BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has released its first draft for conference realignment, which goes into effect in fall 2025.

For the first time in the association’s history, high schools across the state will be split across eight different classifications, ranging from 1A (the state’s smallest schools) to 8A (the largest). The 8A schools are the largest 32 in the state, while the remaining seven classes all have roughly 60 members.

While the existing Mideastern Conference will roughly stay the same under the initial proposal, South Brunswick High School would move to a newly-formed conference featuring schools from Pender, Columbus, and other counties. The Cougars, as a 5A, would be the largest school in the league, competing against multiple 4A and 3A teams.

South Brunswick Athletic Director Christopher Sotriffer said he was “shocked” when he saw the initial proposal, but says a majority of the school’s coaches are excited about the proposal, which would reduce the competition level the Cougars face.

“To have new air for our programs that have struggled, being the little dog in the fight, being outnumbered, I think it’s fresh air, and I think it’s gonna give a lot of our programs confidence moving forward,” Sotriffer said.

The proposed conference would add to South Brunswick’s travel time for away games, but Sotriffer said it would be manageable, with the Cougars’ furthest road trip being about two hours to Red Springs High School in Robeson County.

But South Brunswick’s county rival, West Brunswick, would continue competing against the New Hanover County schools – in addition to Topsail and North Brunswick High School – under the proposal. The Trojans would be, on average, 63% smaller than their conference opponents, according to athletic director Jimmy Fletcher.

“We’re always kind of the small fish in the big pond, and sometimes I’d like to be the big fish in the small pond,” he said.

Fletcher is hoping West Brunswick can move to the same league as the Cougars and plans to appeal the proposal. He said playing against larger schools for years has led to many potential athletes staying away from sports. The Trojans have won just two conference championships – across all sports – over the last two decades, Fletcher said.

“A lot of times you really can’t say, ‘Hey, let’s go win a conference championship.’ And to me, if you could go into a league and you could say that, I think that would make all the difference in the world to your kids – and the community,” the AD said.

Schools have the opportunity to provide feedback to the NCHSAA over the next few weeks before the final realignment gets announced early next year.

Here’s a full look at how southeast North Carolina high schools would be split up:

6A/7A/8A Conference A

• Hoggard (8A)
• Laney (8A)
• Ashley (7A)
• New Hanover (7A)
• North Brunswick (7A)
• West Brunswick (6A)
• Topsail (7A)

3A/4A/5A Conference B

• South Brunswick (5A)
• Trask (3A)
• Pender (3A)
• West Bladen (3A)
• South Columbus (3A)
• Whiteville (3A)
• Clinton (4A)
• Fairmont (4A)
• Red Springs (4A)

1A/2A Conference B

• East Bladen (2A)
• West Columbus (2A)
• East Columbus (1A)
• Union (2A)
• North Duplin (2A)
• Hobbton (2A)
• Lakewood (2A)
• Rosewood (2A)

3A Conference 1

• Wallace-Rose Hill (3A)
• James Kenan (3A)
• Goldsboro (3A)
• Midway (3A)
• Princeton (3A)
• Spring Creek (3A)

4A/5A Conference A

• Dixon (5A)
• East Duplin (4A)
• Southwest Onslow (4A)
• Richlands (5A)
• Havelock (5A)
• Northside Jacksonville (5A)
• West Carteret (5A)
• Croatan (5A)

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