Parkside Athletics Moving Up To 3A

The landscape of athletics will be changing in the Bayside for at least one team in the fall of 2017. Parkside’s enrollment was measured at 997, putting them at the upper half of the state, resulting in them moving from the 2A division to the 3A.

The Rams were ahead of just 4 other teams in the 3A, including Stephen Decatur who will be the smallest 3A school in the state at 995. The largest 2A school in the state will now be Patterson at 991, just 6 students less than Parkside. The transition will be for a two year period from 2017-2019 before there will be a recount of enrollment across the state.

From an athletic perspective, things are expected to be more difficult for the Rams to compete at the state level now. Several of the Rams programs have seen success in recent years in the 2A playoffs, including girls soccer, baseball, softball and field hockey.