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Powerful East Ridge moved into 5A-5

Redistricting forces county schools to travel 90 minutes to face the Class 4A state semifinalist.

For many teams at Land O'Lakes, Mitchell and River Ridge, the easy days of life in a three-team district will end this summer.

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced new classifications this week to account for schools who have made significant gains or losses in enrollment, and among the few changes is the addition of Clermont East Ridge to the previously all-Pasco Class 5A District 5 standings.

That's not good news in volleyball, where Mitchell and River Ridge, the county's dominant teams, will have to contend with an East Ridge team that went 29-3 reached the Class 4A state final four after eliminating Hudson and Wesley Chapel. The county's teams aren't thrilled with the prospect of a 90-minute drive for the mandated regular-season match in Clermont.

"The traveling is not going to be fun; it's really amazing," said River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare, who will meet with other district coaches next week to work out schedules. The financial constraints of travel alone are enough to keep the county coaches from allowing a district tournament to be held in Clermont, she said.

The county's districts in cross country and football were not changed, but there will be a new look in swimming and diving, where seven of the county's nine schools will compete in a single district.

Gulf, Hudson, Mitchell, Ridgewood and River Ridge remain in Class 2A, District 5, but the other seven teams in their district are gone, replaced by Land O'Lakes and Wesley Chapel, along with Citrus and Springstead. The Gators and Wildcats had been in Class 2A, but in a nearly all-Tampa district. Pasco and Zephyrhills remain in Class A, shifting from a Pinellas-heavy district to a more northern group.

New classifications for other sports will be released soon, with basketball, baseball and softball expected to match the volleyball districts. That makes for a tougher path to the playoffs for Land O'Lakes, Mitchell and River Ridge in boys basketball as well. East Ridge nearly knocked Wesley Chapel out in the opening round of the region playoffs, finishing with a 19-8 mark and making them an able challenger to Mitchell for next year's district crown.