Cleveland Central High School sports teams move into different regions
By Andy Collier
Sports Editor, The Bolivar Bullet
The Mississippi High School Activities Association recently released its new classifications for the 2021-23 period.
Cleveland Central High School will remain 5A with an enrollment of 779, Thomas E. Edwards will remain 3A with an enrollment of 298, Northside will remain 2A with an enrollment of 215 and McEvans High School and West Bolivar High School will remain 1A. West Bolivar’s enrollment was listed at 152, and McEvans’ enrollment was listed at 145.
Even though CCHS athletics will remain in the same classification, their regions will be different. In football, CCHS will compete in Region 1-5A with Columbus, Greenville, down from 6A, Lafayette High School, New Hope, Saltillo and West Point. West Point has won the 5A State Championship four straight years.
“Region 1-5A has always been competitive,” said CCHS Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Jay Jones. “It’s always been a tough district, and we’re excited about the challenge. In order to get better, you’ve got to play good competition, and you can’t go out there and play cupcakes and expect to get better. Just because you beat someone 40-0 doesn’t mean you get better. You get better when you play good competition and Class 5A, Region 1 has really good competition. We’re excited about that challenge and ready to get going.”
The Wolves are currently competing in Region 2-5A with Neshoba Central, Ridgeland, Canton, Holmes County Central, Vicksburg, Provine and Callaway.
Next year in football, Thomas E. Edwards will be in Region 3-3A with Amanda Elzy, Humphreys County High School, Winona and Yazoo County. Northside will be in Region 3-2A with Charleston, Coahoma County, M.S. Palmer and Strayhorn, and West Bolivar and McEvans will be in Region 2-1A with Simmons, Coffeeville, Coldwater, McAdams, South Delta, moving down from 2A, and West Tallahatchie.
Here are regions for other sports.
Boys and Girls Basketball
Region 2-5A: Cleveland Central High School, Greenville, Lafayette High School and Lake Cormorant High School.
Region 3-3A: Thomas E. Edwards, Humphreys County, Amanda Elzy, Winona and Yazoo County High School.
Region 3-2A: Northside, Coahoma County, Leflore County, Leland, O’Bannon and Riverside.
Region 5-1A: McEvans, West Bolivar, South Delta, Simmons and West Tallahatchie.
Boys and Girls Soccer
Region 3-5A: Cleveland Central High School, Forest Hill High School, Greenville High School and Vicksburg High School.
Volleyball
Region 3-5A: Cleveland Central High School, Greenville High School and Holmes County Central High School.
Region 3-1A: McEvans High Schol, West Bolivar High School and South Delta.
Swimming:
Region 1, Class I: Cleveland Central High School, Amory High School, Ingomar, Itawamba Agricultural High School, Lafayette High School, Lake Cormorant High School, Lanier High School, MS School for Math and Science, Newton County High School, Pontotoc High School, Ridgeland High School, Rosa Fort High School, Saltillo High School, St. Andrew’s High School, Tupelo Christian, Vicksburg High School and West Point High School.
Bowling:
Region 1, Class II: Cleveland Central High School, Corinth High School, Itawamba AHS, Lake Cormorant, New Albany, North Pontotoc and Pontotoc.