Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) has been the governing body of Kentucky high school athletics since 1917. Located in Lexington, the organization sanctions competition in the following sports:
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Girls only
Schools governed
The KHSAA governs competitions for both public and private schools throughout the state, plus two federally administered schools—Fort Campbell and Fort Knox High Schools, located on the U.S. Army bases of the same names. Fort Campbell High is actually located on the Tennessee side of the base, which straddles the state border, but the United States Department of Defense organizes the schools it runs on the two bases under a single district.
Not all secondary schools in Kentucky participate in the KHSAA. About two dozen small, private religious schools are sanctioned by the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association.[1]
Whether public, private, or federally administered, all member schools compete for state championships on an equal basis. Unlike some other states' school athletic governing bodies, the KHSAA governs only athletics; it does not govern band, academic competitions, or other extracurricular activities, all of which are governed by separate bodies. Also, unlike bodies in a growing number of states, the KHSAA does not govern cheerleading competition, which is organized by the Kentucky Association of Pep Organization Sponsors.
Boy's Basketball
See also: Sweet Sixteen (KHSAA State Basketball Championship)
2007 Sweet 16
| Quarterfinals March 21-22 | Elite Eight March 23 | Final Four March 24 | State Championship March 24 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Adair County | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Lincoln County | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adair County | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Scott County | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Scott County | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Oldham County | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
| Scott County | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Holmes | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | South Laurel | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Fairdale | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
| South Laurel | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Holmes | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Holmes | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Paducah Tilghman | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
| Scott County | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ballard | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Owensboro | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Ballard | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ballard | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||
| George R. Clark | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | George R. Clark | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Christian County | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ballard | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Central | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Elliot County | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Shelby Valley | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| Elliot County | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Central | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | June Buchanan | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Warren Central | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Football
6A
| Year | Champion | Score | Opponent | State Champion Head coach | Mr. Football |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |
2007 Class 6A KHSAA Prep Bowl Football Playoffs
| Districts Semifinals November 9 | Districts Finals November 16 | Elite Eight November 23 | Final Four November 30 | Finals December 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Marshall County | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Henderson County | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Marshall County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Daviess County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Graves County | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Daviess County | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Saint Xavier | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Butler | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Saint Xavier | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DuPont Manual | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DuPont Manual | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Pleasure Ridge Park | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Greenwood | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Nelson County | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Nelson County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Meade County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Meade County | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | North Hardin | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Male | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Bullitt Central | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Fern Creek | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Southern | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Trinity | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Seneca | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Trinity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ballard | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Eastern | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ballard | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Henry Clay | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Tates Creek | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Henry Clay | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Paul Dunbar | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Lafayette | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Paul Dunbar | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Boone County | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Campbell County | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Boone County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Ryle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Ryle | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Simon Kenton | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Scott County | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Shelby County | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Shelby County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Madison Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Madison Central | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | George Rogers Clark | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5A
