Every name for the N.C. High School Athletic Association conferences has been decided.

Now, I thought it would be fun to grade the quality of these new league names.

This is all in good fun, as the name of the conference doesn’t really matter for anything. But, good conference names are nice for sports fans. We like our sports, but we also get enjoyment from the pageantry that surrounds them.

My grading process for these new names is simple. One, I’ll give a grade for the quality or unqiuess of the chosen name. Two, I’ll give a grade for how the name relates to or applies to the specific teams in the league. Lastly, I’ll combine those two grades into one letter grade.

Some of the new names are creative, but don’t really match the team or area that the league is composed of. Some of the names are rather boring, but they do describe the complexion of the league well.

Names that are not very descriptive or colorful didn’t grade well for me (i.e. names like “Quad City” or “Tri County” could exist anywhere in the country, I like names that communicate that this conference is in North Carolina). Names which are are geographically confused also did not do well for me (i.e. a conference that features a school with one county between it and South Carolina shouldn’t be called “Northwestern”).

Also, I did not give out good grades just because a league is using a name that was used in the past. That’s not an argument for it being a good name today.

I’d love to hear what others think of these new names as well. You can hit me up on X @JoelBryantHSOT.

Grading the New Conference Names

Cap 8A [Athens Drive, Broughton, Corinth Holders, Enloe, Leesville Road, Millbrook, Rolesville, Wakefield]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: A-

Quad City Seven 8A [Apex, Apex Friendship, Green Hope, Green Level, Jordan, Panther Creek, Willow Spring]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: C+
• Overall Grade: D+

Mid-South 7A/8A [Jack Britt (7A), Overhills (7A), Pine Forest (7A), Richmond (7A), Hoke County (8A), Pinecrest (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: D

Central Piedmont Conference 7A/8A [East Forsyth (7A), Parkland (7A), R.J. Reynolds (7A), Reagan (7A), Northwest Guilford (8A), West Forsyth (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: C
• How it Relates to the Schools: C
• Overall Grade: C

Meck Power Six 7A/8A [Butler (7A), Independence (7A), North Mecklenburg (7A), Chambers (8A), Mallard Creek (8A), West Charlotte (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Greater Charlotte 7A/8A [Hopewell (7A), West Mecklenburg (7A), Garinger (8A), Hough (8A), Myers Park (8A), South Mecklenburg (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B+
• How it Relates to the Schools: B-
• Overall Grade: B

Southwestern 7A/8A [Ballantyne Ridge (7A), Rocky River (7A), Ardrey Kell (8A), East Mecklenburg (8A), Palisades (8A), Providence (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: C
• Overall Grade: D

Greater Neuse River 7A (GNRC) [Clayton, Cleveland, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Smithfield-Selma, South Garner, Southeast Raleigh]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Carolina Coast 6A/7A/8A (CCC) [West Brunswick (6A), Ashley (7A), New Hanover (7A), North Brunswick (7A), Topsail (7A), Hoggard (8A), Laney (8A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Big Carolina 6A/7A [J.H. Rose (6A), Jacksonville (6A), White Oak (6A), D.H. Conley (7A), New Bern (7A), South Central (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: C
• Overall Grade: C+

Tri-County 6A/7A [Gray’s Creek (6A), Scotland County (6A), Terry Sanford (6A), Cape Fear (7A), Lumberton (7A), Purnell Swett (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: D+

Northern Six 6A/7A [Franklinton (6A), Vance County (6A), East Wake (7A), Heritage (7A), Knightdale (7A), Wake Forest (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: C+
• Overall Grade: D+

Triangle Six 6A/7A [Felton Grove (6A), Middle Creek (6A), Cardinal Gibbons (7A), Cary (7A), Holly Springs (7A), Sanderson (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Tobacco Road 6A/7A [East Chapel Hill (6A), Northern Durham (6A), Chapel Hill (7A), Hillside (7A), Riverside (7A), Southern Durham (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A+
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A+

Metro 6A/7A [Ben L. Smith (6A), Dudley (6A), Ragsdale (6A), Western Guilford (6A), Grimsley (7A), Page (7A), Southwest Guilford (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: C

Southern Carolina 6A/7A [Charlotte Catholic (6A), Piedmont (6A), Sun Valley (6A), Cuthbertson (7A), Marvin Ridge (7A), Porter Ridge (7A), Weddington (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: B

Greater Metro Athletic Conference 6A/7A (GMAC) [Berry Academy (6A), Central Cabarrus (6A), Harding University (6A), Olympic (6A), A.L. Brown (7A), Cox Mill (7A), Hickory Ridge (7A), West Cabarrus (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: C-
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: C+

North Piedmont 6A/7A [North Iredell (6A), Statesville (6A), Davie County (7A), Lake Norman (7A), Mooresville (7A), South Iredell (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: D+
• Overall Grade: C

Northwestern 6A/7A [Alexander Central (6A), Freedom (6A), South Caldwell (6A), St. Stephens (6A), Watauga (6A), McDowell (7A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: C
• Overall Grade: D

