This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Midvale • Realigning high schools into athletic classifications differs little from actual competition.
There are winners and losers.
That was the case Thursday as the Utah High School Activities Association's board of trustees finalized schools' league assignments for the 2015-2017 season.
Roy left unhappy about being moved from 4A to 5A. And Salt Lake City schools East and Highland were upset about being placed in a northern Class 4A region. Payson was moved up to 4A after asking to be in 3A. Ogden had requested to be dropped to 3A for competitive reasons.
Others left the meeting feeling like winners.
Cyprus dropped from 5A to 4A. Juab was placed in a 3A football region with traditional rivals. Judge was moved up to 3AA in football, as it requested. Ben Lomond and Logan became 3A schools. Jordan was allowed to stay in 5A. Alta, a traditional 5A power that has lost students since Corner Canyon opened last year, was moved to 4A. And charter schools Summit Academy and American Leadership Academy were allowed to stay in 2A.
Board chairman Bill Boyle, a school board member from San Juan County, said there are always winners and losers in this process, which makes it intense.
"We were able to accommodate 80 or 90 percent of the requests," he said. "And I feel really good about the 3A football issue."
But not everyone was happy.
Schools have 10 days to present new information and file a formal appeal, which would then be considered at the board's January meeting.
Dean Oborn, who represents the Weber School District on the board, said Roy was unhappy about being placed in 5A. The Royals wanted to stay in 4A.
Salt Lake City school board member Heather Bennett fought hard to keep East and Highland in a region with such schools as Olympus and Skyline, but the Leopards and Rams were put in a league with Bountiful, Woods Cross, Box Elder, Ogden and Bonneville.
"I'm upset by the way this happened," Bennett said. "You need to open the discussion to the schools that are affected. You penalized schools that didn't think they had anything to worry about. You will see an appeal by East and Highland."
Setting up the new regions and moving schools into bigger or smaller classifications is always a juggling act. Board members consider travel costs, preserving rivalries, gate receipts and, most important, school numbers.
What complicated this process further will be the opening of new high schools in Cache and Utah counties in the next year, as well as the additions of more charter and private schools.
Twitter: @Tribtomwharton —
Non-football 2015-17 alignment
Class 5A
Region 1 • Clearfield, Fremont, Mountain Crest, Northridge, Roy, Sky View, Weber
Region 2 • Davis, Granger, Hunter, Layton, Syracuse, Viewmont, West
Region 3 • Bingham, Brighton, Copper Hills, Cottonwood, Jordan, Taylorsville, West Jordan
Region 4 • American Fork, Herriman, Lehi, Lone Peak, Pleasant Grove, Riverton, Westlake
Class 4A
Region 5 • Bonneville, Bountiful, Box Elder, East, Highland, Ogden, Woods Cross
Region 6 • Cyprus, Hillcrest, Judge Memorial, Kearns, Murray, Olympus, Skyline, SPA*
Region 7 • Alta, American Heritage*, Corner Canyon, Mountain View, Orem, Pioneer*, Provo, Timpanogos, Timpview
Region 8 • Maple Mountain, Payson, Salem Hills, Spanish Fork, Springville, Uintah, Wasatch
Class 3A
Region 9 • Cedar City, Desert Hills, Dixie, Hurricane, Pine View, Snow Canyon, Tuacahn
Region 10 • Grantsville, Park City, Stansbury, Tooele, Union
Region 11 • Bear River, Juan Diego, Logan, Morgan, Venture
Region 12 • Canyon View, Carbon, Juab, North Sanpete, Richfield
Class 2A
Region 13 • Beaver, Delta, Enterprise, Kanab, Millard, South Sevier
Region 14 • American Prep, Layton Christian, Rockwell, Rowland Hall, Wasatch Academy, Waterford
Region 15 • Emery, Grand County, Gunnison Valley, Manti, North Sevier, San Juan
Region 16 • American Leadership, Maeser Prep, North Summit, Providence Hall, South Summit, Summit Academy
Class 1A
Region 17 • Altamont, Duchesne, Manila, Rich, Tabiona, Uintah River
Region 18 • Dugway, Intermountain Christian, Merit, Mt. Vernon, Oakley, St. Joseph, Telos, Tintic, Wendover, Westridge, Eskdale, USDB, West Desert
Region 19 • Green River, Monticello, Monument Valley, Pinnacle, Whitehorse, Lake Powell, Navajo Mountain
Region 20 • Bryce Valley, Diamond Ranch, Escalante, Milford, Panguitch, Parowan, Piute, Valley, Wayne, Ash Creek Ranch
* — Non-sports schools competing in arts competitions —
Prep football 2015-17 alignment
Class 5A
Region 1 • Clearfield, Fremont, Mountain Crest, Northridge, Roy, Sky View, Weber.
Region 2 • Davis, Granger, Hunter, Layton, Syracuse, Viewmont, West.
Region 3 • Bingham, Brighton, Copper Hills, Cottonwood, Jordan, Taylorsville, West Jordan.
Region 4 • American Fork, Herriman, Lehi, Lone Peak, Pleasant Grove, Riverton, Westlake.
Class 4A
Region 5 • Bonneville, Bountiful, Box Elder, East, Highland, Ogden, Woods Cross.
Region 6 • Cyprus, Hillcrest, Kearns, Murray, Olympus, Skyline.
Region 7 • Alta, Corner Canyon, Mountain View, Orem, Provo, Timpanogos, Timpview.
Region 8 • Maple Mountain, Payson, Salem Hills, Spanish Fork, Springville, Uintah, Wasatch.
Class 3AA
North • Bear River, Ben Lomond, Judge Memorial, Logan, Park City, Stansbury, Tooele.
South • Cedar City, Desert Hills, Dixie, Hurricane, Pine View, Snow Canyon.
Class 3A
North • Carbon, Emery, Grantsville, Juan Diego, Morgan, Union.
South • Canyon View, Delta, Juab, Manti, North Sanpete, Richfield.
Class 2A
North • American Leadership, Gunnison Valley, Millard, North Summit, South Summit, Summit Academy.
South • Beaver, Enterprise, Grand County, North Sevier, San Juan, South Seiver.
Class 1A
North • Altamont, Duchesne, Layton Christian, Rich, Wayne.
South • Diamond Ranch, Kanab, Milford, Monticello, Parowan.