Fairview moved down to Class 4A for the first time since 2014, and Addison (2A) and St. Bernard (1A) changed spots when the Alabama High School Athletic Association approved reclassification for the 2018-20 school years Wednesday afternoon.

All other local schools in The Times’ coverage area remained in their respective classifications — Cullman (6A), West Point (5A), Good Hope (4A), Hanceville (3A), Holly Pond (3A), Vinemont (3A) and Cold Springs (2A).

As per usual, there was shakeup in many area, region and section alignments across the state. Nearly every school scored new landing spots — and future opponents — within one, if not more, of its athletic programs.

Among those changes include Cullman and Hartselle being reunited after a two-year area and region hiatus. 

Athens, Columbia, Decatur and Muscle Shoals round out a formidable Region 7 on the football field, while the Red Raiders join the Bearcats and Tigers in a talent-laden Area 14 on the baseball diamond.

West Point held firm as the biggest school in the Cullman County Schools system based on student enrollment numbers — those are provided to the AHSAA by the state department of education — with 440 students.

Addison (164) saw a small rise in student enrollment, while Fairview (348) and St. Bernard (140) each had sizable declines. 

Cullman led the way again with a coverage area-high 679 students, while Cold Springs (223) was touted the largest school in 2A … just behind 3A Vinemont (231).

The ASHAA Central Board stayed consistent in its latest reclassification, sticking with 32 7A teams and allowing the private school multiplier to remain at 1.35 percent.

One crucial change, however, was the introduction of the competitive balance multiplier, a new rule that requires constantly successful private-school programs to compete against bigger schools in higher classifications beginning in 2018-19.

For example, St. Bernard’s cross country programs — a fantastic staple in 1A-2A over the past few years — will participate in Class 3A competitions on the trails moving forward.

The ultimate goal? Creating an equal playing field within a particular classification.

The new system gathered points going back three years and awarded a number to each particular program based on what results it tallied during that span.

Teams from private schools earned one point for a quarterfinal appearance, two points for a semifinal appearance and four points for a championship appearance.

For one-gender sports, teams that nabbed more than six points were required to bump up a classification. For dual-gender sports, the key number increased to 11.

Addison has bounced back and forth from 1A to 2A throughout its existence.

Over the past two years, the Bulldogs have had strong success in 1A — two state volleyball crowns and 23 football wins — and will try to continue those good vibes in a higher classification.

Fairview, meanwhile, will join up 4A, Region 7 with Danville, DAR, North Jackson, Priceville, Randolph, St. John Paul II and West Morgan looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2013 after four tough years in 5A.

“It’s a lot of new faces for sure,” coach George Redding said. “It’ll definitely take some time to research the teams we’ll have to play next season. We’ve got some history with North Jackson and DAR, and we played Priceville the past two seasons in a non-region game. Some will be totally new, though, and we’re excited about the change.”

Sull full alignments below:

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Baseball

Class 6A, Area 14: Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle

Class 5A, Area 14: Hamilton, Lawrence County, Russellville, West Point

Class 4A, Area 12: Ashville, Fairview, Good Hope, Oneonta

Class 3A, Area 12: Glencoe, Holly Pond, J.B. Pennington, Susan Moore

Class 3A, Area 11: Hanceville, Locust Fork, Vinemont

Class 2A, Area 12: Addison, Sulligent, Winston County

Class 2A, Area 11: Cleveland, Cold Springs, Southeastern, West End

Class 1A, Area 14: Athens Bible, Falkville, Lindsay Lane, St. Bernard

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Basketball

Class 6A, Area 14: Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle

Class 5A, Area 14: Hamilton, Lawrence County, Russellville, West Point

Class 4A, Area 12: Ashville, Fairview, Good Hope, Oneonta

Class 3A, Area 13: Brindlee Mountain, Holly Pond, New Hope, Vinemont

Class 3A, Area 12: Glencoe, Hanceville, J.B. Pennington, Susan Moore

Class 2A, Area 13: Addison, Red Bay, Sulligent, Winston County

Class 2A, Area 12: Cleveland, Cold Springs, Southeastern, West End

Class 1A, Area 13: Decatur Heritage, Falkville, Lynn, Meek, St. Bernard

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Bowling

Class 1A-7A, Area 14: Cullman, East Limestone, Hartselle, Lindsay Lane, Priceville, St. Bernard, West Point