Carolina Pines 6A [Harnett Central, Lee County, South Johnston, Southern Lee, Triton, Union Pines, West Johnston, Western Harnett]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A+
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A+

Coastal 5A/6A [Croatan (5A), Dixon (5A), Havelock (5A), Northside (Jacksonville) (5A), Richlands (5A), West Carteret (5A), Swansboro (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: B+

Big East 5A/6A [C.B. Aycock (5A), Fike (5A), Hunt (5A), Rocky Mount (5A), Southern Nash (5A), Southern Wayne (5A), Northern Nash (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: C-
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: C+

Eastern Sandhills 5A/6A [Douglas Byrd (5A), St. Pauls (5A), E.E. Smith (6A), Seventy-First (6A), South View (6A), Westover (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Triad Area Athletic Six (TAAC) Six 5A/6A [Northeast Guilford (5A), Southern Guilford (5A), Asheboro (6A), Eastern Guilford (6A), Northern Guilford (6A), Southeast Guilford (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: A-

Piedmont Triad 5A/6A [Atkins (5A), North Davidson (5A), North Forsyth (5A), Oak Grove (5A), Glenn (6A), Mount Tabor (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Big South 5A/6A [Crest (5A), Forestview (5A), Hunter Huss (5A), North Gaston (5A), South Point (5A), Ashbrook (6A), Kings Mountain (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: C-
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: C+

Mountain 5A/6A [Enka (5A), Erwin (5A), North Buncombe (5A), A.C. Reynolds (6A), Asheville (6A), T.C. Roberson (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A-

Mid-Carolina 4A/5A/6A [Cummings (4A), Graham (4A), Eastern Alamance (5A), Person (5A), Southeast Alamance (5A), Western Alamance (5A), Southern Alamance (6A), Williams (6A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: B

Tar Heel Heartland 4A/5A [Carrboro (4A), Cedar Ridge (5A), Durham School of the Arts (5A), Orange (5A), Seaforth (5A), South Granville (5A), Webb (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A+
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: A-

Piedmont Athletic Conference Seven (PAC Seven 4A/5A) [Central Davidson (4A), Ledford (4A), Lexington (4A), Randleman (4A), T.W. Andrews (4A), High Point Central (5A), Montgomery Central (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Rocky River 4A/5A [Anson (4A), Central Academy (4A), Mount Pleasant (4A), West Stanly (4A), Forest Hills (5A), Monroe (5A), Parkwood (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

South Piedmont 4A/5A (SPC) [Salisbury (4A), South Rowan (4A), Concord (5A), East Rowan (5A), Jay M. Robinson (5A), Jesse Carson (5A), Northwest Cabarrus (5A), West Rowan (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: B+

Western Foothills 4A/5A [Bandys (4A), Bunker Hill (4A), Fred T. Foard (4A), Maiden (4A), Newton-Conover (4A), West Iredell (4A), East Lincoln (5A), Hickory (5A), North Lincoln (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: B+

Mountain Eight 4A/5A [Brevard (4A), East Henderson (4A), Pisgah (4A), Tuscola (4A), Franklin (5A), North Henderson (5A), Smoky Mountain (5A), West Henderson (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A-

Three Rivers 4A [Eastern Wayne, North Johnston, North Lenoir, North Pitt, SouthWest Edgecombe, Washington, West Craven]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: C

Northeastern Coastal 3A/4A/5A [Hertford County (3A), Martin County (3A), Northeastern (3A), Pasquotank County (3A), First Flight (4A), Currituck County (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: C
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: B-

Southeastern 3A/4A/5A [South Columbus (3A), West Bladen (3A), Whiteville (3A), Fairmont (4A), Red Springs (4A), South Brunswick (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: C

Mid-State 3A/4A/5A [Bartlett Yancey (3A), McMichael (3A), Walkertown (3A), Carver (4A), Morehead (4A), Reidsville (4A), Rockingham County (5A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: C-
• Overall Grade: D

East Central 3A/4A [Heide Trask (3A), Pender (3A), South Lenoir (3A), Clinton (4A), East Duplin (4A), Southwest Onslow (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: C-
• Overall Grade: D+

Four Rivers 3A/4A [Eastern Randolph (3A), North Moore (3A), Northwood (3A), Jordan-Matthews (4A), Southwestern Randolph (4A), Uwharrie Charter (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: D
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: C

Northwest 3A/4A [East Surry (3A), Mount Airy (3A), Surry Central (3A), Forbush (4A), North Surry (4A), West Stokes (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: C

Western Piedmont 3A/4A [CHASE (3A), Draughn (3A), East Rutherford (3A), Patton (3A), West Caldwell (3A), East Burke (4A), Hibriten (4A), R-S Central (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: C
• Overall Grade: C+

