Chattanooga Schools Brace for New Competition Classifications
Hey there, Chattanooga! Big changes are brewing in the world of local sports as the TSSAA has just announced the new classifications to be used for the competition cycle from 2025 to 2027. While the shakeup doesn’t affect all schools in our area, the ripples it creates are significant, especially for two local football programs: Howard High School and Chattanooga Prep.
Howard High School on the Move
Let’s start with the Hustlin’ Tigers of Howard High School. They’ve seen their enrollment numbers leap from 1,485 to 1,535, which means they will be climbing up from Class 5A to the highest level, Class 6A. That’s quite a jump, but keep in mind that many teams in the 6A league typically boast rosters that are three times the size of Howard’s current squad of around 30 players.
Head coach Dedric Maffett, now in his fourth season, has some serious concerns about this transition. “We were already at a competitive disadvantage in 5A,” he said. “Moving up now poses an even greater challenge for our kids. Our roster is smaller, and our students who tend to be involved in football are not reflecting our growth in the Hispanic community.”
Over the past seven years, Howard has moved up three classifications, and Coach Maffett emphasizes that safety remains a priority. “We hear from our players that competing against teams with significantly larger rosters is exhausting,” he expressed. “It’s discouraging for them, and we want to preserve their experience and safety.”
So what’s next for the Hustlin’ Tigers? The coaching staff is considering a couple of options, including the possibility of playing a non-region schedule. This means they could opt out of competing in their assigned 6A region and instead challenge smaller schools that better align with their current roster size. However, there’s a catch: by doing this, they would forfeit eligibility for the state playoffs. It’s a tough decision that the team plans to discuss with parents and the community.
Chattanooga Prep Rises Up
On the flip side, we have Chattanooga Prep, which is encountering its own set of changes. This public charter school, founded in 2018, has steadily added a grade each year, and this year marks its first senior class. Thanks to TSSAA rules for all-boys schools, their enrollment figures are doubled, and they’re moving up to Class 3A in football and Class 2A in basketball after winning the 1A state championship last season. What a fantastic achievement for such a young institution!
Local Schools Breaking New Ground
In addition to Howard and Chattanooga Prep, other area schools are also seeing some shifts. Soddy Daisy will be stepping up from 4A to 5A, while Grundy County will drop from 3A to 2A. Meanwhile, Brainerd is hanging onto its place in Class 3A, narrowly avoiding a move up thanks to their enrollment number of 743, currently the largest in that classification.
And let’s not forget Grace Academy, which is rejoining Division II-A after recovering from tornado damage. Having the second-smallest enrollment at 140, they’ll be solely representing local schools in that private-school classification.
Looking Ahead
All this classification movement is expected to be finalized by October 18, with schools needing to notify the TSSAA of their plans to either stick with their current classifications or move up. It’ll be intriguing to see how this all unfolds as the local sports landscape adjusts to the new competitive realities. Coaches, players, and fans alike will surely be eager for the new season to reflect these changes.
So, here’s to all the local athletes and coaches navigating their paths through these competitive adjustments. Good luck to everyone involved as we look forward to an exciting future in Chattanooga sports!
