AHSAA realignment: What Westbrook, Southside and other changes mean for Gadsden area teams

The AHSAA released the new areas and classifications for spring sports and with six sports announced on Thursday, there's a lot to break down about how the new areas affect Gadsden area teams.

The biggest changes that weren't already known, i.e.. Southside and Hokes Bluff moving up, were the changes involving Westbrook Christian. The biggest is that softball, which will be a new sport in 2025 ended up in a difficult area with Piedmont, Glencoe and Ohatchee. Baseball moved up and joined one of, if not the most difficult area in Class 4A. Westbrook soccer and boys golf also are moving up, all due to the competitive balance factor.

Let's break down what the reclassification means for area teams:

SOFTBALL AREAS: AHSAA Central Board announces new high school softball area alignments: Full statewide list

SOCCER AREAS: Alabama high school soccer: New classifications, areas for the 2025-26 seasons

BASEBALL AREAS: AHSAA Central Board announces new high school baseball area alignments

Westbrook Christian moves up, baseball joins 4A region of death

Westbrook Christian got rewarded by the competitive balance factor and a move up to Class 4A with joining Etowah and Hokes Bluff alongside Ashville and Oneonta in one of the tougher regions. Westbrook has been making deep runs the last few years while Etowah made back-to-back state finals in 2022 and 2023. Hokes Bluff has a young core while Ashville took down Oneonta to win their area this year. With only two teams making it out of the area, it'll be a dog fight just to make the playoffs for these five teams.

In other Westbrook Christian teams, both boys and girls soccer will be joining Class 5A. Both teams return a lot of talent, with the girls team having a couple of young stars. The boys golf team will be moving to Class 5A and will return two golfers from the Class 4A state title team.

Some Etowah County teams get easier path, some don't for diamond sports

Glencoe baseball won't have to fight through a gauntlet, yet it does get Piedmont into the area. But without Westbrook Christian and Hokes Bluff, it should be a playoff team most years. Southside and Gadsden City got lucky with only having Fort Payne in their new area, which used to include Oxford. While it still will be a tough area, not getting Oxford opens up a playoff spot.

Sardis and Boaz keep Crossville, but add another playoff team in Douglas. Sardis and Boaz have made deep runs over the last few years and were basic locks to make the playoffs with Crossville in the area. It's the same softball area which should help a young core at Boaz and Sardis to make more regionals.

On the other side, Glencoe softball, even without Westbrook adding softball, gets Piedmont a perennial Elite Eight meaning a regional spot gets taken away most years.

Do playoff soccer paths get easier for some teams?

Glencoe and Coosa Christian could get an easier path to the playoffs without having Collinsville and Donoho in the area. Glencoe has made great strides over recent years, but have had tough opponents at the top of the area blocking the playoffs. Even Collinsville could be getting an easier path moving into a Dekalb County area where they could consistently be the top dog.

Cherokee County, Hokes Bluff and Etowah get an easier path without Westbrook Christian in Class 4A. Even Westbrook Christian got somewhat of an easier path with only three teams in the area, but Jacksonville girls have a bright future ahead. Boaz and Guntersville split up areas in Class 5A, meaning that two of the teams near the top of the polls will finally not be in the same area, which gives both an easier first round game.

The only case where the path got harder is in Class 6A with Fort Payne, Gadsden City and Southside being in the same area. There will only be two spots for some of the top in the area.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: AHSAA Realignment: What new areas mean for Gadsden area teams