What we know about 2024-25 IHSAA sectional realignment for Lafayette-area schools

LAFAYETTE — Sectional reclassifications for fall and winter sports are coming that begin a new two-year cycle, the Indiana High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday morning.

New enrollment statistics, the addition of new schools throughout the state and success factors were key in shifting schools to new sectionals both higher and lower.

The most notable changes in realignment included Harrison being moved up to Class 6A football while Lafayette Jeff slots down one class to 5A.

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Harrison has been dominant with 22 straight North Central Conference wins but will move to the realigned Sagamore Athletic Conference with McCutcheon beginning in the 2025-26 season. Both teams will be eligible for postseason play but won't play for a conference championship.

The Raiders have gone 25-6 over the last three seasons and won its first IHSAA playoff game since 2019. Now the Raiders will compete in the same sectional as Indianapolis suburb powerhouse Westfield which reached the 2023 6A Semi-State title game, Zionsville and Carmel.

Lafayette Jeff had four playoff wins in 6A competition since 2019 including a win over 6A State finalist Crown Point in 2022. The Bronchos have shifted a division to play McCutcheon, South Bend Adams and Kokomo.

Javyveon McKinstry celebrates a defensive stop during the IHSAA football game against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos on Sept. 22, 2023 at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind.
Javyveon McKinstry celebrates a defensive stop during the IHSAA football game against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos on Sept. 22, 2023 at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind.

Other changes include Rensselaer Central and Benton Central flipping from 3A to 2A while Central Catholic and Carroll return to Class 1A for boys and girls basketball.

Here are other notable division fluctuations that will occur for football, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls volleyball, girls soccer and boys soccer.

Football

McCutcheon Mavericks Malachi Kenner (97) reacts after recovering a fumble during the IHSAA football game against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon won 34-22.
McCutcheon Mavericks Malachi Kenner (97) reacts after recovering a fumble during the IHSAA football game against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon won 34-22.

Class 6A

  • Sectional 3: Harrison (West Lafayette), Zionsville, Westfield, Carmel.

Class 5A

  • Sectional 12: McCutcheon, Lafayette Jeff, South Bend Adams and Kokomo.

Class 4A

  • Sectional 20: Culver Academies, Frankfort, Huntington North, Lebanon, Logansport, Marion, Muncie Central.

Class 3A

  • Sectional 27: Benton Central, Frankton, Maconaquah, Northwestern, Peru, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western.

  • Sectional 29: Cascade, Crawfordsville, Guerin Catholic, Hamilton Heights, Indianapolis George Washington Community, Speedway, Tri-West Hendricks, West Vigo.

West Lafayette Red Devils Benny Speaker (3) reaches into the end zone for a touchdown during the IHSAA football game against the Benton Central Bison, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Benton Central High School in Oxford, Ind.
West Lafayette Red Devils Benny Speaker (3) reaches into the end zone for a touchdown during the IHSAA football game against the Benton Central Bison, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Benton Central High School in Oxford, Ind.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 33: Andrean, Boone Grove, Bremen, Lake Station Edison, Rensselaer Central, Wheeler, Whiting.

  • Sectional 34: Delphi Community, Lafayette Central Catholic, Lewis Cass, North Montgomery, North Putnam, Seeger, Southmont, Western Boone.

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Class 1A

  • Sectional 41: Bowman Leadership Academy, Culver Community, LaVille, North Judson-San Pierre, North Newton, South, Central (Union Mills), South Newton, West Central.

  • Sectional 42: Carroll (Flora), Caston, Frontier, North White, Pioneer, Taylor, Tri-County, Winamac.

  • Sectional 45: Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Central (Farmersburg), North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, South Putnam

  • Sectional 46: Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Cloverdale, Irvington Preparatory Academy, Purdue Polytechnic - Broad Ripple, Sheridan, Tindley, Tri-Central.

Harrison Raiders forward Malachi King (41) celebrates after scoring during the IHSAA boy’s basketball sectional game against the Kokomo Wildkats, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind.
Harrison Raiders forward Malachi King (41) celebrates after scoring during the IHSAA boy’s basketball sectional game against the Kokomo Wildkats, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Ind.

Boys basketball

Class 4A

  • Sectional 7: Harrison (West Lafayette), Kokomo, Lafayette Jefferson, McCutcheon.

Class 3A

  • Sectional 23: Logansport, Maconaquah, Northwestern, Peru, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western.

  • Sectional 25: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Crawfordsville, Danville Community, Frankfort, Guerin Catholic, Lebanon, Tri-West Hendricks.

Benton Central Bison Chase Brummett (22) defends West Lafayette Red Devils Ben Werth (10) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball sectional game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Ind. West Lafayette Red Devils won 41-40.
Benton Central Bison Chase Brummett (22) defends West Lafayette Red Devils Ben Werth (10) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball sectional game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Ind. West Lafayette Red Devils won 41-40.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 37: Benton Central, Delphi Community, North Montgomery, Rensselaer Central, Seeger, Western Boone.

  • Sectional 41: Greencastle, North Putnam, Parke Heritage, South Putnam, South Vermillion, Southmont.

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Class 1A

  • Sectional 50: Caston, DeMotte Christian, North Newton, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central.

  • Sectional 53: Attica, Covington, Faith Christian, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke.

  • Sectional 54: Bethesda Christian, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Frontier, Rossville, Traders Point Christian.

