Welcoming our new teachers

GHSA Reclassification Committee: Progress Update

We appreciate your ongoing commitment to Georgia high school athletics and the vital role you play in ensuring a fair and competitive environment for our student-athletes. As we continue to evaluate and refine our classification structure, we want to update you on the work being done by the GHSA Reclassification Committee.

Committee’s Mission & Objectives - The Reclassification Committee is dedicated to ensuring that schools are placed in appropriate classifications based on enrollment, competitive balance, and geographical considerations. Our primary goal is to create a system that fosters fairness, reduces travel strain, and promotes competitive equity across all sports and regions.

Key Areas of Focus

· Enrollment Data Review – The committee is analyzing the latest enrollment figures to determine the best approach for realignment.

· Competitive Balance – We are assessing past performance data to ensure schools are classified appropriately based on their ability to compete fairly.

· Geographic Impact – Reducing excessive travel remains a priority, and we are working to minimize long-distance matchups while maintaining strong competition.

· Public & Private School Considerations – Ongoing discussions are being held to address concerns regarding fair competition between public and private schools.

Next Steps in the Process - The committee is meeting regularly to review proposals and gather input from member schools. We encourage all schools to stay engaged and provide feedback as we move closer to finalizing reclassification adjustments for the upcoming cycle.

A formal proposal will be presented to the GHSA Executive Committee in the coming months, followed by opportunities for discussion and potential revisions before final approval. We will continue to provide updates throughout this process to ensure transparency and collaboration with all stakeholders.

Thank you for your dedication to Georgia high school athletics. Your input and participation are crucial as we work to improve the classification system for the benefit of all student-athletes.

TIM SCOTT - Executive Director - (extension 41) Administration, Interpretation of GHSA Rules, Hardship Applications, Appeals, Coaches Education Program tim.scott@ghsa.net

JAY RUSSELL - Assistant Executive Director - (ext. 23) Football, Golf, Hardship Eligibility jayrussell@ghsa.net

ROBIN HINES - GHSA Legislative Liaison/Consultant. By-law Interpretations, Eligibility, Hardship Rulings, Swimming, Bass Fishing

robin.hines@ghsa.net

ERNIE YARBROUGH - Liaison/Consultant - (ext. 27) Championship Logistics, Flag Football, Lacrosse ery@ghsa.net

TANYA ANDERSON - Associate Director - (ext. 29) Literary, One Act Play, Esports, Cross Country, Track & Field, and Event Sanctioning tanyaanderson@ghsa.net

DON CORR - Associate Director - (ext. 34) Softball, Wrestling, Baseball, Sports Medicine, Post Season Ranking don.corr@ghsa.net

DARRELL LANE - Associate Director - (ext. 42) Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Officiating Department darrell@ghsa.net

PENNY PITTS MITCHELL - Associate Director - (ext. 22) Cheerleading, Game Day Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Dance, Student Leadership, Title IX penny@ghsa.net

CARROR WRIGHT - Associate Director - (ext. 39) Coach’s Liaison, Compliance & Transfer Eligibility, Sportsmanship cwright@ghsa.net

MARVIN JAMES - Media Director - (ext. 26) Press Releases, Media Coordination of State Events, Newsletter, Constitution & Calendar, Tennis marvin.james@ghsa.net

ROBIN BULLINGTON - Office Manager - (ext. 33) Budgeting and Finances, Playoff & Championship Finances, Staff Procedures robin@ghsa.net

JULIE JONES - Administrative Assistant - (ext. 24) Community Coach Program, Entry Notification, Dues, Paraprofessional Head Coach Program juliejones@ghsa.net

STACEY JONES - Administrative Assistant - (ext. 32) Riflery Liaison, School Contacts & School Passes, Directory, Coaches’ Clinics, Trophies & Medals stacey@ghsa.net

SHERI EUBANKS - Receptionist - (ext. 0) Lifetime Passes, School System Passes, Ejection Reports, Publication Orders, Rules Violation and Ejection Fines, Wrestling Weight Management Coordinator, NFHS Annual Participation Survey sherieubanks@ghsa.net

PAM THOMPSON - Officials' Registrar - (ext. 30) Officials' Clinic Attendance, Officials' Registrations, Test Scoring & Records, Waivers, Officials and Evaluator Passes, GHSA Recruiting Grant, Publications and eBooks, Awards, Service Plaques pamthompson@ghsa.net

LINDA CROWDER - Administrative Assistant - (ext. 21) Organizing Championship Medals, Assist with Cheerleading, Student Leadership, Literary, School System Passes, Finance Reports linda@ghsa.net

After 20 years serving as the Columbus GA Sports Council executive director, Merri Sherman will accept a new position with the Georgia High School Association.

