Russell Moving to Class 2A in Football, 6-Man Football Officially Sanctioned
The Kansas State High School Activities Association has released its high school classifications for the 2021-22 school year and football classifications for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Russell will remain in Class 3A in all sports for the 2021-22 school year, but will move down to 2A in football in 2022 and 2023.
A big reason for the change is due to a decision by the KSHSAA Board of Directors at their September 15 meeting. In order to bring stability to Classes 3, 2 and 1A, instead of 48 schools in 3A and 2A, the board voted to change the number to 40 in each of those classes with the remaining 11-man participating schools going to Class 1A.
High school classifications are based on the 20 day count of 9-12 grade students. Football classifications are based on the 9-11 grade student count.
Russell has 222 students in grades 9-12. Class 3A enrollment numbers range for 314 to 174.
Russell has 154 students in grades 9-11. Class 2A enrollment numbers range from 180 to 128.
No other area schools are changing classifications. Natoma (38), Sylvan-Lucas (85), Victoria (80) and Wilson (42) all remain in 1A in all sports for the 2021-22 school year.
For the 2022 and 2023 football seasons, Natoma remains in 6-Man, while Sylvan-Lucas, Victoria and Wilson stay in 8-Man Division II.
Also with the release of the classifications on Friday, September 24, 6-Man football is now an officially sanctioned activity through the KSHSAA. In order to be a sanctioned division, 6-Man needed at least 24 teams. Starting with the 2022 and 2023 seasons, there now will be 26 teams in Kansas.