By GEORGE MAHL

Sports Editor

On Wednesday, all of the River Parish schools pretty much knew what classification they will be playing in next year.

East St. John, Destrehan and Hahnville will remain in 5A, while St. James and St. Charles Catholic will move down from 3A to 2A. Riverside Academy, however, will remain a 2A school. Across the river, West St. John will be placed in 1A.

“We did not even write a letter to the LHSAA to request to play up,” West St. John Head Coach Laury Dupont said Thursday.

The Rams have had a 1A enrollment for a few years, but have elected to play up in 2A because of football and basketball

.”Our enrollment is down and probably will continue to do so,” he added.

Dupont added he would like to be in a Baton Rouge district.

“I would like to see us in the district with Ascension Catholic and St. John Plaquemine.”

He added that his non-district schedule for 2005 is starting to shape up.

“So far, I have got St. James, Riverside and St. Charles Catholic. I am looking for a second playing date.”

Lutcher, who will remain in 3A, will lose two district rivals, St. James and St. Charles Catholic.

Also, the Bulldogs appear to be the odd team out in 10-3A.

E.D. White, who will remain a 3A school, may go to the Morgan City district and be with teams such as Patterson, Baldwin and West St.Mary,while Donaldsonville will also likely become a 2A school.

The Reserve Christian Eagles have been playing in Class B, the second smallest classification in Louisiana, the last few years.

However, the Eagles were rejected to play up by a vote from the principals. They will play in Class C next year. Reserve Christian Head Coach Timmy Byrd said he petitioned to play up but was denied.

“I am not surprised at all,” Byrd said. “We really had no chance.”

Byrd said the Eagles will likely be placed in the district with Bishop McManus and Grand Isle.

Reserve Christian currently has 88 students attending the high school, which makes them a class C school. He expects those numbers to go up in the future.

“I think that in 2 years our enrollment will be around 150.”

Byrd said two other Class B schools petitioned to play up, but were also rejected.

“I was a little surprised by that. I guess the common thing here is that all three that were rejected have all won state championships over the last six years,” Byrd said.

As of Thursday afternoon, one scenario being discussed would feature a powerful football district that would include Riverside, St. Charles Catholic, St. James, John Curtis and St. Martin’s.

The classification will take effect in August.