Central Carolina 3A [East Davidson, Providence Grove, Thomasville, Trinity, West Davidson, Wheatmore]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Quad County 2A/3A/4A [American Leadership Academy – Johnston (2A), Louisburg (3A), Wake Prep (3A), Bunn (4A), Nash Central (4A), Roanoke Rapids (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: F
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: D+

Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A [Bradford Prep (2A), Christ The King (2A), Community School of Davidson (2A), Corvian Community (2A), Langtree Charter (2A), Pine Lake Prep (3A), Lake Norman Charter (4A), Lincoln Charter (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A [Cherryville (2A), Highland Tech (2A), Bessemer City (3A), Lincolnton (3A), Shelby (3A), West Lincoln (3A), Burns (4A), East Gaston (4A), Stuart Cramer (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: B+

Mountain Valley 2A/3A/4A [Alleghany (2A), East Wilkes (2A), Elkin (2A), Starmount (2A), North Wilkes (3A), West Wilkes (3A), Ashe County (4A), Wilkes Central (4A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Eastern Plains 2A/3A [Tarboro (2A), Ayden-Grifton (3A), Beddingfield (3A), Farmville Central (3A), Greene Central (3A), Kinston (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A-

Swine Valley 2A/3A [Rosewood (2A), Goldsboro (3A), James Kenan (3A), Midway (3A), Princeton (3A), Spring Creek (3A), Wallace-Rose Hill (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A+
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A+

Yadkin Valley 2A/3A [Albemarle (2A), Gray Stone Day (2A), North Rowan (2A), South Stanly (2A), North Stanly (3A), Union Academy (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Western Highlands 2A/3A [Avery (2A), Mitchell (2A), Hendersonville (3A), Madison (3A), Mountain Heritage (3A), Owen (3A), Polk County (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A-

Albemarle Athletic 2A (AAC) [Bertie, Camden County, Gates County, John A. Holmes, Manteo, Perquimans County]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B+
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: B+

Diamond Nine 1A/2A/3A [Neuse Charter (1A), East Wake Academy (2A), Franklin Academy (2A), Raleigh Charter (2A), Research Triangle (2A), Roxboro Community (2A), Triangle Math and Science (2A), Voyager Academy (2A), NCCSM – Durham (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B-
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Catawba River 1A/2A/3A [Bonnie Cone (1A), Carolina International (1A), Jackson Day (1A), NCSSM – Morganton (1A), Thomas Jefferson (1A), Mountain Island Charter (2A), Queens Grant (2A), Sugar Creek (2A), Piedmont Community (3A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B+
• How it Relates to the Schools: B-
• Overall Grade: B

Coastal Plains 1A/2A [Jones (1A), Northside (Pinetown) (1A), East Carteret (2A), Lejeune (2A), Pamlico County (2A), Southside (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A+
• Overall Grade: A-

Carolina 1A/2A [East Columbus (1A), East Bladen (2A), Hobbton (2A), Lakewood (2A), North Duplin (2A), Union (2A), West Columbus (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B-
• How it Relates to the Schools: B-
• Overall Grade: B-

Roanoke River 1A/2A [KIPP Pride (1A), Southeast Halifax (1A), Weldon (1A), Northampton County (2A), Northwest Halifax (2A), Warren County (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Triangle North 1A/2A [Discovery Charter (1A), Excelsior Classical (1A), Falls Lake Academy (1A), Oxford Prep (1A), Vance Charter (1A), Eno River Academy (2A), Henderson Collegiate (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Greater Triad 1A/2A [Chatham Central (1A), College Prep & Leadership (1A), North Stokes (1A), South Davidson (1A), Winston-Salem Prep (1A), Bishop McGuinness (2A), South Stokes (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: B
• Overall Grade: B

Northwest Piedmont 1A/2A [Bethany Community (1A), Millenium Charter (1A), NC Leadership Academy (1A), Phoenix Academy (1A), Triad Math and Science (1A), Cornerstone Charter (2A), Piedmont Classical (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: B+

Smoky Mountain 1A/2A [Andrews (1A), Blue Ridge Early College (1A), Highlands (1A), Hiwassee Dam (1A), Nantahala (1A), Robbinsville (1A), Rosman (1A), Summit Charter (1A), Tri-County Early College (1A), Cherokee (2A), Hayesville (2A), Murphy (2A), Swain County (2A)]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: A

Atlantic 1A [Bear Grass Charter, Cape Hatteras, Columbia, Hobgood Charter, Mattamuskeet, Ocracoke]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B+
• How it Relates to the Schools: B+
• Overall Grade: B+

Eastern Carolina 1A [North East Carolina Prep, North Edgecombe, Rocky Mount Prep, Sallie B. Howard, Washington County, Wilson Prep]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: B
• How it Relates to the Schools: A
• Overall Grade: B+

Central Tar Heel 1A [Ascend Leadership, Central Carolina Academy, Chatham Charter, Clover Garden, River Mill Academy, Southern Wake Academy, Woods Charter]

• Name Quality/Uniqueness: A
• How it Relates to the Schools: A-
• Overall Grade: A-