Earlier this week, the IHSAA released new Sectional alignments following reclassifications that took place recently. These new Sectional alignments adjust based on teams changing classes, be it for actual student count or for success factor.
So lets look at each class on the boys and girls side, point out changes and point out things that we want to watch for. If you want to see the IHSAA’s full list of new Sectional classifications, CLICK HERE FOR GIRLS -or- CLICK HERE FOR BOYS
GIRLS CLASS 4A
No changes made
BOYS CLASS 4A
No changes made
GIRLS CLASS 3A
The only local change comes in Sectional 22 which will go from 5 teams to 6 with some changes. Mississinewa and Marion are out and will head south for the Sectional while Bluffton, Bishop Luers and Woodlan move in to Class 3A and this Sectional.
This is good news actually for all three of these programs. None of them have to look at Whitko again in the postseason, which is a major bonus for Bluffton, who has lost to them to end each of the past two successful seasons. Bishop Luers has a really good and exciting young core so the change benefits them as well.
What isn’t good news for them? Now they get the defending state champion Bellmont in the Sectional round, but it also does give Bellmont a bit more of a challenge overall.
New Sectional: Bellmont, Bluffton, Bishop Luers, Heritage, New Haven, Woodlan
BOYS CLASS 3A
Things change in 3A but most important may be in Sectional 21 that goes from 8 teams to 7. This Sectional was hosted by DeKalb this season and is important because Sectional champion Blackhawk Christian leaves.
Despite winning back-to-back Sectional crowns in Class 3A, their bump up due to success factor is over and they will now head back down to Class 2A, where they could stay or eventually find themselves back in Class 1A.
That is a massive help for the teams in the Sectional, because the Braves have taken the last two years even if they had some tough battles to win it this year. So now the remaining teams of Angola, DeKalb, East Noble, Bishop Dwenger, Concordia, Garrett and Leo will make due again without the yearly favorites.
Things also change in Sectional 22 because of teams moving up. Bluffton, Bishop Luers and Woodlan all move in to this Sectional as it moves from 6 teams to 7. Headed out are Mississinewa and Marion, headed a bit more south just like on the girls side.
This is a move that New Haven has to like in ways as it eliminates that battle with Marion that for two seasons in a row was a really fun and feisty one. For Luers it gives a fun test to a team who flirted with state in Class 2A as now they become a top target in the postseason with New Haven looking right at them. Bluffton will graduate its best player so this bump in opposing talent may be rough at first, but they have a good enough younger team that year two in 3A may go better depending on New Haven’s ability to reload.
Overall, it does add some intrigue for fun matchups like a Bluffton/Norwell rematch from the regular season, as well as getting Luers invovled against the likes of Bellmont and Heritage.
New Sectional: Bellmont, Bluffton, Bishop Luers, Heritage, New Haven, Norwell, Woodlan
GIRLS CLASS 2A
Sectional 36 will go from 6 teams down to 5 as the three teams mentioned in the Class 3A move up are all leaving Sectional 36. Adams Central, South Adams and Whitko will all stay put, while the Sectional adds in Manchester and Wabash.
This is great news for Whitko above all else. It does eliminate a significant amount of competition with no Fort Wayne schools and the exit of a highly successful Bluffton program.
New Sectional: Adams Central, Manchester, South Adams, Wabash, Whitko
BOYS CLASS 2A
While any shake up would have been good to see Sectional 35 get some movement, it is only 36 that will change as three teams moved up to 3A. Yet, one can wish that eventually Sectional 35 gets an overhaul in both the boys and girls since it is a 6 team Sectional with only NECC teams involved.
In Sectional 36 this year, it pretty much mimics the girls move with Manchester and Wabash moving in, but it also sees Blackhawk Christian take up a spot as they go back down to 2A.
Good news for who? Well Blackhawk Christian in the immediate. They will return a stellar class of 2028 off back-to-back Sectional titles in a class higher. Meanwhile, Adams Central and South Adams will have both graduated their top players. Manchester, Wabash and and Whitko have some good youth to play around with in coming years.
In the immediate, this move isn’t one they probably like in Sectional 36, but depending on it goes, Blackhawk may not last long and the other five programs will have to find ways to rise up.
New Sectional: Adams Central, Blackhawk Christian, Manchester, South Adams, Wabash, Whitko
GIRLS CLASS 1A
No changes made
BOYS CLASS 1A
No changes made
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