Last year MSHSAA announced that the way classifications are determined would change starting this year. You can read more details on those changes by clicking here.
Those changes to the way classes are determined will cause 10 MSHSAA sports to add more classes this year which will mean more championship opportunities.
Below are the sports that will add classifications according the MSHSAA Communications Director Jason West.
Baseball: going from 5 to 6 classes
Boys Basketball: going from 5 to 6 classes
Girls Basketball: going from 5 to 6 classes
Girls Golf: going from 2 to 4 classes
Boys Golf: going from 4 to 5 classes
Fall Softball: going from 4 to 5 classes
Spring Softball: going from 1 to 2 classes
Boys Tennis: going from 2 to 3 classes
Girls Tennis: going from 2 to 3 classes
Volleyball: going from 4 to 5 classes
The additional classes will necesitate some changes to state championship weekends.
For example, tennis will now have a weekend for team championships and a weekend for singles and doubles to be contested. Previously, team championships took place on a Thursday with singles and doubles following on Friday and Saturday.
Baseball will contest its six classes over six days as it was with five classes, but with more games each day. It will be similar to the old format with two classes contesting semifinals on one day and place games the following day. Two more classes will then go with semifinals and place games over two days followed by the final two classes.
Basketball will still be two weekends with the second weekend having classes 4-6. In recent years, the second weekend has been classes 4-5.
