No. 3

Northwest Arkansas’ larger schools welcomed two different conference opponents and a slight name change in its league when the new school year began in August.

Siloam Springs’ move up to Class 6A status — combined with the Arkansas Activities Association’s method of mixed conferences for Class 7A and 6A schools in order to cut down travel costs — caused the 7A-West Conference to become the 7A/6A-West Conference for the 2012-14 reclassification cycle.

Van Buren also moved into the conference, while longtime conference colleagues Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside were sent to the 7A/6A-Central. It was the first time the conference experienced different members since 2008, when Rogers Heritage joined the league and caused Van Buren to go to the Central.

Because of the mixed conferences format, Siloam Springs’ teams faced the task of playing seven Class 7A schools in conference play, then join the remaining 6A schools for postseason play. Bryant, the lone 7A school in the South, then took over Siloam Springs’ spot for postseason considerations.

— HENRY APPLE