Changes of Classification Will Have Ripple Effects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Changing classes isn't the kiss of death. Just ask Hugoton!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enrollment counts taken in September cause a little reshuffling in the classification system each year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These changes may not seem impactful to a lot of schools, but to a few, it can have a big impact on their ranking throughout the season and, obviously, where they will compete come the postseason. A change in classification might make a path to state a whole lot tougher, or easier, depending on which way you move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But as Hugoton proved last season, a talented team can make a move in class and still succeed. It an even win a state title, as the Eagles did after moving from 3A to 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who will a change in class in 2023-2024 effect the most?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maize up to 6A from 5A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the top of the classes, Maize moves up. Two years ago, the Eagles just missed winning a 5A title. They had a bit of a rebuilding job to do last year. Will the jump in class affect the school's post-season aspirations? The team has a lot of young talent in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1588380' first='Alan' last='Hanna'] and <strong>Alec Grill </strong>and one of the state's top sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='2208970' first='Brayden' last='Myovela']. That group may need a little more seasoning before it thinks about a tournament run, but the school expects to compete at the highest level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Concordia up to 4A from 3A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concordia loses its best player, <strong>Aceyn Cash</strong>, from a .500 team, but has good players back. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2147820' first='Joey' last='Henderson'] will be one of the best guards in the North Central Kansas League as a senior, and <strong>Peyton Breese </strong>and <strong>Peyton Retter</strong> are high quality returners. A shot at the state tournament isn't out of their reach, but it will have to be in 4A this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scott Community up to 4A from 3A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team that hovered around .500 last year, the Beavers lose a couple of high-quality seniors and may have a tough task to get to the 4A tournament. But they do have one of the best big men around in [player_tooltip player_id='1772984' first='Jackson' last='Rumford'] and a lot of returning role players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayden down to 3A from 4A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's most proud and successful programs has hovered right on the line the last few years, and lost just enough enrollment to slide to 3A for the next cycle. This school expects to play for championships, and a drop may help soften the loss of several team leaders from a year ago. The Wildcats return gritty point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300863' first='Jacob' last='Padilla'] </strong>plus <strong>Dominick Ridley</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630972' first='Jacob' last='Deister']</strong>. Some new talent will need to step up if the team is to challenge for a state berth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iola down to 3A from 4A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iola may catch a break and improve on its record by dropping to 3A. The Mustangs will rely heavily on senior <strong>Landon Weide</strong>, a slick distributor who averaged 6 assists to go with 10 points per game. He is a name to know for next year, and there's some returning experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Marys up to 3A from 2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is tough timing for St. Marys to move up a class. One of the best 2A teams in the state the past few years, the Bears graduated a lot of talent the past two years. They don't have a lot of height, nor do they have a lot of experience returning. But they do have a good coach and one of the state's best guards in [player_tooltip player_id='1962890' first='Brady' last='Hurla']. Things will be a little tougher as they are now one of the smallest schools in their class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wichita Classical up to 2A from 1A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints timed last year's run to state perfectly. With a trio of fantastic seniors, they rolled to the 1A Div. I state championship game and came up just short of taking the title. Now they must face the reality of moving up a class without the type of talent they so recently had. Senior <strong>Daniel Young</strong> will have to lead a young group in the new era as a 2A school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->