Myself, I think Johnson Central has a good chance.. 4A lacks the star power of teams that the other classes have and they seem to be a notch or 2 ahead of the pack.

 

Looking at the enrollment numbers over the last three years I think there is a very good chance Johnson Central moves to 5A. Obviously things can change and if teams request to play up others can get pushed down, but I don't think Johnson Central's 4A days will last much longer.

 

Along with that, it looks like Ashland could be dropping down to 3A based on the same numbers. If JC and Ashland both left that would leave eastern Kentucky 4A looking much different.

I’d say Beechwood if they stay in 1A. Not sure how they will stack up in 2A if they move up.

 

Beechwood is going to be right on the edge of 1A/2A but I think they'll move up. Mayfield, Danville, and LCA should all remain in 2A, although CAL and DeSales very well could be moving up and Newport Catholic may well be moving down. Beechwood can certainly compete with most anyone in that class, but it will be much tougher.

Cov Cath will be NKY's premiere team for the next several years. With the impressive underclassmen they have combined with the coaching staff, I'll predict a Highlands-like run for them over the next 5-6 years.

Cov Cath will be NKY's premiere team for the next several years. With the impressive underclassmen they have combined with the coaching staff, I'll predict a Highlands-like run for them over the next 5-6 years.

 

I really hope that your prediction is right, but depending on what happens with the realignment, I think that BG might have something to say about Cov Cath having a Highlands-like run.

What is the realignment going to entail?

What is the realignment going to entail?

 

Not sure what you're asking here, but the realignment should be announced next spring, effective fall of 2019.

I agree @gchs_uk9 when Beechwood moves up and NewCath moves down, I think both classes will be ultra competitive. There should be great parity for several years, where the classes are up for grabs every year with no real dominating program.

Thanks gchs_uk9, that's pretty much what I was looking for.

A lot of dominating runs have recently come to an end.. Here's some examples:

 

 

 

Mayfield had a stellar 7 year run from 09 to 15, which ended last year..

 

To clarify, Mayfield lost in 09 and 11 but won 10 and then 12 through 15 before losing to CAL in the playoffs last year. It didn't end. It continues and will for many years to come. Not saying the Cards are unbeatable but I've been here watching for years and the talent keeps coming. Many current players are kids to former players and the coaches seem to like it here. All but one of our classes dominated all the way back to 3rd grade this year.

2A is a challenge and will provide very spirited competition over the years.

Edited November 20, 20178 yr by sImpleplan
typo

Next season Pikeville starts a run for a while to come. This 1-A program returns every one. There are three Seniors currently on this season's roster. Two don't start. So ALL starters return except one. This is the 8th grade team from a couple yrs. ago that came so close to winning the 8th grade championship against CAL. Just one mistake cost them the game. What beat Hazard Friday evening was basically Jr's., Soph.,and Freshmen. Win or lose at Raceland, the future looks very bright for this group of young men. So, no. Don't think Beechwood's got a lock on it after this season. Pikeville will have something to say.

Next season Pikeville starts a run for a while to come. This 1-A program returns every one. There are three Seniors currently on this season's roster. Two don't start. So ALL starters return except one. This is the 8th grade team from a couple yrs. ago that came so close to winning the 8th grade championship against CAL. Just one mistake cost them the game. What beat Hazard Friday evening was basically Jr's., Soph.,and Freshmen. Win or lose at Raceland, the future looks very bright for this group of young men. So, no. Don't think Beechwood's got a lock on it after this season. Pikeville will have something to say.

 

Pikeville will definitely be back again next year. They lose 1 senior and that’s it.

 

The hazard team they beat still returns quite a bit of talent as well.

 

Region 4 in 1A from what I’ve gathered all return some good teams next year.

 

I feel confident both Hazard and Pikeville have excellent talent coming up. Pikeville played for the middle school title again but Hazard and them split games with both winning at the others Home field. They both also beat Belfry.

Like The Talking Heads said it will be ...same as it ever was

Looking at the enrollment numbers over the last three years I think there is a very good chance Johnson Central moves to 5A. Obviously things can change and if teams request to play up others can get pushed down, but I don't think Johnson Central's 4A days will last much longer.

 

Along with that, it looks like Ashland could be dropping down to 3A based on the same numbers. If JC and Ashland both left that would leave eastern Kentucky 4A looking much different.

 

With the ideal that JC reaches 5A enrollment and Ashland drops to 3A enrollment, I don't see a scenario where Ashland wouldn't petition to play up and stay in 4A. Not only does it make sense to do so geographically, but also in the sense that it would be more feasible to win district, region and state championships with JC out of the mix.

 

If Ashland was still forced to drop down to 3A I imagine that the next alignment would force them to move back up to 4A in the following alignment though, so in my mind it would make sense to allow them to play up if they asked to do so. The Ashland Independent School District spent $30 million on a renovation to the middle school not long ago to move 6th graders out of the elementary schools and to the middle school due to overcrowding in the elementary schools so I'm not sure the downward trend in enrollment will continue going forward.

Pikeville will definitely be back again next year. They lose 1 senior and that’s it.

 

The hazard team they beat still returns quite a bit of talent as well.

 

Region 4 in 1A from what I’ve gathered all return some good teams next year.

 

I feel confident both Hazard and Pikeville have excellent talent coming up. Pikeville played for the middle school title again but Hazard and them split games with both winning at the others Home field. They both also beat Belfry.

 

That's true Bac. A lot of good talent returns for both teams. A lot of talent coming up from the 7th and 8th grade level. 1-A east is gonna be even more interesting next season.

If Boyle County pulls it off this year it would be hard to NOT consider them the favorite for the next two years. That sophomore class is loaded!