Realignment: A Geographical Perspective

Much talk this offseason has been centered on the proposed six-class realignment for Kentucky high school football, which would take effect in 2007 and last until 2010. To review, here is the proposed alignment in all six classes:

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Class A

D1: Ballard Memorial, Crittenden County, Fulton City, Fulton County, Mayfield, Russellville
D2: Beth Haven, Bethlehem, Caverna, Evangel, Louisville Holy Cross, Kentucky Country Day
D3: Beechwood, Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow
D4: Bracken County, Eminence, Frankfort, Gallatin County, Trimble County
D5: Fairview, Lexington Christian, Nicholas County, Paris, Raceland
D6: Berea, Campbellsville, Lynn Camp, Williamsburg
D7: Cumberland, Evarts, Harlan, Hazard, Jenkins, Pineville
D8: Allen Central, Betsy Layne, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville, South Floyd

Class 2A

D1: Caldwell County, Heath, Murray, Reidland, Trigg County
D2: Fort Campbell, Hancock County, McLean County, Owensboro Catholic, Todd County Central
D3: Clinton County, Glasgow, Green County, Metcalfe County, Monroe County
D4: Bardstown, Danville, Fort Knox, Washington County
D5: Carroll County, Christian Academy-Louisville, DeSales, Owen County
D6: Covington Holy Cross, Lloyd Memorial, Newport, Newport Central Catholic
D7: Bath County, Morgan County, Prestonsburg, Shelby Valley
D8: Corbin, Knott County Central, Leslie County, Middlesboro, Somerset

Class 3A

D1: Muhlenberg South, Paducah Tilghman, Union County, Webster County
D2: Adair County, Butler County, Edmonson County, Hart County
D3: Central, Elizabethtown, Moore, Shawnee
D4: Henry County, Highlands, North Oldham, Spencer County, Western Hills
D5: Casey County, Garrard County, Jackson County, Taylor County, Wayne County
D6: Breathitt County, Cawood, Estill County, Magoffin County, Powell County
D7: East Carter, Fleming County, Lewis County, Mason County, Russell, West Carter
D8: Belfry, East Ridge, Pike County Central, Sheldon Clark

Class 4A

D1: Calloway County, Hopkins County Central, Lone Oak, Muhlenberg North
D2: Allen County-Scottsville, Franklin-Simpson, Logan County, Russell County, Warren East
D3: Atherton, Breckinridge County, Fairdale, Valley, Western
D4: Bullitt East, Larue County, Marion County, North Bullitt
D5: Bourbon County, Covington Catholic, Harrison County, Pendleton County
D6: Boyle County, East Jessamine, Franklin County, Lexington Catholic, West Jessamine
D7: Bell County, Knox Central, Madison Southern, McCreary Central, Rockcastle County
D8: Boyd County, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Rowan County

Class 5A

D1: Christian County, Hopkinsville, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Ohio County, Owensboro
D2: Barren County, Bowling Green, Grayson County, Warren Central
D3: Doss, Iroquois, John Hardin, Waggener
D4: Anderson County, Jeffersontown, Oldham County, South Oldham
D5: Dixie Heights, Grant County, Holmes, Scott
D6: Ashland Blazer, Bryan Station, Johnson Central, Montgomery County, Woodford County
D7: Lincoln County, Mercer County, Pulaski County, South Laurel, Southwestern
D8: Clay County, Letcher County Central, North Laurel, Perry County Central, Whitley County

Class 6A

D1: Apollo, Daviess County, Graves County, Henderson County, Marshall County
D2: Central Hardin, Greenwood, Meade County, Nelson County, North Hardin
D3: Bullitt Central, Butler, DuPont Manual, Pleasure Ridge Park
D4: Fern Creek, Male, Southern, St. Xavier
D5: Ballard, Eastern, Seneca, Trinity
D6: Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Ryle, Simon Kenton
D7: Henry Clay, Lafayette, Paul Dunbar, Tates Creek
D8: George Rogers Clark, Harlan (consolidated), Madison Central, Scott County, Shelby County

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While there will be plenty of time after this season to discuss which teams benefit from this new system, and likewise which teams do not, let's look at which teams do not benefit from the new system in a geographic perspective. Many of these new districts do well in grouping similar size schools that are close together, but there are some exceptions. Let's look at six schools that got the short end of the geographic deal.

Class A: Russellville
The Panthers will travel multiple hours to the far western parts of the state to battle the Fulton schools along with Ballard Memorial.

Class 2A: Somerset
The former Class A team will, once again, have to travel east of 1-75 to play all of their district games.

Class 3A: Highlands
The Bluebirds have no local teams in their district; their closest district game will be an hour away in Henry County.

Class 4A: Russell County
The Lakers, who are on the fringes of basketball's 4th region, now face at least a 90-minute drive to take on a district football opponent on the road.

Class 5A: Ashland Blazer
Probably the biggest loser of them all, the Tomcats will face three district games in Lexington and surrounding counties.

Class 6A: Greenwood
The Gators do not keep Warren Central and Barren County in their district, but they do pick up two Elizabethtown schools, along with two other two-hour drives.

Welcome!

Last spring, I started blogging about Kentucky high school athletics with a blog that focused on KY high school softball. Due to its success, I have decided to start this blog, which will center on this year's high school gridiron. From Pikeville to Paducah, I will track all four classes of Kentucky high school football from start (August 18th) to finish (December 2nd).

Check back soon for season previews, along with a look at the new four-class alignment that will go into effect next season.