VHSL proposes lower classifications for 10 area schools

The Virginia High School League gave a first look Monday at how it would double the number of classifications for high-school sports teams - a change that means local schools would play in different levels of competition for the first time in years.

The state now has three classifications - A, AA and AAA - which are based on enrollment. Every public high school in South Hampton Roads plays in Group AAA. Essentially, the new proposal attempts to ensure that schools would compete with those with more similar enrollments at the state-tournament level.

Thus, 10 South Hampton Roads high schools - Churchland, Lake Taylor, Norcom, Norview, Booker T. Washington, Wilson, Deep Creek, King's Fork, Lakeland and Nansemond River - are listed in what the proposal calls classification 4. That is roughly equivalent to the current Group AA.

Norcom has won consecutive Group AAA state championships in boys basketball, and Booker T. Washington and King's Fork also have won basketball state titles in the past six years.

"I like the fact that you really have to compete against everyone to win a title," Booker T. Washington boys basketball coach Darren Sanderlin said.

Phoebus, which has three straight Group AAA Division 5 state football championships, also would be in classification 4.

Most athletic directors and coaches reached Monday were hesitant to discuss specifics about the proposal because the process is at such an early stage.

Schools have until Feb. 16 to request changes. The VHSL's Redistricting and Reclassification Committee will meet Feb. 27 to consider such requests.

The VHSL has said a six-classification plan will be implemented with the 2013-14 school year.

Area districts - Beach, Eastern and Southeatern - remain intact in the proposal released Monday.

"I don't think it would diminish what the kids would be able to achieve because the level of competition we would be facing is still the same we've always faced," Norcom athletic director Oronde Andrews said. "A lot of those teams are good, very good."

Currently, the state has 300-plus high schools divided into three classifications: Group AAA, Group AA and Group A. Only in football are schools divided into six classes for state-tournament competition. A six-classification system opens the possibility that all sports would feature six state tournaments.

Bobby Pannenbacker, Lake Taylor's athletic director and the region's football director, said area schools "are happy with where we are now."

"I don't know if anybody's going to jump on the bandwagon and say this (new proposal) is great," Pannenbacker added. "But I don't have any of the details."

Staff writer Larry Rubama contributed to this story.

Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com