Area teams see change in second redistricting meeting

Two weeks ago, the Notre Dame Pios were informed by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association that they would be dropping down in classification from Class 3A to Class 2A the next two years.
At the time, they were under the assumption that they would be headed west to play in a District 4-2A, a league that would consist of themselves,  DeQunicy, Kinder, Lake Arthur, Mamou, Vinton and Welsh.
Scratch that plan.
At least for now.
Last week, in the LHSAA’s second redistricting meeting in Baton Rouge, that original proposal for the Pios to move west was scrapped.
In its place, the LHSAA now has the Pios penciled in for a new district - 5-2A.
So, instead of heading west beginning in the fall, the Pios would find themselves heading east to parishes like St. Landry, Iberia and St. Mary.
The new proposal, which would become official on March 11 if no other changes are made, would put the Pios in a 10-team league (eight football) along with Academy of Sacred Heart, Catholic of New Iberia, Delcambre, Jeanerette, Loreauville, Opelousas Catholic, Sacred Heart Ville Platte, David Thibodeaux and West St. Mary.
While that may come as a surprise to some, it didn’t catch ND head coach Lewis Cook off guard at all.
“I really don’t know the reasons (for the move) but it gives the district even numbers which is always good because you don’t have to try to fill that open date during your district schedule,” Cook said on Monday.
“I know Kinder and them (other teams in 4-2A) weren’t happy to have us in their district. But, personally, I’m fine with it. I don’t mind at all going over there (5-2A); we are more familiar with those teams and it helps out with officials being in this district.”
Notre Dame doesn’t appear to be the only Acadia Parish team that will see a change.
So, too, it appears will Church Point and Iota.
In the LHSAA’s initial proposal, both the Bears and the Bulldogs were slated to play in District 5-3A along with Eunice, Northwest, Pine Prairie, Port Barre, South Beauregard and Ville Platte.
Now, in the second proposal, the Bulldogs would go back to their original district, 4-3A, and rejoin Iowa, Jennings, South Beauregard, St. Louis and Westlake.
Church Point, meanwhile, would remain in District 5-3A where they would be joined by Eunice, which moved down from Class 4A, Northwest, Pine Prairie, Port Barre and Ville Platte.
There were no motions to break up Crowley High’s original proposal in District 3-4A. The Gents appear to be set in a league that would include DeRidder, LaGrange, Leesville, Rayne and Washington-Marion.
There are also no changes pending for Districts 7-B and 7-C, two leagues that involve local teams.
Midland would remain in a district with Bell City, ESA, Hathaway and Lacassine while Northside Christian would remain in a league that would consist of Hackberry, Johnson Bayou, Singer and Starks.
The third and final redistricting meeting is slated for March 11.