The high school athletics landscape in Stanly County will have some differences next year from the recently finalized plan.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association recently released the final draft of the realignment of high school athletics for the academic year 2021-22.
In the final draft, Albemarle, Gray Stone Day, North Stanly and South Stanly will be part of a split 1A-2A conference, with the Comets returning to 2A.
Two Cabarrus County schools, Jay M. Robinson and Mount Pleasant, will play at the conference as 2A schools.
Union Academy, a former member of the Yadkin Valley Conference, will join the new conference with the Stanly and Cabarrus schools.
Uwharrie Charter moves to a new conference with Eastern Randolph, dropping to 1A, along with five 2A schools: Providence Grove, Southwestern Randolph, Randleman, Trinity and Wheatmore.
Chatham Central and North Moore move from the west to the east and will play in a split 1A / 2A conference with Bartlett Yancey, Cummings, Graham, Jordan-Matthews and Seaforth 2A schools.
South Davidson and North Rowan will be in 1A and will join Thomasville in a split conference with 2A East Davidson, Lexington, Salisbury and West Davidson schools.
For West Stanly, the Colts remain at the same conference with Anson County, Forest Hills and Central Academy. The conference will become a 2A / 3A division with the Cougars moving up to 3A and Parkwood, a former Rocky River Conference team, joining the new conference as a 3A school. Monroe also returns to a conference with former RRC members, playing in the 2A standings.
Montgomery Central leaves RRC and joins a new 3A-only conference with Asheboro, Central Davidson, Ledford, North Davidson and Oak Grove.
The NCHSAA Board of Directors will hear final appeals this month and vote on the completed realignment plan.
About Charles Curcio
Charles Curcio was the sports editor for Stanly News & Press from 1999 to 2001 and currently holds the same role since 2008. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He was also honored twice by the North Carolina Press Association.
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