High school sports start with a bang -- just the tip of the iceberg

High school sports are officially back. Things got underway this past weekend with area volleyball tournaments and the longstanding Lanier Point Softball tournament. Cross country teams will also begin their run for glory soon.

And then, of course, there's football.

In north Georgia, the high school gridiron campaign will kick off Aug. 24, as West Hall travels to Johnson for a season-opening "Battle of Oakwood."

We here at Access North Georgia are ready to jump back into the high school schedule with both feet. With that in mind tune into WDUN AM 550/102.9 FM at 6 p.m. on Aug. 17 as High School Sports Unlimited co-hosts Katie B. Davis and Morgan Lee bring you Friday Countdown, a preview leading you into the 2012 football campaign that will coincide with the launching of our online football preview on Access North Georgia.com.

The online preview will feature in-depth stories on 29 area teams, as well as video interviews, schedules and all the information you need before the newest campaign kicks off. And with so many teams moving and shifting regions in 2012, there is plenty to cover. Northeast Georgia athletics used to center around four to five regions. Thanks to the GHSA's recent move to six classifications, and the domino effect it created, we'll now be covering teams in eight different regions (see below).

It's going to be a big season, and it starts right here with WDUN and Access North Georgia.

Region 6-AAAAAA
Alpharetta
Centennial
Chattahoochee
Johns Creek
Lambert
North Forsyth
South Forsyth
West Forsyth

Region 7-AAAAAA
Collins Hill
Duluth
Habersham Central
Meadowcreek
Mill Creek
Mountain View
Norcross
North Gwinnett
Peachtree Ridge

Region 8-AAAAA
Apalachee
Cedar Shoals
Clarke Central
Flowery Branch
Gainesville
Heritage, Conyers
Loganville
Salem
Winder-Barrow

Region 8-AAAA
Chestatee
Eastside
Johnson
Lanier
Lumpkin County
Madison County
Monroe Area
Stephens County
Walnut Grove

Region 7-AAA
Banks County
Buford
Dawson County
East Hall
Fannin County
North Hall
West Hall
White County

Region 8-AAA
East Jackson
Elbert County
Franklin County
Hart County
Jackson County
Morgan County
North Oconee
Oconee County

Region 8-AA
Greene County
Jefferson
Oglethorpe County
Rabun County
Riverside Military
Social Circle
Union County
Washington-Wilkes

Region 8-A
Athens Academy
Athens Christian
Commerce
George Walton Academy
Hebron Christian Academy
Lakeview Academy
Pinecrest Academy
Prince Avenue Christian
Towns County