The Illinois High School Association released its enrollments and classifications for 766 member schools for the 2008-09 school year earlier this week. Freeburg and Wood River were two of seven schools that dropped down from Class 3A to Class 2A.
The enrollment range -- which fluctuates each year -- for Class 2A schools in the four-class system is 345 students to 754 students. Freeburg's enrollment for the 2008-09 school year is 729 students.
This school year, the enrollment range for Class 2A schools was 350 to 724. Freeburg's current enrollment is 740, putting the Midgets among the 10 smallest Class 3A schools.
The drop in class was met with favor by Freeburg's coaching staff.
"It sure makes the coaches feel a lot better," said Freeburg Athletic Director Steve Sergesketter. "Like today, we're going down to Marion to compete in track and the girls are going 'next year, we could have done this and this.' There's just a whole lot more to look forward to come tournament time."
Freeburg will be a 2A school in volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball. In track, cross country and golf, it will be classified as a 1A school. Football is not affected by the change.
In the old two-class system, Freeburg was a Class A power for years before jumping up to Class AA in the 2005-06 school year. The Midgets also were Class AA in the 2006-07 school year before being classified as Class 3A this year with the inception of the four-class system.
In the past three years as a so-called "large school," Freeburg has not won a regional title in any sport.
"I think it will be beneficial for us in the long run," said Freeburg boys basketball coach Donavan McMillian. "I think we'll be able to compete a little bit better at that level. We were a small, small 3A team. Mentally, it will give our kids an edge. It's something they can look forward to and hopefully, it will work out for us."
Freeburg was the only Class 3A team in the Mississippi Division of the rugged Cahokia Conference.
"During the regular season, 95 percent of our schedule is against 2A schools," McMillian said. "We don't get to see a lot of the 3A schools during the regular season and that was always a drawback when we got to the postseason. We didn't always have a lot we could go on.
Veteran Freeburg baseball coach Fred Blumberg said it's been a little strange battling the Cahokia Conference schools during the regular season, then facing a fleet of different teams in the postseason.
"I think it helps us from the standpoint that our school and our town, we have more in common with Columbia, Red Bud, Wesclin and Central than we do with Highland, Triad and people like that," Blumberg said. "I just think there's a comfort zone for us. It's more traditional rivals. We're happy about it."
Contact reporter Rod Kloeckner at rkloeckner@bnd.com or 239-2663.
