-
The GHSA announced the classification placements of all teams for 2024 through 2026.
The Georgia High School Association [GHSA] announced on Nov. 2 the classification placement of all teams for 2024-2026.
During the announcement, Hart County, Stephens County, Franklin County, and Hebron Christian will move down to AA from AAA. While Elbert County was moved up from Class A - Division I to AA.
The Hartwell Sun caught up with Hart County High School athletic director and head football coach Cory Dickerson to get his initial reaction to the move down to AA.
“We knew that there was a chance that we would be in AA,” Dickerson said. “We thought we would be in either AA or AAA, but felt confident that we would be with Stephens and Franklin. Elbert was definitely a surprise to seem them join AA, but I felt strongly that we would be AA or AAA.”
Dickerson stated that everything is an assumption as of right now as teams had the choice to appeal by Nov. 8. He speaks about what he thinks a region will look like as things currently stand.
“Everything is an assumption at this point,” Dickerson said. “You assume that us, Stephens, Franklin, and Elbert would stay together. With us staying together, the outliers are Union County because they are there by themselves up in the far north, and then Morgan County. The question will be, will they keep Morgan a part of the Augusta region, or move them back in with us? Then you also have East Jackson and Hebron Christian that have been in our region before. A lot is up in the air now, but I feel like they will try to keep us, Franklin, Elbert, and Stephens together. But who knows.”
Dickerson has confirmed that they will not appeal and will compete in AA beginning in the fall of 2024. He speaks about Hart County competing in AA for the first time since 2011.
“I think we will be excited about the opportunity and it is a really good classification,” Dickerson said. “When you look at all of the schools from top to bottom, it is really strong. I think our region will be something that we are used to and teams that we have played before. It will be different if Elbert is in our region, that will be something that hasn’t been the case in awhile. But it will be the old 8-AAA fromback in the day.”
With Hart, Franklin, Stephens, and Hebron all moving down, Oconee County and Monroe Area will remain in AAA. Dickerson talks about the loss of those two teams.
“I think the competition has been pretty good [between Oconee County and Monroe Area],” Dickerson said. “Not only from a football point of view, but from an athletic standpoint. We have competed well with those schools, and they are good in a lot of things, but we are too. Saying that, I believe that there will be plenty of people in our new region that will provide very good competition as well.”
Elbert County appealed to move down back down to Division I - A, and was successful. That means they will not be considered in the region when it comes time to align the regions.
The GHSA will hold another meeting on Nov. 9 to go through the appeals and begin the region alignment process.