Harrison Raiders Ava Ahnert (2) and McCutcheon Mavericks Lillie Graves (12) go for a loose ball during the IHSAA girl’s basketball sectional championship game, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Kokomo Memorial Gymnasium in Kokomo, Ind.
Harrison Raiders Ava Ahnert (2) and McCutcheon Mavericks Lillie Graves (12) go for a loose ball during the IHSAA girl’s basketball sectional championship game, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Kokomo Memorial Gymnasium in Kokomo, Ind.

Girls basketball

Class 4A

  • Sectional 7: Harrison (West Lafayette), Kokomo, Lafayette Jefferson, McCutcheon.

Class 3A

  • Sectional 23: Logansport, Maconaquah, Northwestern, Peru, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western.

  • Sectional 25: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Crawfordsville, Danville Community, Frankfort, Guerin Catholic, Lebanon, Tri-West Hendricks.

Harrison Raiders Kiersten Guyer (33) and Benton Central Bison center Sarah Gick (25) fight for possession during the IHSAA girl’s basketball game, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Benton Central High School in Oxford, Ind. Benton Central won 59-31.
Harrison Raiders Kiersten Guyer (33) and Benton Central Bison center Sarah Gick (25) fight for possession during the IHSAA girl’s basketball game, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Benton Central High School in Oxford, Ind. Benton Central won 59-31.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 37: Benton Central, Delphi Community, North Montgomery, Rensselaer Central, Seeger, Western Boone.

  • Sectional 41: Greencastle, North Putnam, Parke Heritage, South Putnam, South Vermillion, Southmont.

Class 1A

  • Sectional 50: Caston, DeMotte Christian, North Newton, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central.

  • Sectional 53: Attica, Covington, Faith Christian, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke.

  • Sectional 54: Bethesda Christian, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Frontier, Rossville.

Harrison Riley Whitlock (18) prepares to spike the ball during the IHSAA girls volleyball match against Frontier, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. Harrison won 3-0.
Harrison Riley Whitlock (18) prepares to spike the ball during the IHSAA girls volleyball match against Frontier, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. Harrison won 3-0.

Girls volleyball

Class 4A

  • Sectional 7: Harrison (West Lafayette), Kokomo, Lafayette Jefferson, McCutcheon.

Class 3A

  • Sectional 23: Logansport, Maconaquah, Northwestern, Peru, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western.

  • Sectional 25: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Crawfordsville, Danville Community, Frankfort, Guerin Catholic, Lebanon, Tri-West Hendricks.

Faith Christian Eagles Olivia Barber (6) sets the ball for Faith Christian Eagles middle blocker Anna Riley (5) during the IHSAA girls volleyball match against the Benton Central Bison, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Faith Christian High School in Lafayette, Ind. Benton Central Bison won 3-0.
Faith Christian Eagles Olivia Barber (6) sets the ball for Faith Christian Eagles middle blocker Anna Riley (5) during the IHSAA girls volleyball match against the Benton Central Bison, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Faith Christian High School in Lafayette, Ind. Benton Central Bison won 3-0.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 37: Benton Central, Delphi Community, North Montgomery, Rensselaer Central, Seeger, Western Boone.

  • Sectional 41: Greencastle, North Putnam, Parke Heritage, South Putnam, South Vermillion, Southmont.

Class 1A

  • Sectional 50: Caston, DeMotte Christian, North Newton, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central.

  • Sectional 53: Attica, Covington, Faith Christian, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke.

  • Sectional 54: Bethesda Christian, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Frontier, Rossville, Traders Point Christian.

McCutcheon Mavericks Chloe Finney (13) dribbles the ball during the IHSAA girls soccer sectional game against the Kokomo Wildkats, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon Mavericks won 8-0.
McCutcheon Mavericks Chloe Finney (13) dribbles the ball during the IHSAA girls soccer sectional game against the Kokomo Wildkats, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon Mavericks won 8-0.

Girls soccer

Class 3A

  • Sectional 7: Harrison (West Lafayette), Kokomo, Lafayette Jefferson, Logansport, McCutcheon.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 22: Benton Central, Hanover Central, Illiana Christian, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Twin Lakes.

  • Sectional 25: Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Lebanon, North Montgomery, Tri-West Hendricks, West Lafayette, Western Boone.

Class 1A

  • Sectional 33: Andrean, Boone Grove, DeMotte Christian, Hebron, Kouts, Rensselaer Central.

  • Sectional 38: Delphi Community, Faith Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, North White, Rossville, Sheridan.

  • Sectional 39: Eastern (Greentown), Elwood Community, Lapel, Taylor, Tipton, Tri-Central.

  • Sectional 40: Covington, Greencastle, North Putnam, South Vermillion, Southmont.

McCutcheon Mavericks Korbin Vanette (19) is slide tackled by Harrison Raiders Gavin Knoth (22) during the IHSAA boy’s soccer game, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. Harrison won 6-0.
McCutcheon Mavericks Korbin Vanette (19) is slide tackled by Harrison Raiders Gavin Knoth (22) during the IHSAA boy’s soccer game, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Ind. Harrison won 6-0.

Boys soccer

Class 3A

  • Sectional 7: Harrison (West Lafayette), Kokomo, Lafayette Jefferson, Lebanon, Logansport, McCutcheon.

Class 2A

  • Sectional 21: Benton Central, Crawfordsville, Frankfort, North Montgomery, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western.

Class 1A

  • Sectional 37: Covington, DeMotte Christian, Faith Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, North White, Rensselaer Central.

  • Sectional 38: Carroll (Flora), Delphi Community, Rossville, Taylor, Tipton, Tri-Central.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: What to know about the 2024-2025 IHSAA sectional and class realignment

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