Dresden set to become Class 1A in football

By KEVIN WEAKS
Press Sports
Dresden is on the move.
The rest of Weakley County is standing pat.
Dresden’s football program is now classified in 1A under the new enrollment numbers and division separations, released Wednesday by the TSSAA.
The enrollment numbers to be used for classification in all sanctioned sports for 2013-2017 were published by the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association on Oct. 3, and member schools were then given two weeks to declare their intentions to participate in Division II, the private school division.
That deadline passed at noon on Tuesday.
The TSSAA then divided schools into Divisions I and II, applied the multiplier for private schools declaring D-I (public school) status and then set classes and enrollment breakpoints.
As a result of the TSSAA’s latest actions, Dresden is now a 1A football school, moving down from 2A, and remains in Class A in all other sports.
The listed enrollment at Dresden High School is 349, tying it with Jo Byrns as the second-largest 1A football school in the state. Union City is now the largest 1A football school with an enrollment of 361.
While there are a few more steps to be taken by the TSSAA and its members, the classification of Dresden — along with Gleason, Greenfield and Westview — seems to be set.
Schools now have until Oct. 24 to declare a move up in classification.
The following day, the TSSAA staff will then prepare districts and regions in all sports, which will be sent to the TSSAA Board of Control members and all member schools while also posting on the organization’s website.
At the Board of Control meeting on Nov. 15 at the DoubleTree Motel in Murfreesboro, district and regions will be set for the next four athletic years. Member schools will then begin the process of finalizing their football schedules for the 2013 season. Most, if not all, TSSAA schools are already engaged in preliminary talks with other programs.
Gleason and Greenfield remain set in Class 1A for football and A for all other sports, while Westview is still a 3A football program and classified in AA for all other sports.
Across the area, Humboldt will drop to 1A in football, while Halls will play 2A in football. Gibson County will be 2A and A.
Jackson Christian is dropping out of Division II and returning to D-I. Meanwhile, defending Division I-Class 2A football state champion Friendship Christian is moving to Division II. Published in The WCP 10.18.12

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