Sherman led the Sports Council throughout the Chattahoochee Valley, from local high school competitions to international contests like the 2019 International Cup.

During Sherman’s tenure, the Sports Council was instrumental in securing numerous national awards, including:

• 2020 Sports Commission of the Year by the Sports Events and Tourism Association

• 2019 Complex of the Year for South Commons by USA Softball

• 2006 Outstanding Locally Created Event Program by the National Association of Sports Commissions

• 2006 Outstanding Communication Advertising by the National Association of Sports Commissions

The sporting events, facilities and teams that Sherman and her staff have helped attract and maintain, along with the economic impact of visitor dollars spent in Columbus hotels, restaurants and stores, have significantly improved the quality of life for residents in Columbus and the surrounding area over the years.

Sherman will begin working with the GHSA, on July 1st. She will oversee boys and girls’ soccer, and softball as an associate director.

This month's featured licensees are: Jostens, official championship rings and jewlery (jostens.com), CheerSounds, official music provider of cheerleading with premade mixes, make your own mix, and fully custom music.(cheersounds.com) ; Musco Sports Lighting, leader in developing sports-lighting technology solutions (musco.com); NFHS Network, School Broadcast Program produces, distributes and monetize your school's own video streaming Web powered by PlayOn Sports. (nfhsnetwork.com/associations/ghsa); For A Better World & Positive Athlete GA, student character recognition partner (abw.org & georgia.positiveathlete.org); and TeamIP, official merchandiser and online store (teamip.com). RefReps, exclusive standardized officiating education partner (refreps.com) View a complete list of GHSA licensees at www.ghsa.net/licensing.

Congratulations to East Coweta, winning the GHSA Riflery State Championship on March 15th at the Ware County Shooting Complex. The purple and gold fired 2,323 team total in the three-position air rifle format followed by Camden County (2,320) and Lumpkin County (2,293).
The individual winner was back-to-back state champ Katlyn Sullivan, Statesboro (467.5) followed by Hancock Aubrey, East Coweta (458.9), and Brynn Foster, Lumpkin County (448.7).
Thanks to Ware County Shooting Complex, Lisa Kelley (meet director), range officials, TeamIP, volunteers, teams, and competitors on a successful championship.

View Past State Champions.

Merchandise
State championship merchandise available online by Team IP.

The 2025 GHSA / Dr. Ralph Swearngin Basketball State Championships, presented by Breda Pest Management, were held March 5-8 at the Macon Centreplex. Congratulations to all state champions: Girls – Holy Innocents’ (Private), Fannin Co. (1A Div 1), Wilcox Co. (1A Div. 2), Hardaway (2A), Cherokee Bluff (3A), Creekside (4A), River Ridge (5A) and Newton (6A); Boys – Holy Innocents’ (Private), B.E.S.T. Academy (1A Div. 1), Savannah (1A Div. 2), Butler (2A), Sandy Creek (3A), North Oconee (4A), Tri-Cities (5A) and Wheeler (6A); AAASP Wheelchair - Houston County. View complete past Boys and Girls basketball state champions.

The BSN Sports Girls 3-Point Contest was won by Reagan Mulligan of River Ridge. Coed 3-point winners were Alex Whitecliff and Chase Turner of Cherokee. Slam Dunk winner was Sam Mobbs of Trion.

Much appreciation goes to the following groups, whose dedication and support made the four-day Championship Week a success: Thank you Macon Centreplex, game officials, GHSA staff, statewide media, PA Announcers, Breda Pest Management (Presenting Sponsor), Georgia Public Broadcasting (TV), GoFan (Ticketing), West Georgia Sports Information Services (Statistics), BSN Sports (3-point/Slam Dunk Contests), Ty Freeman (Photography), TeamIP (Merchandise), ScoreAtlanta (Fan Guide), Wilson (Official Basketball) and all corporate partners. Appreciation for the enthusiastic support from schools’ communities.

For fans that purchased a ticket for Southwest vs. B.E.S.T. Academy and need a refund, please email: service@gofan.co. Please mention the game purchased and the order ID (Can be found in confirmation email). If you do not have an order ID, please provide the last 4 of card used for purchase, and total amount of the charge.

