Realignment brings unpleasant changes for local schools

ROBBIE BLANTON It's back to the future for Gaffney High School athletics.

Gaffney will leave Region II-4A and join Region III-4A under the South Carolina High School League's realignment plan for 2008-2010.

The Indians were a member of Region III-4A from 2004-'06.

Gaffney head football coach and athletic director Phil Strickland was caught off guard by the move.

"I'm surprised," he said. "To tell you the truth, I haven't seen anything yet."

Schools have until Aug. 17 to appeal the realignment plan. Gaffney filed an appeal the last time it was moved to Region III- 4A. At that time, Gaffney argued that moving to Region III- 4A would result in more lengthy road trips.

Strickland said he will huddle with Gaffney High school officials first before deciding whether to appeal.

Gaffney would join Clover, Fort Mill, Northwestern, York and the new Nations Ford High School as members of Region III-4A.

Gaffney isn't the only local school affected by the realignment.

Based on enrollment figures, Blacksburg will return to Class 1A after two years in Class 2A. Blacksburg will be joined in Region II-A by Christ Church, Governor School of Arts, Greenville Charter, Landrum, Southside Christian, SCSDB and Tamassee-Salem.

Blacksburg athletic director Robbie Blanton said the proposed realignment would cause the school's teams to travel longer distances to away games.

"One of my main concerns is travel," Blanton said. "Our baseball, basketball and softball teams would have to travel a long distance to play Tamassee-Salem. I don't really want our students to have to travel so far on a school night."

Blanton is undecided on what action Blacksburg will take about the proposed realignment. He plans to consult with coaches and school administrators before a decision is made.

It would also make it more difficult for Blacksburg to make up its football schedule.

"A lot of the schools in our region do not have football programs," he said. "This would leave us with only three region games and seven nonregion games. We would like to have at least four region opponents in football."

Governor School of Arts, Greenville Charter, SCSDB and Tamassee-Salem are schools which don't field football teams.