ARCA, LRCH among area schools moving up in classification
ARCA, LRCH among area schools moving up in classification
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ARCA, LRCH among area schools moving up in classification

🕒︎ 2025-10-21

Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate

ARCA, LRCH among area schools moving up in classification

It was only a matter of time. And now, that time has arrived. Lafayette Renaissance and Acadiana Renaissance athletic programs will be moving up to Class 4A beginning next fall according to enrollment numbers released by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Considering how quickly both schools have grown since being established, neither ARCA nor LRCH were surprised by their placement. “Going up to 4A is something that was expected,” ARCA’s Ivy Landry said. “I think it is going to be a good transition for us. We were in 2A for a couple of years and 3A for a couple of years. Now, we’ll be in 4A and eventually – by the time we do this (reclassification) again in two years – we’ll be in 5A.” “As the school year kicked off, we knew we would be going to 4A,” LRCH head football coach Hunter Landry said. “We knew we would be making that jump. Our school is growing at a rapid rate.” The Eagles, whose football program will begin playing for district and postseason honors next season, submitted an enrollment of 977, while the Tigers, who are in their second season playing for district and postseason honors in football, submitted an enrollment of 996. In addition to the Eagles and the Tigers, the St. Thomas More Cougars (1076) are returning to Class 5A, while both the Carencro Bears (974), and the Eunice Bobcats (601) are moving down in classification. The Bears, who are currently competing in 5A, will move down to 4A, while the Bobcats are going from 4A to 3A. Although Teurlings Catholic (851) will remain in 4A, it will benefit from a new rule that will keep them from being placed in the Division I select bracket during the postseason. Instead, the Rebels will compete in Division II select, while the Cougars will remain in Division I select. “From what I read, I think it is correct,” said Rebels coach Michael Courville, about the rule that requires all teams placed in Division I brackets to be placed in 5A districts. “It was something that was passed in January that was supposed to go into effect this year, but now it has been moved to next year.” With the return of the Bears and Rebels to 4A, and the additions of Acadiana Renaissance and Lafayette Renaissance, will the LHSAA make two big districts that would include other Acadiana area schools such as Westgate (830), Cecilia (773), David Thibodaux (746 no-football), North Vermilion (738), Beau Chene (705), Northside (669), Comeaux (667), Opelousas (640), Rayne (639), and Breaux Bridge (629) or three small districts? “I would definitely hope for the big district, because the tough part of scheduling is the non-district games,” Landry said. “Having a big district makes it easier so that you don’t have to go find so many non-district games. Not only does it increase the amount of new faces we get to see, but it increases the competition and allows for you to make more money.” Courville, who admits he isn’t sure how it would break down, agreed with Landry. “I’m a proponent of the big district,” Courville said. “It’s also harder to find non-district games. I’d rather have to travel five, 10 or 15 minutes for a game than to travel three and a half hours for a game. The big district just makes life easier, and it is beneficial when you play local games. So, I wouldn’t say I have a preference, because to be the best, you’re going to have to beat the best.” Other than a desire to stay as close to the area as possible, Landry said how the district is constructed “doesn’t really make a difference.” “Eventually, you’re going to have to play everybody,” Landry said. “We are all for competition. We’d like to play teams closer to home because it makes it easier for the parents to go to and it’ll help build up rivalries. So, the closer the better.”

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