As the year changes, much stays the same in the realm of sports for many local teams. The Missouri State High School Activities Association released its class and district assignments for the fall season on Aug. 26.
Many teams remained unchanged from the year prior, except for two. The Perryville softball team has moved up to Class 4, District 1 in 2022. The Pirates were in Class 3 last year when they finished fourth in the state tournament.
Perryville remains strong with many returning starters but will have to go through teams such as Notre Dame, Festus, Farmington, Cape Central, DeSoto, Sikeston, and North County. The Pirates were also in Class 3 when they won district titles in 2018 and 2020.
While the softball team moved up, the Perryville volleyball team has moved down. The Pirates will play in Class 3, District 2 this year, after being in Class 4 in 2021. The Pirates are in the same district as Valle Catholic, Ste. Genevieve, Park Hills Central, Potosi, Herculaneum, and North County.
Other than those two programs, many others are the same. St. Vincent football remains in Class 1, District 1 with Hayti, Scott City, Caruthersville, Charleston and Malden, Chaffee, Portageville. The Indians defeated Charleston before falling to Scott City in the second round of district one year ago.
Perryville football remains in Class 4, District 1 with Farmington, Festus, Hillsboro, and Sikeston, among others.
Perryville and Saxony Lutheran boys soccer met for the title last year in Class 2, District 1, and they will have the chance to do so again as the Pirates and Crusaders are in the same district in 2022. The two teams are joined by Fredericktown, North County, St. Pius, Bayless, and Affton.
Both Saxony Lutheran and St. Vincent volleyball won district titles last season and remain in the same class. However, Saxony has switched to Class 2, District 2 this season, after being in District 3.
However, Saxony may have to go through the same teams to win a third straight district title. Saxony is grouped with Scott City and Woodland, the same teams the Crusaders had to beat last season, which included a five-set thriller with the Cardinals. Saxony is also grouped with Charleston, Greenville, and Clearwater.
St. Vincent remains in Class 1, District 4 with Crystal City, who the Indians beat for the district title one year ago. However, Meadow Heights has been added to the grouping, along with teams like St. Paul, Oak Ridge, Crossroads College Prep, and Principia.
Saxony softball remains in Class 2, District 1 with Kelly, Chaffee, East Carter, Seymour, Hartville, and Twin Rivers. The Crusaders are trying to build momentum off a 10-win season in 2021.
