SCHSL announces class realignment

The South Carolina High School League announced its bi-annual realignment plans Wednesday, which includes a shift for Laurens and a slight change for Clinton.

Laurnes will move from Region 2-5A this year to Region 1-5A in 2018, and stay there through the 2019-20 academic year. In making the move, Laurens will shift into an eight-team region – up from the current six-team Region 2-5A setup. Laurens will be joined by Greenwood, Wade Hampton, Easley, Hanna, Mann, Westside and Woodmont. All seven of the schools were, or are currently, region foes of Laurens this decade.

Clinton will remain in Region 3-3A, and keep region partners Mid-Carolina, Newberry and Woodruff. Broome and Chapman, which are currently in Region 3-3A, will shift to Region 2, while Emerald goes from Region 2 to Region 3 to form a five-team region.

As far as class size goes, Clinton will be in the top third of Class 3A, while Laurens will be the third-smallest school in Class 5A – only bigger than Greenwood and York Composite.

Any appeals will be heard later this month.