Reclassification makes A-3A soccer one of the toughest classifications in GHSA history

The new A-3A Private classification has created intriguing playoff scenarios in its first year of existence. However, its impact will be most pronounced in soccer brackets.

With teams moving down from as high as Class 5A, this classification promises a fun, exciting, and unpredictable season. At first glance, the number of defending boys champions in the A-3A Private classification might not seem remarkable, with only one returning champion, Atlanta International. However, a deeper look at last year’s semifinalists reveals the classification’s depth. On the boys’ side, nine teams reached the semifinals or better last year. In addition to the one championship, two more teams were runners-up.

This new classification brings together some of the state’s best soccer programs to compete for a single championship. Programs like Paideia, Wesleyan, and Atlanta International have dominated the smaller classifications, combining to win nine of the past 10 championships in Class A-Division I, Class A Private, and Class A.

Alongside these dominant smaller schools, larger schools like Greater Atlanta Christian join the mix. GAC has won six state titles since 2000, including its most recent in 2022, making it one of the most successful programs in the state.

On the girls’ side, eight teams that reached the semifinals or better last year are returning. While this number is similar to the boys, the number of returning champions is not. Class A-3A Private will feature five defending champions in GAC, Lovett, Fellowship Christian, Paideia, and Aquinas. Together, these teams are set to create one of the most competitive seasons in state history. Never before has a reclassification grouped so many elite teams into one classification.

The championship race will pit traditional powerhouses, accustomed to dominating their respective classifications, against one another in a race for a single title. These five returning champions alone have won 22 of the 149 girls’ soccer championships in state history, accounting for 15 percent of all titles across all classifications and 27 percent of championships at the 3A classification or lower.

Around the class boys - Holy Innocents’ basketball secured a big victory against KIPP Atlanta, defeating the Warriors 57-39 Monday. … Mt. Bethel improved to 7-1 in region play with a dominant 62-33 victory against Galloway. … Calvary Day lost a hard fought battle to Class 6A Buford, 76-72. … GAC defeated Lumpkin County 57-44, moving into second place in the region. … Paideia extended its winning streak to six games with a 68-52 victory over Midtown. … Walker earned a significant win over Lovett on Monday, securing its sixth straight victory 67-58.

Around the class girls - Hebron Christian extended its winning streak to eight with a 69-65 victory over Dr. Phillips out of Orlando. … St. Francis suffered its second loss of the season in a hard-fought 66-60 game against Langston Hughes. … Mount Paran delivered a dominant performance on Monday, defeating Greenforest 54-13. … Southwest Atlanta Christian lost its first game of the season on Saturday, falling 69-66 to Heard County. … Galloway earned a big win on Monday, defeating Jefferson 66-59 to improve to 11-7 on the season. … Athens Academy secured a narrow victory over GAC on Monday, edging the Spartans 36-35.

See the boys and girls latest Class 2A basketball rankings schedules below.

Boys Basketball Top 10 Schedule

1. Holy Innocents – Friday at Washington, 7 p.m.; Saturday at Grayson, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Lovett, 7 p.m.

2. North Cobb Christian – Friday vs. Union County, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Sonoraville, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe, 7 p.m.

3. Greenforest – Friday at Southwest Atlanta Christian, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Towers, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. W D Mohammed, 7:30 p.m.

4. Mt. Bethel – Wednesday at The Weber School, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Wesleyan, 8 p.m.; Saturday vs. Mt. Pisgah, 7:30 p.m.

5. Calvary Day – Friday vs. Islands, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Beach, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Long County, 7:30 p.m.

6. GAC – Wednesday at Dawson County, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Chestatee, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Mount Dora Christian, 4 p.m.

7. Lovett – Friday at Carver-Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.; Monday at Therrell, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Holy Innocents’, 7 p.m.

8. Paideia – Friday at Atlanta International, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Walker, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at BEST Academy, 6 p.m.

9. Walker – Friday vs. Paideia, 7 p.m.; Saturday at BEST Academy, 4 p.m.; Tuesday at Mt. Paran, 7 p.m.

10. Mt. Vernon – Friday at Whitefield Academy, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Landmark Christian, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1 at Paideia, 2:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball Top 10 Schedule

1. Hebron Christian – Friday vs. East Jackson, 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Hart County, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Stephens County, 7 p.m.

2. St. Francis – Friday at Fellowship Christian, 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. King’s Ridge, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Walker, 5:30 p.m.

3. Mount Paran – Friday vs. Atlanta International, 6 p.m.; Tuesday at Walker, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Whitefield Academy, 6 p.m.

4. Southwest Atlanta Christian – Friday vs. Greenforest, 6 p.m.; Jan. 29 at Social Circle, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Utopian Academy, 6 p.m.

5. Holy Innocents – Friday at Washington, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Hoover, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Lovett, 5:30 p.m.

6. Greenforest – Friday at Southwest Atlanta Christian, 6 p.m.; Saturday vs. Norcross, 2 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Towers, 7:30 p.m.

7. Galloway – Friday vs. King’s Ridge, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Whitefield Academy, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4 at Mt. Pisgah, 6 p.m.

8. GAC – Friday at Chestatee, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Parkview, 2 p.m.; Tuesday  vs. Pickens, 6 p.m.

9. Athens Academy – Thursday vs. Rabun County, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Elbert County, 7 p.m.; Tuesday  at Oglethorpe County, 6 p.m.

10. Whitefield Academy – Tuesday at Galloway, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Mount Paran, 6 p.m.; Feb. 1 vs. Tucker, 1:30 p.m.

 

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