SC private school sports about to take on a new look
A big change is coming for South Carolina’s private school athletic teams.
The S.C. Independent Schools Association will go from three to four classifications, according to an email sent recently to member schools. The change begins in the 2022-23 school year and will be in effect the next two years, similar to how the S.C. High School League manages realignment timing for public schools.
The new classification setup will be SCISA’s first major change in more than 40 years, according to league athletic director Mike Fanning.
“We have really seen growth on the smaller end of the spectrum and wanted to give them an opportunity to have something to play for and encourage growth in their athletic departments,” Fanning told The State on Monday. “Hopefully that growth will continue and they will eventually move up.
“Another championship division gives schools something to play for, and it has been well-received. We will do it for a two-year period. And if it is good, we will continue with that. And if not, we will look at the three classifications again.”
There about 125 schools in SCISA, Fanning said, with 75 or so that offer some type of athletics. Around 15 schools have added a sports program in the past five years, he said.
One example: Cross Schools in Bluffton, which started out as an elementary school, has since expanded to K-12 and will play varsity football for the first time this year.
Columbia area schools Ben Lippen, Cardinal Newman, Hammond and Heathwood Hall will be a part of the new Class 4A, the grouping that features the state’s largest private schools.
Northside Christian in Lexington will be in Class 3A for all sports except football, where they will compete in 2A. Richard Winn, W.W. King and Newberry Academy will be Class A for all sports and in the 8-man division for football.
Camden Military, one of the new schools in SCISA, will be Class 4A for all sports.
SCISA will have three to four regions per classifications for all sports except football. In football, Class 3A and 4A will be split into two regions, while Class A and 2A will be split in three four-team regions. The 8-man football teams will be broken into two regions.
Being split into regions for football will create flexibility in the schedule for cross-region play and will allow schools to schedule non-SCISA opponents if they choose, Fanning said. SCISA usually handles the scheduling and dates for region games.
SCISA region classification (minus football)
Class 4A
Region I: Augusta Christian, Ben Lippen, Cardinal Newman, Hammond, Heathwood Hall
Region II: Camden Military, Laurence Manning, Trinity Collegiate, Wilson Hall
Region III: Ashley Hall, First Baptist, Northwood, Pinewood Prep, Porter-Gaud
Class 3A
Region I: Hilton Head Christian, Hilton Head, Prep John Paul II (region will complete region schedule with Class 2A-Region II)
Region II: The Carolina Academy, Christian Academy (MB). Florence Christian, Pee Dee Academy, Williamsburg Academy
Region III: First Presbyterian, Oakbrook Prep, Spartanburg Christian, Spartanburg Day, Greenwood Christian
Region IV: Northside Christian, Orangeburg Prep, Palmetto Christian, Thomas Sumter
Class 2A
Region I: Andrew Jackson, Calhoun, Cathedral, Clarendon Hall, Dorchester, St. John’s Christian
Region II: Beaufort, Bethesda, Colleton Prep, Holy Trinity Classical, Patrick Henry, Thomas Heyward, Cross Schools, Heritage
Region III: Dillon Christian, Lee, Marlboro, The King’s Academy
Class A
Region I: Charleston Collegiate, Crown Leadership, Faith Christian, Holly Hill, Jefferson Davis, Ridge Christian
Region II: Conway Christian, Lowcountry Prep, North Myrtle Beach Christian, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Region III: Community Christian, Curtis Baptist, Ragin Prep, Sandhills School, South Aiken Baptist
Region IV: Anderson Christian, Cambridge, Laurens, Newberry, Richard Winn, Wardlaw, W.W. King, Palmetto Christian
SCISA football classifications
Class 4A
Augusta Christian, Ben Lippen, Camden Military, Cardinal Newman, Hammond, Heathwood Hall, Laurence Manning, Porter-Gaud, Trinity Collegiate
Class 3A
First Baptist, Florence Christian, Hilton Head Christian, Hilton Head Prep, John Paul II, Northwood, Pee Dee, Pinewood Prep, Wilson Hall
Class 2A
Beaufort, Bethesda, Carolina, Christian Academy, Colleton Prep, Greenwood Christian, Northside Christian, Orangeburg Prep, Palmetto Christian, Spartanburg Christian, Thomas Sumter, Williamsburg
Class A
Andrew Jackson, Calhoun, Clarendon Hall, Conway Christian, Dillon Christian, Dorchester, Lee, Patrick Henry, St. John’s Christian, The King’s Academy, Thomas Heyward
8-man
Cathedral, Charleston Collegiate, Conway Christian, Cross Schools, Holly Hill, Holy Trinity Classical Christian, Jefferson Davis, Laurens, Newberry, Richard Winn, Wardlaw, W.W. King, Oakbrook (independent and not eligible for playoffs)
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 3:38 PM.
