IHSAA Announces Sectional Groupings For 2015 Through 2017

By Mike Perleberg East Central, South Dearborn, and Franklin County football teams may benefit in the postseason with juggernaut Columbus East's move up to Class 5A. Photo by Sandy Mahoney. (St. Leon, Ind.) – The East Central, South Dearborn, and Franklin County football teams' path to a football sectional championship for the next two years just became a bit easier. The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced Monday its biennial re-alignment of tournament sectional groupings in football, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball. The changes for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years were approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee. According to the IHSAA, four committees consisting of school administrators representing each IHSAA district and class were constructed to realign the sports. The baseball and softball committee, basketball and volleyball committee, and soccer committee each consisted of 12 individuals while the football committee totaled 18 members. Football powerhouse Columbus East – which won a regional in 2014 and a state title in 2013 – will move up from Class 4A to Class 5A due to the IHSAA’s tournament success factor. Left to duke it out in 4A Sectional 23 in football are East Central, Franklin County, Jennings County, Madison, Seymour, Shelbyville, Silver Creek, and South Dearborn. Class 3A Sectional 30 will consist of Batesville, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Indian Creek, Indianapolis Manual, Indianapolis George Washington, Indianapolis Marshall, and Rushville. Milan will remain in IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 38, joined by tournament newcomer Switzerland County, which instituted a football program three years ago. They will potentially compete against Sectional 38 members Centerville, Eastern Hancock, Indianapolis Howe, Northeastern, Triton Central, and Union County. Also new to the IHSAA football tournament in 2015 will be Oldenburg Academy. The Twisters will be a member of 1A Sectional 47 with Eastern Greene, Edinburgh, North Decatur, South Decatur, Springs Valley, Trinity Lutheran, and West Washington. New sectional alignments for local teams in other sports are listed below.   BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL 4A Sectional 14 Bloomington South, Bloomington North, Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Shelbyville   3A Sectional 29 Batesville, Franklin County, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Madison, Rushville, South Dearborn   2A Sectional 45 Austin, Milan, North Decatur, South Ripley, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County   1A Sectional 60 Hauser, Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy, Rising Sun, South Decatur, Southwestern (Shelbyville), Waldron     BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL 4A Sectional 14 Bloomington South, Bloomington North, Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Shelbyville   3A Sectional 29 Batesville, Franklin County, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Madison, Rushville, South Dearborn   2A Sectional 45 Austin, Milan, North Decatur, South Ripley, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County   1A Sectional 60 Hauser, Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy, Rising Sun, Shawe Memorial, South Decatur     BOYS SOCCER 2A Sectional 25 Connersville, Franklin County, New Castle, Richmond, Rushville   2A Sectional 26 Batesville, East Central, Greensburg, Jennings County, South Dearborn   1A Sectional 56 Hauser, Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy, Trinity Lutheran, Waldron   1A Sectional 57 Lawrenceburg, Milan, Rising Sun, South Ripley   1A Sectional 58 Austin, Shawe Memorial, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County     GIRLS SOCCER 2A Sectional 25 Connersville, Franklin County, New Castle, Richmond, Rushville   2A Sectional 26 Batesville, East Central, Greensburg, Jennings County, South Dearborn   1A Sectional 45 Lawrenceburg, Milan, Rising Sun, South Ripley, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County, Trinity Lutheran