With the final approval of winter and spring sport classifications, the Alabama High School Athletic Association has completed its two-year statewide realignment, a restructuring highlighted by the separation of public and private school classifications along with the addition of new member schools from the Alabama Independent Schools Association.

SNOOK EAGLES SOAR INTO AHSAA

This week, the Central Board of Control approved classifications and alignments for winter and spring sports for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. The board also approved three new independent schools to join the association beginning in the 2026-27 school year, including Snook Christian Academy.

According to a news release from Snook, the Eagles’ athletics department has been evaluating a potential move to the AHSAA for several years.

“We believe this move will create meaningful opportunities for our athletic program and our students," Snook’s administration stated in the release. "Participation in the AHSAA will allow our teams to compete against strong programs in our region while also reducing the amount of travel our students have experienced in recent years. Most importantly, it will provide an environment that challenges our student-athletes to grow not only in skill and competition, but also in character, discipline, and teamwork."

The Eagles previously competed in the AISA and participated in their first season of eight-man football in 2025. Snook will be placed in the Independent Schools Class A classification (Single-A), where it will compete against fellow Baldwin County private schools Bayshore Christian and Bayside Academy.

Thad Butts told GCM the school is well aware of the challenges that come with moving into the AHSAA but said players and coaches are excited for the opportunity nonetheless.

“We are stepping out on faith and trusting that God will continue to bless us through this move just as He has throughout our school's history," Snook president Thad Butts stated.

FINAL REALINGMENT 

To refresh the mind, the newly approved winter and spring alignments largely mirror the fall sports realignment that was released earlier by the AHSAA following the association’s decision to split private and public school classifications.

With the elimination of Class 7A in the new structure, Baldwin County’s largest public schools will all compete in Class 6A. Daphne, Fairhope, Foley and Robertsdale will remain grouped together in the same classification moving forward across all sports.

Several other local programs will shift down one classification. Baldwin County, Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort will move to Class 5A, where they will join Elberta. Orange Beach remains in Class 4A and will be the county’s lone program competing in that classification. St. Michael Catholic will compete in Class 2A (Double-A) under the new alignment.

The updated alignments will take effect beginning with the 2026-27 school year and remain in place through the 2027-28 athletic seasons.