By Joshua Huff, sports editor
Both Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley will remain in Class 6A, Region 6, following the bi-annual AHSAA reclassification on Tuesday.
Remaining with the two in the region will be a Gardendale team that finished the 2019 season 8-4. Region 6 will lose 2019 Class 5A state champion Oxford, Shades Valley, Huffman and Pell City. In their stead, the region will welcome former Class 5A Mortimer Jordan, Jasper, Class 5A Minor and Jackson-Olin.
Pinson Valley, which has won two out of the past three Class 6A state championships, concluded this past season with a 10-3 record and fell just short of its third consecutive championship berth following a 28-31 loss to Oxford in the semifinals. Clay-Chalkville wrapped the 2019 season with a 10-3 record, as well, and too lost to Oxford in the quarterfinals. The Cougars have stayed in Class 6A, Region 6, throughout the past six seasons. This follows them being bumped down from Class 7A in 2013.
“We are excited about our new region,” Clay-Chalkville head coach Drew Gilmer said. “It’s going to be a grind every Friday night, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Clay-Chalkville was just over 100 students shy of making the jump to Class 7A. The Cougars have an enrollment of 938.60. Theodore has the lowest enrollment in Class 7A with 1,046.20 students.
Pinson Valley has called Region 6 home for the past six seasons. The Indians moved up from Class 5A in 2013.
Class 6A, Region 6
- Clay-Chalkville (10-3, Class 6A, Region 6)
- Gardendale (8-4, Class 6A, Region 6)
- Jasper (11-1, Class 5A, Region 7)
- Minor (6-5, Class 6A, Region 5)
- Mortimer Jordan (11-3, Class 5A, Region 5)
- Jackson-Olin (3-7, Class 6A, Region 5)
- Pinson Valley (10-3, Class 6A, Region 6)
Only the fall sports were unveiled during the live broadcast. Winter and spring sports will learn their area destinations following the conclusions of each season. The new classification determines where each team will now compete, which region they will compete in and who they will play against for a state championship throughout the next two years.