 and 2025-26 classification figures for basketball and other winter sports on Thursday, putting the area’s high schools in 12 different areas over seven divisions for basketball.

The biggest change, of course, involves two-time girls’ basketball state champion Trinity, which had both basketball programs elevated to Class 4A by Competitive Balance Factor. The Wildcats will be in 4A Area 5 for the next two years with Booker T. Washington, LAMP, Catholic and Tallassee.

Prattville Christian, which remained in 4A after losing in the state semifinals two weeks ago, will be in Area 6 with American Christian Academy, Bibb County, Holt and West Blocton.

The remaining Capital City Conference schools will be in 3A Area 5 -- Alabama Christian Academy, St. James and Montgomery Academy will be joined by Dallas County and Thorsby in a five -team area.

The area’s 5A teams were spread out over three areas. In Area 3, Brewbaker Tech will be joined by Andalusia, Charles Henderson and Greenville. In Area 6, BTW Magnet will move to 5A for the first time and will be in an area with Holtville and Marbury. In Area 7, Elmore County will be paired with Beauregard and Valley.

In 7A, Prattville will move to Area 5 in the Tuscaloosa area and will have Hillcrest, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County as area rivals. JAG will remain in Area 3 and be joined by Dothan, Enterprise and G.W. Carver, which is moving to 7A for the first time.

In 6A, Park Crossing, Pike Road and Russell County will remain as area rivals in Area 3 and will be joined by Rehobeth. Area 4 will include Stanhope Elmore, Wetumpka and Julian.

In 1A, Area 6 will include Autauga Academy, Autaugaville, Fayetteville, Notasulga and Verbena, while Area 7 will include Billingsley, Breakthrough Charter, Ellwood Christian, Francis Marion and Maplesville.

Trinity is one of three schools moving up through Competitive Balance Factor. Mars Hill Bible will move from 2A to 3A and Covenant Christian will move from 1A to 2A. Decatur Heritage and Prattville Christian will remain in their respective classifications, while two private schools (Briarwood Christian and Bayside Academy) will move down based on enrollment and two (Whitesburg Christian and UMS-Wright) will move up based on enrollment.

Madison Academy will drop from 5A to 4A based on its failure to meet the minimum threshold in Competitive Balance the last two years.

In bowling, BTW Magnet, JAG, Park Crossing and Prattville will be fielding teams next year, with BTW Magnet joining Marbury in 1A-5A Region 3 and JAG, Park Crossing and Prattville joining Stanhope Elmore in 6A-7A Region 3.

In indoor track, Montgomery Academy moves from 1A-3A to 4A-5A based on Competitive Balance Factor and will compete with Catholic.

In wrestling, St. James, Catholic and Prattville Christian will be joined by Tallassee in 1A-4A Section 1.