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The Georgia High School Association met in early October, where they began working on a reclassification of its 450-plus schools for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.

The reclassification this year was especially eventful, as the GHSA instituted a new multiplier for out-of-zone students.

Previously, out-of-zone students had a 2.0 multiplier, meaning for every out of zone student, they counted them as 2 people. The GHSA has since voted to increase the multiplier to 3.0 and eliminate the cap that would prevent schools with large out-of-zone numbers from being put into the highest classification.

Following this multiplier, Bainbridge stayed classified as a Region 1-AAAA school, however many of this year’s region competitors were changed.

Cairo and Westover will continue to be in Region 1-AAAA, while Dougherty and Monroe moved down to AAA and Thomas County Central moved to AAAAAA.

The GHSA added Hardaway and Shaw to the region, however.

TCC appealed to the GHSA to move back to AAAA, but were denied.

Bearcat Head Coach, Jeff Littleton hated to see TCC move up to AAAAAA, but still would love to play the team in non-region competition.

Looking forward, Littleton said he likes the new region.

“I hate we have to travel to Columbus twice, but I know it’s better than the alternative of having to drive to Macon,” he said.

While the Bearcats may have some new competition, Littleton said he also hopes to play former rivals like the Thomasville Bulldogs, who were moved up to AAA in the reclassification, if the schedule allows.

The 2022-23 football schedule is set to be released in early 2022.