Eagles to switch classes
JACKSON, Tenn — The Jackson Christian Eagles announced Tuesday afternoon that in the 2017-2018 academic year they will be moving to the Division II class. This will be their second stint in the class.
Athletic director Scott Gatlin, explained that this move has been in discussion for years, as it was the student and faculty members that would be affected the most by the change. In November, the TSSAA Legislative Council made a change towards financial aid. That would not allow Jackson Christian to provide financial aid for it’s students and one’s in the future who have a sibling playing a sport now. It would also affect part-time employee’s and their kids.
With the Eagles moving up classes, it will not change their financial aid situation. It will change the teams that the Eagles play, but Gatlin says his student-athletes will adapt just fine.
“The reason’s for our existence is not about athletics, it’s about offering a christian education to the families that want a christian education,” said Gatlin. But this does expand the field of families who we can help, if their children happen to be high school athletes.”
The Eagles will go from playing rural West Tennessee teams to more teams in Memphis will a larger enrollment.
