MSHSAA Bumps Valle To Class 3

By ERIC X. VICCARO

EVICCARO@STEGENHERALD.COM

COLUMBIA — The Missouri State High School Activities Association finally made it official on Monday, Sept. 21, releasing class and district assignments.

For football, as many expected, Valle Catholic was bumped up to Class 3 because of the Warriors’ noted “championship factor.”

What’s more, the Valle Catholic has been placed in the same district with cross-town foe Ste. Genevieve.

Both Valle Catholic head coach Judd Naeger and Ste. Genevieve sideline boss Ken Weik expected this draw.

“In the back of my mind, I thought there was a chance we would meet again,” Weik said. “I thought it was likely to happen.”

Naeger said this wasn’t a surprise.

“The district is pretty much what we thought it would be, and it is what it is,” the coach commented.

For years, Valle Catholic has dominated Class 1 — becoming one of the most storied football powerhouses in Missouri — with 15 state championships in tow, and the trophy room to prove it at Father John Dempsey Field.

The remainder of the teams in Class 3 District 1 are Dexter, Doniphan, Fredericktown and powerhouse Kennett.

Readers may also find complete district assignments for football, volleyball, cross country and girls’ golf in the special fall sports bonanza also published in this edition of the Ste. Genevieve Herald.

Valle Catholic cross country will compete in Class 1 District 2, which means a trip north.

“I am not thrilled to be running at Spanish Lake,” admitted Warriors’ coach Samer

Zoughaib. “However, we run where the state tells us to.”

Look for Oak Ridge and Principia to be Valle Catholic’s main challengers on the boys’ side, as well as the St. Vincent (Perryville) girls.

As for Ste. Genevieve cross country, there was some worry the Dragons would move up to Class 4 since MSHSAA expanded the sport to five classes this year.

However, MSHSAA placed Ste. Genevieve in Class 3, with the Dragons running at Arcadia Valley Sports Complex in Ironton.