Kassick

The PIAA released its list of schools who have opted for voluntary upgrades in classification for the 2026-2028 school years by sport, and seven teams in District 6 are moving up.

Four of those will be in football and one is jumping up three classifications.

In perhaps the most eye-opening move, Claysburg-Kimmel will play as a Class 4A football school despite having the enrollment of a Class 1A school the next two seasons.

“One of the things we were looking at was the competition within those classifications,” Claysburg-Kimmel coach Chuck Kassick said. “We looked at the likelihood of moving on in the playoffs where we are or where we could be and those types of things. When you look at the path to the playoffs as far as district semifinals and finals, there are a lot less teams in 4A than there are in single-A.

“One thing about all of those schools is that there are no surprises. All of those schools have borders. They have set numbers where they are at. Of course, other teams could voluntarily move up, but you know what you’re getting into with those teams at that top level. There are no secrets with their enrollments and there aren’t many variables when it comes to their enrollment numbers.”

The Bulldogs have made it to the District 6 semifinals the last two seasons in Class 1A but fell to Bishop Guilfoyle Academy and Juniata Valley the last two years.

“We have done a really good job the last few years,” Kassick said. “Our kids bought in. We had chances, and there were some unforeseen circumstances, but teams also outplayed us when we got deeper into the playoffs. The better teams won on the field. But even getting there, in 4A, there’s one less round of playoffs and it’s less wear and tear on the body where you are looking at 12 games instead of 13. That can be a big deal if you are battling injuries with a smaller roster.”

Kassick pointed to the fact his team would have been a higher seed in Class 4A in 2025.

“If you look at our power points from this past fall, we would have qualified and been the top seed in District 6 Class 4A,” Kassick said. “That does say something even though we are playing smaller schools. We don’t play all tiny schools from who knows where. But there’s no use of just going in as a consolation prize. If we’re not as competitive as we’d like to be, even if we qualify, there’s a chance we could thank District 6 but decline the invitation. If you’re 3-7 and the schools you beat are smaller schools and you struggled against the bigger ones, what makes you think you are going to go anywhere in the 4A playoffs?”

Also moving into the Class 4A football field despite being a 3A school will be Forest Hills. In addition, Cambria Heights will move up from 2A to 3A in football, and Penn Cambria will remain at 3A despite having an enrollment that would allow the Panthers to play at 2A.

“The numbers factor was the deciding factor for us,” Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. “We just looked at the lack of numbers at triple-A and the many numbers we had at double-A and decided that 3A was just numbers wise a more attractive field.”

Cambria Heights, which has won District 6 titles in Class 1A and 2A over the past couple seasons, isn’t looking at possible success outside of the district at 3A.

“We don’t look that far ahead,” Lewis said. “We just want to get in the tournament. We just wanted to get into the playoffs, and when you have a situation with so few teams, it felt like making the playoffs would be a lot easier in 3A than it would be in 2A. That was our motivation behind it. I wouldn’t say we looked that far at competing at a state level, it was more just looking at the numbers as seeing it was a field with less teams and probably a lot more opportunity for us to get into the playoffs where anything can happen.”

Penn Cambria has won the last two District 6 Class 3A titles and made nice runs in the PIAA tournament.

“We like the matchups that we have had,” Penn Cambria coach Jason Grassi said. “We have started to create some rivalries with Tyrone and Central. It’s one of those things that we like where we’re at and decided to stay there.”

Rather than move down to 2A, Grassi wanted to keep on the track the Panthers have found success on.

“Looking at the last couple years, having that success has been great,” Grassi said. “It really comes down mainly to the district playoffs and those matchups. Having success after that is obviously something we have enjoyed. We’re hoping it continues. We feel comfortable playing the teams we have played in the past.”

The other teams moving up include the Forest Hills girls basketball team playing 4A despite being a 3A enrollment, Bald Eagle Area boys basketball playing up to 4A and Richland girls soccer opting to play in Class 2A.