Today's RH paper....will create some interesting issues for soccer as well.
High school league's plan would divide Rock Hill, Northwestern
By Barry Byers � The Herald;
[email protected]Published 07/30/07 - 12:00 AM
The South Carolina High School League's has announced its realignment plan for 2008-2010 seasons, and it has huge implications on Herald-area teams.
The plan places Northwestern and Rock Hill in different regions and, for the first time since 1972, the Trojans and Bearcats will not end the regular football season against each other.
The proposal moved Rock Hill, South Pointe and Lancaster into Region 4-AAAA with Blythewood, Ridge View and Spring Valley.
Northwestern would remain in Region 3-AAAA with Clover, Fort Mill, Gaffney, Nation Ford and York.
Gaffney played in Region 3-AAAA from 2004-2006. Nation Ford is Fort Mill's new high school and opens this year with an independent football schedule.
"I can't imagine being in a region without Rock Hill,'' Northwestern coach Jimmy Wallace said. "That thought never crossed anybody's mind. If this holds up, we will definitely schedule Rock Hill and South Pointe.
"This all comes as a total surprise. It's (realignment) not an easy thing to do. It's an extremely difficult job for the High School League. I'm sure there will be some appeals. Nobody is going to be in favor of splitting up the three Rock Hill teams.''
Northwestern opened in 1971, but played an independent schedule its first season. They began playing in 1972, when both were in Region 2-AAAA, and have met 42 times. Rock Hill holds a slim 22-20 lead in the series.
The proposal is the first draft for realignment. Appeals are due by Aug. 17 and will be heard on Aug. 30 with the SCHSL's executive committee. The realignment is for all sports.
Rock Hill coach Joe Montgomery was head coach at Gaffney from 1991 until coming to Rock Hill as an assistant coach in 2003. Montgomery is in his second season as head coach of the Bearcats.
"To split the three Rock Hill schools, to me, is absolute ridiculous,'' Montgomery said. "I don't see how you can take two teams that are five miles apart. Everybody wanted eight teams in a region, so this is a shock.
"Rock Hill and Northwestern is one of the biggest rivalries in the state. Where does that go? ... Open up with (Northwestern), fifth playing date? It was a game everybody looked forward to on the first Friday in November. Most times, it determined who won the region.''
Chester moves into Class AAA's Region 4-AAA along with Fairfield Central, A.C. Flora, Lugoff-Elgin and holdover Chapin. The sixth member is Lower Richland, which moved down from Class AAAA.
Region 3-A in Class A retained its six teams, but added Buford. The holdovers are Indian Land, Great Falls, Lewisville, Chesterfield, McBee and North Central.
I miss the Kool-Aid...