FHSAA Jumbles High School Football Districts Once Again

Sat. December 22, 2012 at 2:25 a.m. | By Solange Reyner

By SOLANGE REYNER

THE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Get ready for another big shake up in football next season.



The Florida High School Athletics Association on Friday released tentative district assignments for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 season, and it looks like 7A, District 5 will be a toughie to get out of, with Bartow and Kathleen joining George Jenkins, Lakeland, Haines City and Ridge Community in a six-team district. The biggest move concerning schools in Polk County, though, involves Fort Meade and Frostproof moving to Class 1A.



The assignments are tentative and schools may appeal the FHSAA to move up or down. They must do so by Jan. 18.



The head coaches for Fort Meade and Frostproof want the change.



"I think it's good for us but it's still tentative so it's hard to jump the gun on it," said Fort Meade coach Jemalle Cornelius, who thinks Fort Meade is better suited to play in that classification because of the numbers.



Fort Meade suited up 25 athletes this season.



"Our guys have to go both ways and hopefully those schools are similar."



Price Harris of Frostproof said travel will be an annoyance — Crescent City, Taylor and Wildwood are the three other teams in the district for now — but that he's excited for the change regardless.



"It gives you an opportunity to play all public schools, no private schools," Harris said. "Negatives are the travel but the positives are getting to play public schools and being able to compete on that level is big. It's always good to play schools your size."



Here's what the rest of the districts concerning Polk schools look like:



Class 6A-11: Lake Gibson, Lake Region, Sebring and Winter Haven.



Class 5A-11: Auburndale, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Tenoroc.



Class 3A-4: Berkeley Prep, Bishop McLaughlin, Lakeland Christian.



Class 2A-4: Agape, City of Life, Foundation Academy, Landmark Christian, Mount Dora Bible, Orlando Christian Prep, Santa Fe Catholic, Victory Christian.



Santa Fe Catholic might not play in the FHSAA next season. The school is in the process of discussing whether to stay in the association or move to a separate conference, coach Billy Dickerson said.