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Cross Country

Class 6A, Section 5: Albertville, Clay-Chalkville, Cullman, Fort Payne, Huffman, Oxford, Pell City, Pinson Valley

Class 5A, Section 4: Arab, Ardmore, Brewer, East Limestone, Guntersville, Lawrence County, Madison County, Randolph, Russellville, Scottsboro, West Point

Class 4A, Section 3: Anniston, Ashville, Cherokee County, Childersburg, DAR, Fairview, Handley, Hokes Bluff, Jacksonsville, Lincoln, Oneonta, White Plains

Class 4A, Section 2: American Christian Academy, Danville, Good Hope, Haleyville, Indian Springs, Leeds, Montevallo, Northside, Oak Grove, Sipsey Valley, West Blocton

Class 3A, Section 3: Fultondale, Hanceville, Holly Pond, Holt, J.B. Pennington, Locust Fork, Oakman, St. Bernard (1A-2A), Vinemont, Winfield

Class 1A-2A, Section 2: Addison, Altamont, Berry, Cleveland, Cold Springs, Cornerstone, Decatur Heritage, Falkville, Heritage Christian, Holy Spirit, Jefferson Christian, Marion County, Meek, The Capitol

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Football

Class 6A, Region 7: Athens, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle, Muscle Shoals

Class 5A, Region 7: Corner, Dora, Hamilton, Hayden, Jasper, Lawrence County, Russellville, West Point

Class 4A, Region 7: Danville, DAR, Fairview, North Jackson, Priceville, Randolph, St. John Paul II, West Morgan

Class 4A, Region 5: Cordova, Curry, Fayette County, Good Hope, Haleyville, Northside, Oak Grove

Class 3A, Region 5: Fultondale, Hanceville, Holly Pond, J.B. Pennington, Locust Fork, Midfield, Vinemont

Class 2A, Region 7: Addison, Colbert County, Hatton, Red Bay, Sheffield, Tanner, Tharptown

Class 2A, Region 5: Aliceville, Cold Springs, Southeastern, Sulligent, Sumiton Christian, Tarrant, Winston County 

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Golf (Boys)

Class 6A, Section 4: Albertville, Athens, Buckhorn, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Fort Payne, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville, Mae Jemison, Muscle Shoals

Class 5A, Section 4: Arab, Ardmore, Brewer, Douglas, East Limestone, Guntersville, Hamilton, Hayden, Lawrence County, Madison County, Russellville, Scottsboro, West Point

Class 4A, Section 3: Anniston, Ashville, Cherokee County, DAR, Fairview, Good Hope, Hokes Bluff, Jacksonville, Lincoln, North Jackson, Oneonta, White Plains

Class 3A, Section 4: Clements, Colbert Heights, East Lawrence, Hanceville, Holly Pond, J.B. Pennington, Lauderdale County, Lexington, Locust Fork, New Hope, Phil Campbell, Westminster Christian

Class 1A-2A, Section 3: Brilliant, Colbert County, Cold Springs, Covenant Christian, Decatur Heritage, Hatton, Marion County, Mars Hill Bible, Phillips, R.A. Hubbard, Red Bay, Sheffield, Sulligent, Sumiton Christian, Tharptown

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Golf (Girls)

Class 6A, Section 4: Albertville, Athens, Buckhorn, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Fort Payne, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville, Mae Jemison, Muscle Shoals

Class 4A-5A, Section 4: Ardmore, Brewer, Brooks, Central, Curry, Danville, Deshler, East Limestone, Elkmont, Fairview, Good Hope, Haleyville, Hamilton, Jasper, Lawrence County, Madison Academy, Madison County, Priceville, Randolph, Rogers, Russellville, St. John Paul II, West Limeston, West Morgan, Wilson

Class 1A-2A, Section 3: Brilliant, Carbon Hill, Colbert County, Cold Springs, East Lawrence, Gordo, Hale County, Holy Spirit, Lamar County, Lauderdale County, Lexington, Mars Hill Bible, Phil Campbell, Phillips, R.A. Hubbard, Red Bay, Sulligent, Tharptown, The Capitol, Winfield

Class 1A-2A, Section 2: Asbury, Athens Bible, Brindlee Mountain, Cedar Bluff, Clements, Cleveland, Decatur Heritage, Falkville, Fyffe, Geraldine, Hanceville, J.B. Pennington, New Hope, North Sand Mountain, Pisgah, Skyline, Susan Moore, Sylvania, Tanner, Valley Head, Westminster Christian, Woodville

