IHSAA moving Eastern Greene football up to Class 2A

Bloomington, Ind. — Eastern Greene’s football program learned Monday that its road through the postseason just became steeper, as the Thunderbirds will compete in Class 2A for at least the next two cycles after the Indiana High School Athletic Association released updated enrollment figures and sport-by-sport classifications.

A difference of one student—351 to 352—proved decisive. The tiny bump nudged Eastern from the 261st-largest school in the state to 252nd, slotting the T-Birds as the second-smallest 2A program behind only reigning state champion South Putnam and Indianapolis Lutheran, both of which are compelled to play up under the IHSAA’s Success Factor.

It marks the third separate stint in 2A for Eastern Greene, which previously resided there in 2006-07 and 2013-14. The program went 0-4 in sectional games during those seasons before dropping back to 1A.

Across the region, several schools will feel the ripple effects of the new numbers. West Vigo (501 students) is stepping down to 2A in football, while Sullivan (521) is headed to 3A on the gridiron even though it will stay 2A in volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. Owen Valley (615), future Western Indiana Conference member Vincennes Lincoln (711) and Edgewood (769) also land in 3A, with Edgewood now the fifth-largest school in the classification. Washington is sliding back to 3A as well.

In the higher classes, Columbus East and East Central are dropping to 4A, Madison is rising to 4A, and Greenfield-Central, Pendleton Heights and Mt. Vernon (Fortville) are joining 5A mainstays Cathedral and New Palestine. Whiteland, Valparaiso and Merrillville will populate 6A after Whiteland’s enrollment climbed to an anticipated 2,112 students.

On the hardwood and the diamond, Bedford North Lawrence (1,185) will compete in 3A for the first time, positioning it as the second-largest school in that group, while Martinsville (1,202) becomes the smallest 4A program.

Soccer classifications remain unchanged locally. North, set to enter the Mid-State Conference this fall, will be among the smallest schools in a league led by Perry Meridian (2,420). South, eyeing a move to the Hoosier Hills Conference, is comparable in size to New Albany (1,753) and Floyd Central (1,752).

The IHSAA will announce specific sectional pairings at a later date.