With the WPIAL playoffs are set to take place this weekend at Heinz Field, it will likely be the final time the finals are played at the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers.
That’s because beginning next season the PIAA, starting next season, will reclassify into six divisions instead of four classes.
The divisions are judged by enrollment figures and will look as follows:
6A: North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Butler, Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon, Central Catholic, Canon-McMillan, Norwin, Pine-Richland, Penn Hills, Bethel Park, Peters Township and Shaler.
5A: Plum, Upper St. Clair, Connellsville, Penn-Trafford, Baldwin, Fox Chapel, Woodland Hills, Greater Latrobe, North Hills, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, Armstrong, Moon, Gateway, McKeesport, Chartiers Valley, Hampton and West Allegheny.
4A: Mars, Trinity, Albert Gallatin, Montour, Laurel Highlands, Thomas Jefferson, Knoch, Blackhawk, West Mifflin, Greensburg Salem, Ringgold, Highlands, Indiana, Quaker Valley, Belle Vernon, New Castle, Ambridge, Uniontown and South Fayette.
3A: Elizabeth Forward, Beaver, Central Valley, Hopewell, Deer Lakes, Derry, Yough, Freeport, South Park, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Valley, Waynesburg Central, Shady Side Academy, Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Burrell and Southmoreland.
2A: East Allegheny, Riverside, Vincentian, West Shamokin, SteelValley, South Allegheny, Brownsville, Charleroi, New Brighton, Washington, Avonworth, South Side, Mohawk, Seton-LaSalle, Bethlehem Center, Apollo-Ridge, Burgettstown, Carlynton, Brentwood, Freedom, North Catholic, Laurel, Neshannock, Bentworth, Frazier, Chartiers-Houston and Serra Catholic.
1A: Fort Cherry, Shenango, Summit Academy, Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Aliquippa, Carmichaels, Bishop Canevin, Northgate, Sto-Rox, Riverview, California, Springdale, Jeannette, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Leechburg, Rochester, Western Beaver, West Greene, Union, Mapletown, Monessen, Clairton, Wilkinsburg and Avella.
These classifications will run through the 2017-18 school year.
Photo Credit: Andrew Rush