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Soccer

Class 6A, Area 14: Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle

Class 4A-5A, Area 14: Danville, Haleyville, Russellville, West Morgan, West Point

Class 4A-5A, Area 13: Arab, Brewer, Fairview, Guntersville

Class 1A-3A, Area 8: Athens Bible, Clements, Mars Hill Bible, St. Bernard, Tanner

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Softball

Class 6A, Area 14: Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle

Class 5A, Area 14: Arab, Brewer, Guntersville, West Point

Class 4A, Area 12: Ashville, Fairview, Good Hope, Oneonta

Class 3A, Area 13: Brindlee Mountain, Holly Pond, New Hope, Vinemont

Class 3A, Area 12: Glencoe, Hanceville, J.B. Pennington, Susan Moore

Class 2A, Area 14: Addison, Hatton, Tanner, Winston County

Class 2A, Area 11: Cold Springs, Sulligent, Sumiton Christian

Class 1A, Area 14: Athens Bible, Falkville, Lindsay Lane, St. Bernard

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Swimming

Class 1A-5A, Section 3: Appalachian, Arab, Ashville, Boaz, Cherokee County, Danville, Deshler, Guntersville, Jasper, Madison Academy, Madison County, Mars Hill Bible, Oakwood Academy, Oneonta, Priceville, St. Bernard, Scottsboro, Sheffield, Whitesburg Christian

Class 6A-7A, Section 3: Athens, Austin, Bob Jones, Buckhorn, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Florence, Gadsden City, Grissom, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Huntsville, James Clemson, Lee-Huntsville, Mae Jemison, Muscle Shoals, Randolph, Sparkman, St. John Paul II, Westminster Christian

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Tennis

Class 6A, Section 5: Albertville, Clay-Chalkville, Cullman, Fort Payne, Gardendale, Huffman, Pinson Valley

Class 4A-5A, Section 7: Brooks, Central, Deshler, Haleyville, Hamilton, Russellville, West Point, Wilson

Class 1A-3A, Section 3: Cornerstone, St. Bernard, Sumiton Christian, The Capitol, Westminster-Oak Mountain

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Track and Field

Class 6A, Section 4: Albertville, Athens, Buckhorn, Columbia, Cullman, Decatur, Fort Payne, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville, Mae Jemison, Muscle Shoals, Oxford, Pell City

Class 5A, Section 4: Alexandria, Arab, Ardmore, Boaz, Brewer, Crossville, Douglas, East Limestone, Etowah, Guntersville, Lawrence County, Madison County, Russellville, St. Clair County, Sardis, Scottsboro, Southside-Gadsden, Springville, West Point

Class 4A, Section 3: Anniston, Ashville, Cherokee County, Cleburne County, DAR, Fairview, Good Hope, Hokes Bluff, Jacksonville, Lincoln, North Jackson, Oneonta, Randolph, White Plains

Class 3A, Section 4: Carbon Hill, Clements, Colbert Heights, East Lawrence, Hanceville, Holly Pond, Lamar County, Lauderdale County, Lexington, Phil Campbell, Vinemont, Westminster Christian, Winfield

Class 2A, Section 3: Addison, Colbert County, Cold Springs, Hatton, Red Bay, Sheffield, Sulligent, Tanner, Tharptown, Winston County

Class 1A, Section 4: Athens Bible, Belgreen, Cherokee, Decatur Heritage, Falkville, Lindsay Lane, Lynn, Meek, Oakwood Academy, Phillips, R.A. Hubbard, St. Bernard, Vina, Whitesburg Christian

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Volleyball

Class 6A, Area 14: Cullman, Decatur, Hartselle

Class 5A, Area 14: Hamilton, Lawrence County, Russellville, West Point

Class 4A, Area 11: Ashville, Fairview, Good Hope, Oneonta

Class 3A, Area 13: East Lawrence, Holly Pond, Vinemont

Class 3A, Area 12: Hanceville, J.B. Pennington, Susan Moore

Class 2A, Area 13: Addison, Sulligent, Tharptown, Winston County

Class 2A, Area 12: Cleveland, Cold Springs, Southeastern, West End

Class 1A, Area 13: Athens Bible, Falkville, R.A. Hubbard, St. Bernard