The 3A classifications are the 64 biggest schools ranging from 317-174 students enrolled. This year Garden Plain is at 174 students. One of the reasons Garden Plain moved up is because the 2024 senior class was small and the incoming freshman class is big. Another reason GP moved up is because of the tie breaker rule made by KSHSAA which is decided by enrollment ties being broken by using the previous classification cycle count.

Cory Brack, Garden Plain Athletic Director, had this to say on the topic, “The move will change the look we had the last few years of being 2A. It will be a great challenge for us being the smallest school in 3A. Whoever plays us will be a challenge with the way we play, but we can make an impact at any level. The move to 3A will also change the volleyball and basketball state location to Hutchinson, KS. There will be no changes to the school, just changes to where regionals and state are located.”

Garden Plain basketball head coach, Mark Powell, added, “The change in classification from 2A to 3A for basketball and track will be a good challenge for us. In basketball we already play a majority of 3A and larger schools (Andale 4A, Dodge City 6A, Cheney 3A) so we already know how good of competition the area 3A schools are. We hope that our schedule allows us to get better during the season so we are at our strongest come postseason play.”