Salpointe Catholic Shifts to 5A Competition After Historic Success
In a significant move, Salpointe Catholic High School has transitioned from Class 4A to Class 5A for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. This decision follows an impressive record of athletic achievement, as the school secured a remarkable total of 20 state championships across eight sports from 2020 to 2025, a feat unmatched by any other high school in Tucson.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) approved Salpointe’s request for reclassification, allowing the Lancers to compete against larger schools in the 5A Sonoran division. This division includes opponents such as CDO, Catalina Foothills, Mountain View, Rincon/University, Cholla, and Casa Grande. Salpointe will continue to participate in Class 6A football, maintaining its competitive edge.
The decision to move up was driven by the desire for stronger competition and the need for junior varsity and freshman teams to have consistent schedules. According to Salpointe athletic director Phil Gruensfelder, “Oftentimes, teams in 4A drop their JV and freshman teams because of lack of involvement/enrollment. The 5A schools are larger, enrollment-wise, and can often offer JV and freshman teams consistently.”
As Salpointe prepares for its inaugural season of girls flag football on September 10, 2025, the Lancers will leave behind schools such as Sahuaro, which has an enrollment of 1,174, and Walden Grove, with 1,092 students. Instead, they will regularly face schools with higher enrollments, including Rincon/University at 2,098 and Catalina Foothills at 1,883.
High school sports in Tucson have undergone significant changes over the past decade. Once-dominant programs like Amphitheater now have an enrollment of only 870 and are set to drop to Class 3A next year. This shift will put them in competition with smaller schools such as Sabino, which has an enrollment of 785, and Palo Verde, with 733 students.
The AIA’s realignment has also raised questions about the placement of Tucson’s three Class 6A schools: Sunnyside, Marana, and Tucson High. With enrollments of 2,104, 2,409, and 2,666 respectively, the schools will compete in different divisions, which may complicate travel logistics. Sunnyside will participate in the 6A Fiesta division against teams like Queen Creek and Gilbert, while Marana will compete in the 6A Metro division against Desert Ridge and Maryvale.
The shifting dynamics of high school sports in Tucson are evident, as schools like Catalina and Santa Rita face declining enrollments. Catalina’s enrollment has dropped to 562, while Santa Rita’s stands at 384. Just 15 years ago, Santa Rita was a contender in the state 4A football championship, and Catalina claimed the Class 4A state baseball title in 2011.
As Salpointe Catholic takes this bold step into a higher level of competition, it reflects both the evolution of local high school athletics and the ongoing quest for excellence in sports. The move promises to provide exciting challenges ahead for the Lancers and their supporters.
