What’s behind Walhalla’s objection to higher athletic conference

The Walhalla High principal, Steve Garrett, says he and his athletic department are on the same page in challenging the proposed athletic conference re-classification that would make the school 4-A effective 2018-19. The school is now a 3-A.  The higher classification would land head coach Padgett Johnson gridiron program in a schedule of tougher opponents, but Garrett says this decision to appeal is based on more than his school’s football fortunes as it covers all athletic team competitions.  According to Garrett, Walhalla would like to see the state High School League even out a disparity between the numbers of 5-A schools, the highest classification, and 1-A schools, the smallest.  The High School League is expected to decide the appeal by late next week.  Garrett is philosophical.  He said:  “We will play wherever we land.”  And Garrett added football coach Johnson and his program will do the best they can wherever.