Note: Since this story was written, the Lamar County golf team finished second in the sectionals and qualified for the state tournament. Darlington, a large private school, was the first place team from the sectional and defeated LC by 40 strokes, according to Jute Wilson.
Lamar County school superintendent Dr. Jute Wilson has written GHSA officials and members of its reclassification committee addressing what he terms ‘competitive imbalances’ in Class A. LC was moved to Class A, Div. I from Class AA last year during the reclassification process.
In his missive, Wilson noted he has been a head coach of multiple sports, a nationally certified athletic director and a high school principal in his career. “We are blessed in Georgia with one of the best athletic associations in the nation with GHSA,” he continued.
He also lauded the work of the classification committee then added, “We know full well that reclassification is not an exact science and will always create winners and losers.”
Wilson then explained that, with the school year winding down, only one public school has won a state championship in Class A. That team was the Heard County softball team.
“The simple fact is private schools are mowing through their competition with a clear and distinct advantage,” he wrote.
Wilson goes on to point out that the state championship games in boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer and volleyball all pitted two private schools against each other. The football and wrestling titles were also won by private schools.
“These results speak for themselves and warrant a plan of correction going forward, Our hope is these issues will be considered and addressed in the next reclassification cycle,” he concluded.
