The Louisiana High School Athletic Association granted Washington-Marion’s request to play up but denied Iowa’s appeal to remain in Class 3A during a meeting Thursday in Baton Rouge.

The LHSAA finalized the class/division breakdown for each sport and discussed whether districts would continue to be based on the current class system or be changed to match the nonselect/select playoff format. The LHSAA will send its first draft of districts to member schools on Monday.

The next meeting to discuss the first version of the district plan will take place Nov. 13. Schools must submit appeals by Thursday.

W-M’s request to play up to Class 4A for a second consecutive reclassification period was approved.

“Washington-Marion Magnet High School has elected to remain in Class 4A in the best interest of our school’s athletic programs,” W-M Principal Crystal Bowie said.

W-M played in the local 3A district in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

Iowa (617 students) argued to the Executive Committee that it should not have to count 19 students from the Boys Village who are required to attend the school. That would have put Iowa under the threshold for 4A, but the appeal was denied. The range for Class 4A is 608 to 1,032.

W-M will be the third-smallest 4A school at 572 students and ahead of St. Charles Catholic (418) and Loyola Prep (401), which also opted to play up.

After two seasons in Class 3A, Kinder (385) is going back to 2A as the fourth largest in that classification.

East Beauregard is moving up to Class 2A with 244 students, 13 above the floor of 231, while Grand Lake (227) will return to Class 1A as the third-largest school in that class after two seasons in Class 2A.

Fairview will move from Class C to Class B.

The other big change is that Sam Houston will not play up in Division I volleyball next season. The Broncos opted to play up the last five seasons, making the postseason each year and the state tournament last season. No. 5 Sam Houston (34-7) will host No. 8 Natchitoches Central at 11 a.m. today with a trip to the LHSAA state tournament next week at the Cajundome on the line.

“I could have opted to play up in Division I again, but what has happened because numbers have shifted that there are so many powerhouses in Division I and fewer in Division II,” Sam Houston head coach Rene Fontenot said. “I think it is better for our program.

“We had played up by choice. It was hard to walk away from a district-rivalry setting. It has to be what benefits us in postseason play and where we will be more successful. Clearly, our numbers are in Division II. Some of those like Dutchtown are physically massive. We grow slowly, but we haven’t had any huge gains since I have been here. Going back and reevaluating, it is going to be better for us to stay in Division II.”

Sam Houston has 1,137 students. The 10 largest Division I volleyball schools have 2,000-plus students with Dutchtown topping the list at 2,613. Sam Houston will continue to compete in Class 5A in football, baseball, softball, basketball and track.

While the Broncos will no longer be in a district with Barbe and Sulphur, the Fontenot said they still plan to play both schools in nondistrict matches.