Region realignments: how becoming a bigger region affects Cedar athletics
As the 2022-23 school year begins, the changes in Georgia High School Association regions pose new obstacles. Cedar Shoals High School will remain in Region 8-4A, but the region will expand from eight to 11 schools.
“We are going to be a bigger region with a lot of schools that are closer to Atlanta,” Lady Jags Head Soccer Coach Alley Howell said.
With the new change, Cedar loses some of its biggest competitors including Jefferson and Flowery Branch, but the Jaguars will face other new competitive opponents too.
“Our region has lost some pretty good teams, but we’ve gained some more,” Head Football Coach Leroy Ryals said. “North Hall will be tough, Cherokee Bluff will be tough, so it’ll mostly stay the same competition wise.”
The increase to 11 schools will mean many changes to the region’s schedules. GHSA gives teams the option to play a regional or sub-region schedule. Sub-regions would allow the teams to split into two smaller regions giving them the ability to play more non-region games.
Region 8-4A soccer will play a regional schedule, meaning that every team plays 10 region games. Howell says this new system of organization poses challenges for her team.
“We’re only allowed 18 games, and since we have ten region games and our rival game against Clarke Central, we are only left with seven games to pick,” Howell said. “For us, it’s really important to play those seven games because our region is very tough, and I want to make sure that we are playing teams where we can be more competitive.”
Unlike soccer, the basketball teams are competing in a sub-region schedule. Cedar will be part of Region 8-4A (B) along with Madison County, North Oconee, Walnut Grove and Seckinger.
“Having a sub-region this year makes it a little more difficult, we’re on the side with North Oconee which is gonna be tough and we also have Seckinger which we don’t know a lot about,” Lady Jags Basketball Head Coach T. Wall said.
Sub-regions mean that there is a more competitive field when it comes to the region championships.
“We have crossovers games within the region,” Wall said. “You have to get wins inside your sub-region but now sometimes those crossover games will be more important.”
The football team will play a regional schedule because Seckinger High School and Johnson High School do not have varsity football teams. However, even with two less teams, out of 11 games Cedar only plays two non-region games, one against Clarke Central.
“With only two non-region games it means that all the games really count,” Ryals said. “At the end of the season you just look and see who’s got the best record. The top four records will compete for the region championship.”
As the season starts, Ryals is focused on improving themselves before worrying about the teams they are competing against.
“We have to work on our accountability and work ethic,” Ryals said. “I drive to be good at football. So, when you take care of yourself and are the best you can be, you don’t worry about the team you’re playing till later.”