| Year | Champion | Score | Opponent | State Champion Head coach | Mr. Football |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |
2007 Class 5A KHSAA Prep Bowl Football Playoffs
| Districts Semifinals November 9 | Districts Finals November 16 | Elite Eight November 23 | Final Four November 30 | Finals December 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Owensboro | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Ohio County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Hopkinsville | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Christian County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Anderson County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | South Oldham | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Jeffersontown | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Oldham County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Bowling Green | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Grayson County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Warren Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Barren County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | John Hardin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Iroquois | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Doss | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Waggener | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Highlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Scott | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Dixie Heights | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Covington Catholic | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Letcher County Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Whitley County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Perry County Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clay County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Woodford County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Montgomery County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Johnson Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Bryan Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Lincoln County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Mercer County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Pulaski County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | South Laurel | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4A
| Year | State Champion | Score | State Runner-Up | State Champion Head coach | Mr. Football (college attended) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | |||||
| 2006 | Trinity (14) | 41-7 | Ryle | Bob Beatty | Doug Beaumont, Male (Louisville) |
| 2005 | Trinity (13) | 14-6 | St. Xavier | Bob Beatty | Micah Johnson, Ft. Campbell (Kentucky) |
| 2004 | St. Xavier (8) | 49-9 | Scott County | Mike Glaser | Curtis Pulley, Hopkinsville (Kentucky) |
| 2003 | Trinity (12) | 17-14 | St. Xavier | Bob Beatty | Brian Brohm, Trinity (Louisville) |
| 2002 | Trinity (11) | 59-56 | Male | Bob Beatty | Michael Bush, Male (Louisville) |
| 2001 | Trinity (10) | 45-19 | Male | Bob Beatty | Jeff Duggins, Boyle Co. |
| 2000 | Male (3) | 34-14 | Trinity | Bob Redman | Montrell Jones, Male (Tennessee/Louisville) |
| 1999 | St. Xavier (7) | 34-31 OT | Bryan Station | Mike Glaser | Travis Atwell, Hancock Co. (Toledo/Kentucky) |
| 1998 | Male (2) | 31-7 | Tates Creek | Bob Redman | Jared Lorenzen, Highlands (Kentucky) |
| 1997 | St. Xavier (6) | 3-0 | Trinity | Mike Glaser | Dennis Johnson, Harrodsburg (Kentucky) |
| 1996 | Nelson County (1) | 35-34 OT | Paul Dunbar | Mike Brown | Derek Homer, Ft. Knox (Kentucky) |
| 1995 | St. Xavier (5) | 26-0 | Henry Clay | Bob Beatty | Tim Couch, Leslie County (Kentucky) |
| 1994 | Trinity (9) | 21-7 | Boone County | Dennis Lampley | Shaun Alexander, Boone Co. (Alabama) |
| 1993 | Male (1) | 29-7 | Shelby County | Bob Redman | Jeremy Simpson, Lincoln Co. |
| 1992 | St. Xavier (4) | 3-0 | Boone County | Mike Glaser | Billy Jack Haskins, Paducah Tilghman (Kentucky) |
| 1991 | George Rogers Clark (1) | 28-21 | St. Xavier | Dan Danko | Scott Russell, Evarts |
| 1990 | Trinity (8) | 27-0 | Warren Cenral | Dennis Lampley | Damon Hood, Warren Central (Kentucky) |
| 1989 | Trinity (7) | 28-0 | Warren Central | Dennis Lampley | Pookie Jones, Calloway Co. (Kentucky) |
| 1988 | Trinity (6) | 28-0 | DuPont Manual | Dennis Lampley | Jeff Brohm, Trinity (Louisville) |
| 1987 | Shelby County (1) | 17-14 | Boone County | Tom Becherer | Kurt Barber, Paducah Tilghman (Southern Cal) |
| 1986 | St. Xavier (3) | 27-14 | Boone County | Mike Glaser | Frank Jacobs, Newport Catholic (Notre Dame) |
| 1985 | Trinity (5) | 28-7 | Lafayette | Dennis Lampley | |
| 1984 | Christian County (2) | 14-10 | Ballard | Don Goble | |
| 1983 | Trinity (4) | 26-7 | Owensboro | Roger Gruneisen | |
| 1982 | Christian County (1) | 10-3 | Southern | Don Goble | |
| 1981 | Henry Clay (1) | 20-7 | DeSales | Jake Bell | |
| 1980 | Trinity (3) | 31-8 | Paducah Tilghman | Roger Gruneisen | |
| 1979 | Butler (1) | 21-7 | Henry Clay | Joe Hood | |
| 1978 | St. Xavier (2) | 42-21 | Tates Creek | Mike Stewart | |
| 1977 | Trinity (2) | 28-7 | Greenup County | Dave Moore | |
| 1976 | Trinity (1) | 28-24 | Henderson County | Dave Moore | |
| 1975 | St. Xavier (1) | 20-0 | Ashland Blazer | Bill Glaser |
Classification
Unlike the situation in most states, the default in Kentucky is to conduct a single state championship for all schools, with no classification of schools by enrollment.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Most notably, Kentucky does not divide schools into classes in basketball,[11] with Delaware being the only other remaining state with a single state basketball championship for each sex. Of the 13 sports in which the KHSAA sanctions state championships, only three are organized in multiple classes—cross-country, football, and track. As of the 2007-08 school year, the classification rules for the three sports which are divided are:
- Cross-country[12] and track[13]
- Class A — 570 or fewer students
- Class AA — 571-950 students
- Class AAA — More than 950 students
- Football[14][15]
- Class 6A — The 36 largest schools in the state, based on average enrollment (see below) of boys only, among schools that sponsor the sport.
