AIA aligns Thatcher in 3A South Central Region for 2020-2022

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Rulon Motes slam dunks the ball against Pima last January. Thatcher will play this basketball season in the 2A East Region but is scheduled to move up to the 3A South Central Region for the 2020/21 season.

Alignment for football and soccer not yet released

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

PHOENIX – The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) released its new sports alignment schedule Friday for volleyball, boy’s and girl’s basketball, baseball, and softball, and Thatcher will be realigned from the 2A East Region to the 3A South Central Region. Alignment for football and boy’s and girl’s soccer has not yet been released. 

Thatcher will be the smallest school in its region with its enrollment of 538. Other schools in the 3A South Central Region and their alignments are American Leadership Academy-Ironwood (964), San Tan Foothills (897), Florence (878), Coolidge (815), and Globe (549). 

3A South

Safford (869) will remain in the 3A South along with Sabino (994), Empire (877), Palo Verde Magnet (798), Catalina (661), Tanque Verde (576), and Pusch Ridge (367). 

2A East

Morenci (334) and Pima (292) will remain in the 2A East along with Tombstone (433), Benson (405), Willcox (386), and Bisbee (316). 

1A South

Fort Thomas (153) and Duncan (130) will move from the 1A East to the 1A South along with Valley Union (134), St. David (123), Patagonia Union (85), Cibecue (83), and San Simon (42). Both teams played football in the 1A South this season.