Robeson County Schools Maintain Conference Alignments for 2025-29

News Summary

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has released its second draft for the 2025-29 conference realignment, revealing that the five public high schools in Robeson County, namely Fairmont, Red Springs, St. Pauls, Lumberton, and Purnell Swett, will retain their current conference alignments. Concerns over travel distances have led some schools to file appeals. The final decision on alignments will come after hearings in February.

Robeson County Schools Set for No Change in Conference Realignment

Hey there, Robeson County! As we gear up for the new sports season, it looks like there’s some news on the horizon for our local high schools when it comes to their athletic conferences. Specifically, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has just rolled out its second draft for the 2025-29 conference realignment—and guess what? Not much has changed for our five public high schools. That’s right! Fairmont, Red Springs, St. Pauls, Lumberton, and Purnell Swett will see their conference alignments remain the same for the upcoming fall season.

What’s the Scoop on the Realignment?

So, why does all this matter? Well, this realignment affects how teams compete, and it’s no small potatoes for the schools involved. With the conference changes kicking in this fall, discussions about travel distances have been front and center. In fact, after the first draft was released back in December, Fairmont, Red Springs, and St. Pauls filed appeals due to concerns about lengthy travel times. Fairmont and Red Springs pointed to journeys that could see them hitting the road for well over two hours! Can you imagine the kids enduring a commute like that just to play a game?

Travel Distances Causing Worry

It’s not just a short hop for these teams either. Red Springs, for example, would be facing a two-hour drive just to get to Heide Trask. That’s a serious trek, especially for high school students juggling homework, practices, and, of course, their social lives!

What’s Next?

The appeals window for the second draft remains open until January 28 at 4:30 p.m. This means there’s still time for discussions and possible changes. Appeals will be heard on February 3-4 in Chapel Hill. After that, we can expect the final draft to be published, giving us all an idea of how the alignments will look going forward.

What Will the Teams Face?

As it stands, Lumberton and Purnell Swett will be in the 7A classification, while St. Pauls will take its place in the 5A category. Both Fairmont and Red Springs find themselves in the 4A classification. In the proposed “7A/8A Conference A”, Lumberton and Purnell Swett would face teams like Cape Fear, Jack Britt, and Pine Forest. In the 5A/6A Conference A, St. Pauls is set to compete with Douglas Byrd and other schools from Cumberland County. Fairmont and Red Springs are currently stuck in a three-way split conference that also includes teams like Clinton and Whiteville.

Looking Back

It’s insightful to consider the last conference realignment cycle back in early 2021. At that time, Fairmont, Red Springs, and St. Pauls successfully appealed their configurations due to similar travel worries. The Southeastern Athletic Conference currently holds teams like Fairmont, Red Springs, St. Pauls, and Clinton—where concerns about excessive travel also play a role.

What Does This Mean for Our Students?

As we anticipate the upcoming changes, it’s essential to understand the potential impacts on these young athletes. Keeping travel reasonable is critical—not only does it affect how they perform on the field, but it also influences their overall high school experience. Making sure our kids can participate in sports without excessive strain can ultimately lead to better performance and happier students.

So, Robeson County, keep your fingers crossed! The landscapes of our local high school sports could be shifting based on the coming discussions. Whether it’s addressing travel woes or building competitive teams, we’re all eager to see how things unfold in February. Here’s to hoping for the best outcomes!

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Additional Resources

• Robesonian: Robeson Schools See No Changes in NCHSAA’s 2nd Realignment Draft
• WRAL: NC Senate Leader on College Conference Realignment: No Rash Decisions
• Tar Heel Wire: North Carolina Tar Heels Best Conference Realignment Fits
• Wikipedia: North Carolina Tar Heels
• Business North Carolina: Tough Decisions Face the 4 N.C. Schools That Built the ACC
• Google Search: North Carolina College Conference Realignment