- Class 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A — Each with 36 schools, in decreasing order of enrollment
- Class A — All remaining schools that sponsor football after the other classes are filled
The 2007-08 school year is the first for a six-class alignment in football; previously, a four-class system had been used.[16]
Schools were allowed to petition the KHSAA for reclassification before the football realignment became final. Eleven schools requested that the KHSAA place them in a higher class than their enrollment warranted; six of these requests were approved. No school was allowed to play in a lower class, although the KHSAA accepted one school's request to adjust its enrollment downward.[17] As a result of these requests, the final number of schools in each classification is:[14]
- Class 6A — 36 schools[18]
- Class 5A — 37 schools
- Class 4A — 35 schools
- Class 3A — 39 schools[19]
- Class 2A — 33 schools
- Class A — 41 schools[20]
In all three sports, classification is based on a four-year average enrollment in grades 9 through 12. Single-sex schools are deemed to have double their actual average enrollment for cross-country and track; prior to the 2007 realignment, football also used this rule.[12][13][16] In cross-country and track, the KHSAA rule is to divide the classes so that 40% of all schools that sponsor the sport are in Class A and 30% are in both Class AA and AAA.[12][13]
Eligibility considerations
As is standard for high school sports in the U.S., students are limited to four consecutive years of eligibility (grades 9-12), whether or not they participate in any sports during one or more of those years. In football and soccer, students are not allowed to play on the varsity until they are actually enrolled in the ninth grade, and wrestlers cannot compete until they have entered the seventh grade.[21] In other sports, there is no grade restriction; for example, highly-touted basketball prospect O.J. Mayo first played on a high school varsity team as a seventh-grader at Rose Hill Christian School in Ashland, and current PGA Tour golfer JB Holmes first played on the golf team of Taylor County High School in Campbellsville while in the third grade.[22] The eligibility "clock" for such students does not start until they enter ninth grade.[21]
Like all U.S. jurisdictions, Kentucky has an upper age limit for high school athletic participation. The KHSAA rule is that students must be under age 19 as of the July 31 preceding the current academic year. This particular rule is actually codified in Kentucky Revised Statutes § 156.270(2)(e).[23]
A student who is repeating a grade during high school for any reason is not allowed to compete during his or her second year at that grade level.[21]
Homeschoolers are prohibited from participating in any KHSAA-sanctioned activities.[21] Moreover, KHSAA schools are also prohibited from competing against teams comprised of homeschoolers.
Notes and references
- ^ Kentucky Christian Athletic Association web site
- ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Baseball Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Fast Pitch Softball Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Golf Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Slow Pitch Softball Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Soccer Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Swimming Meets" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Tennis Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Volleyball Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Wrestling Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Basketball Tournaments" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Cross Country Meets" (PDF). 2006-07 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing Track Meets" (PDF). 2006-07 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Final Football Alignment for 2007-08 Through 2008-09" (PDF). KHSAA.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "School Enrollment and Notes Used for Realignment" (PDF). KHSAA.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "KHSAA Rules and Regulations Governing the Football Championships" (PDF). 2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Final Football Alignment Cover Letter" (PDF). KHSAA. August 21, 2006.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ A new Harlan County High School is scheduled to open in 2008-09. It has already been classified as a 6A school, which will bring the number of schools in the class to 37 for that school year.
- ^ James A. Cawood High School, classified as 3A, is one of the three schools that will close once the new Harlan County High opens.
- ^ Cumberland and Evarts High Schools, the other two schools that will merge into Harlan County High, are in this class.
- ^ a b c d "2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook: Bylaw 4" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Associated Press (January 6, 2007). "After 10 years on his school team, Holmes joins the PGA Tour varsity". PGA of America.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "2006-2007 KHSAA Handbook: Bylaw 3" (PDF).
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