The WPIAL released its football realignment for the upcoming two-year cycle on Thursday, and while most Westmoreland County teams will remain status quo, there are some notable changes, including both Kiski Area and Belle Vernon Area dropping in classification.

Class 6A, the largest classification, will remain unchanged, as Norwin and Hempfield Area will stay part of the seven-team conference, along with Pittsburgh Central Catholic, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Canon-McMillan, and Mount Lebanon.

A trio of Westmoreland teams will still reside in Class 5A, as Penn-Trafford, Franklin Regional, and Greater Latrobe will all compete in the same conference, as will Gateway and Woodland Hills. However, Kiski Area and Armstrong move out of last year’s Big East Conference, while Fox Chapel Area and Connellsville Area take their spots.

The Cavaliers, instead, will compete in Class 4A, playing in a conference alongside Hampton, Indiana Area, McKeesport Area, and Shaler Area. Kiski Area is the lone Westmoreland team in the classification, as Belle Vernon Area moves down after previously competing in the Big Six Conference.

As a result, the Leopards join the 3A classification that is loaded with Westmoreland teams. BVA will reside in a conference with Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Mount Pleasant, Southmoreland, Elizabeth Forward, and Waynesburg Central. That section bears resemblance to last year’s Interstate Conference, but with the Leps and Raiders added to the mix, while Yough shifts to a different conference. Now, the Cougars will play with Avonworth, Propel Braddock Hills (in a co-op with Imani Christian Academy), Shady Side Academy, South Park, and West Mifflin Area. Two other county teams, Burrell and Valley, will play in another conference in Class 3A. The Bucs and Vikings will be joined by Deer Lakes, Freeport Area, Highlands, Knoch, and North Catholic. In contrast to last year’s Allegheny Seven Conference, the Knights and Trojans enter, while Imani Christian and East Allegheny depart.

Ligonier Valley remains the only Westmoreland squad in Class 2A, as the Rams will vie against Apollo-Ridge, Brownsville Area, Charleroi, East Allegheny, South Allegheny, and Steel Valley. The grouping is similar to last year’s Allegheny Conference, but with the additions of the Falcons, Cougars, and Wildcats, and the departures of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Shady Side Academy, and South Park.

Lastly in Class 1A, Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic reprise their spots, remaining in a conference with Clairton, Leechburg, Riverview, and Springdale. However, the changes from last year’s Eastern Conference include the inclusion of Serra Catholic, as well as the absences of Frazier and Brentwood.