Sources: Newton expected to join AVCTL-II

The Railers have reportedly been surpassed in enrollment by Valley Center.

For at least the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 athletic seasons, Newton High School is expected to participate in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division II, according to sources familiar with the KSHSAA enrollment count process.

The Railers would swap places with Valley Center, which has surpassed Newton in total student enrollment. The Hornets will compete in AVCTL-I along with Derby, Hutchinson, Maize, Maize South, Salina South, and Haysville-Campus starting next fall.

Count Day for the Kansas State High School Activities Association was on Wednesday. The Railers will join Salina Central, Goddard, Goddard Eisenhower, Andover, Andover Central, and Arkansas City.

Newton last competed in AVCTL-II in 2017.

Update: Sep. 25, 2023 at 2:45 p.m.

The KSHSAA announced its enrollment count figures on Monday, with Valley Center at 1,047 students and Newton at 1,017 students. This confirms the Hornets will be ascending to AVCTL-I, while the Railers descend to AVCTL-II.

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Brett is a Communication Arts major at Bethel College, Editor-in-Chief of The Bethel Collegian, and Newton (KS) High School football beat writer. You can reach him via email and follow him on X.