IHSAA announces football classification for 2016, 2017

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has moved a step closer to determining district football assignments for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

On Thursday, the IHSAA released preliminary classifications for the next two seasons.

Eight area schools will be switching classes.

As one of the 48 largest schools in the state, Western Dubuque moves up to Class 4A. Center Point-Urbana and South Tama are promoted from Class 2A to Class 3A, and Tipton drops from 2A to 1A.

Maquoketa Valley and Alburnett will switch sides on the 1A/A line, with Maquoketa Valley moving up and Alburnett sliding down.

Iowa Valley and Lone Tree will make their 8-Player debut.

District assignments are expected to be released in about two weeks.

Here are preliminary assignments for area teams in 2016 and 2017:

Class 4A — Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Linn-Mar, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Western Dubuque.

Class 3A — Benton Community, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Center Point-Urbana, Clear Creek Amana, Decorah, Independence, Maquoketa, Marion, Solon, South Tama, Vinton-Shellsburg, Washington (Iowa), West Delaware.

Class 2A — Anamosa, Cascade, Dyersville Beckman, Mid-Prairie, Monticello, Mount Vernon, North Fayette Valley, Oelwein, Union, Waukon, West Liberty, Williamsburg.

Class 1A — Clayton Ridge, Highland, Iowa City Regina, Jesup, Maquoketa Valley, MFL MarMac, North Cedar, Sigourney-Keota, South Winneshiek, Tipton, West Branch.

Class A — Alburnett, BGM, Belle Plaine, East Buchanan, Edgewood-Colesburg, Lisbon, Montezuma, North Linn, North Tama, Postville, Starmont.

8-Player — Cedar Valley Christian, Central City, Elkader Central, English Valleys, HLV, Iowa Valley, Lansing Kee, Lone Tree, Meskwaki Settlement, Midland, Springville, Turkey Valley, West Central.

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