March 5
Private Girls – Holy Innocents’ 57 Hebron Christian 39
Private Boys – Holy Innocents’ 84 North Cobb Christian 45
3A Girls – Cherokee Bluff 66 Baldwin 58
3A Boys – Sandy Creek 39 Cedar Grove 38

March 6
2A Girls – Hardaway 47, Murray Co. 34
2A Boys – Butler 57 Union Co. 49
4A Girls – Creekside 57 Jackson, Atlanta 37
4A Boys - North Oconee 60 Pace Academy 51

March 7
A-D2 Girls – Wilcox Co.72 Washington-Wilkes 48
A-D2 Boys – Savannah 58 McIntosh Co. Academy 52
5A Girls – River Ridge 52 Langston Hughes 47
5A Boys – Tri-Cities 66 Woodward Academy 55

March 8
A-D1 Girls – Fannin Co. 51 Banks Co. 42
A-D1 Boys – B.E.S.T. Academy 62 Southwest 56
AAASP – Houston Sharks 37 Clayton Eagles 34
6A Girls – Grayson 56 Newton 59
6A Boys – Wheeler 61 Newton 56

FOR MORE INFO: https://www.ghsa.net/national-donate-life-month

The Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation (CJJRF) is offering SCHOLARSHIPS to graduating football student-athletes in Metro-Atlanta and surrounding areas. Recipients are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement, leadership on and off the field, academic goals, recommendations and financial need.

The criteria for this scholarship are:

- Attend high school as a 2025 graduating senior in Metro-Atlanta or surrounding areas

- Attending a college/university in Fall 2025 with no more than a partial college football scholarship

- At least a 2.5 grade point average

Scholarship Applications can be found at:

https://form.jotform.com/250584161556156

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at scholarships@calvinjohnsonjrfoundation.org.

www.calvinjohnsonjrfoundation.com

Apply for College Scholarships!

The Southern Tennis Foundation will award ten (10) scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year to support qualified students with their college expenses.

Deadline: April 18, 2025

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION: https://forms.monday.com/forms/fbba274e3d54e1cb6404d2d85ddc8e53?r=use1

The 2025 Literary State Championships were held on March 15 at Buford and Warner Robins and March 22 at Bremen and Georgia Military College. Congratulations to the team winners: Buford (6A), Houston County (5A), North Oconee (4A), Calhoun (3A), Columbus (2A), Bremen (A-Div I), and Georgia Military College (A-Div II).

Thanks to host schools, judges, fans, teams, coaches, actors, speakers and singers for these successful state events.

See past state Literary winners here

Click here for all the 2025 Results

The Georgia High School Association partners with Choice Hotels, the preferred hotel partner of the GHSA. Choice Hotels will offer GHSA members a discount using the code (00213510) at participating Choice Brand Hotels in the US, on a rooms available basis.

Choice Hotels franchises hotels under the ASCEND®, CAMBRIA®, COMFORT INN®, COMFORT SUITES®, CLARION®, CLARION POINT®, ECONO LODGE®, QUALITY®, RODEWAY INN®, SLEEP INN®, MAINSTAY SUITES® and WOODSPRING SUITES®, brands.

GHSA Promo Code: 00213510

Online booking is available at www.choicesportstravel.com.

Wishing you happy & safe travels.

(1) Deadline for notification of entry for Volleyball

(4) Bass Fishing Qualifier #4 West Point

(12) Complete Area Slow Softball & Report Winners to GHSA

(12) eSports 2025 regular season ends

(13-14) State Executive Committee in Macon

(14) eSports Spring playoffs begin

(16-17) Slow pitch softball State Championship

(18) GHSA Office Closed

(18) Complete region tennis and report winners to GHSA

(19) Complete region baseball/soccer and report winners to GHSA

(22) State First Round Soccer Girls A, 3A, 5A

(23) State First Round Soccer Boys A, 3A, 5A

(23-26) State FIrst Round Baseball

(23-25) Dr. Lucia Norwood Gymnastics preliminaries and State Championship

(24) State FIrst Round Soccer Girls 2A, 4A, 6A

(24) State tennis tournament, complete first round

(25) State FIrst Round Soccer Boys 2A, 4A, 6A

(26) Complete Area Lacrosse and Area Track, report winners to GHSA/Milesplit

(26) eSports State Championship

(28) Complete Region/Area Golf 4A, 6A and report winners to GHSA

(28-29) State Lacrosse Tournament - First Round

(29- April 2) State Baseball Tournament - Second Round

(29) State Soccer Tournament - Second Round Girls A, 3A, 5A

(29) State Tennis Tournament - Second Round completed

(30) State Soccer Tournament - Second Round Boys A, 3A, 5A