By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 47th Utah UHSAA State Championships are scheduled for Wednesday at Sugarhouse Park and Highland High in Salt Lake City.

Here are six storylines to follow at the one of the most prestigious state meets in the country:

Shuffling the deck

Realignment resulted in the addition of a sixth classification for the first time in Utah history, creating movement up and down in an attempt to produce more balanced postseason groupings.

The inaugural 6A classification features 19 schools that competed in 5A last year – including three-time girls state winners and defending boys champions from American Fork – along with 4A programs Cyprus, Hillcrest and Kearns.

In 5A, last year’s 4A boys champion Olympus and two-time girls winner Timpanogos are among 17 schools that moved up to join Brighton, Cottonwood, Jordan, Roy, Viewmont and Salt Lake City West.

The updated 4A grouping is one of the most interesting. In addition to first-year school Green Canyon, there are 15 3A programs that moved up – led by four-time boys winner Desert Hills and last year’s girls champion Pine View – to join former 5A teams Lehi, Mountain Crest and Sky View that moved down. Bonneville, Mountain View, Ogden, Orem, Payson, Salem Hills, Spanish Fork and Uintah remained in 4A.

The new 3A classification has the fewest teams at 20 and doesn’t feature a returning state champion, with Pine View’s girls and the Desert Hills boys both moving up to 4A and last year’s 2A winners remaining in their group. Judge Memorial was moved down from 4A to join 12 schools elevating from 2A, in addition to Carbon, Grantsville, Juab, Morgan, North Sanpete, Richfield and Union staying put.

Utah Military Academy is another first-year school placed in 2A, joining seven 1A programs that moved up, including two-time girls champion Parowan. American Prepatory, Beaver, Enterprise, Gunnison Valley, Kanab, Layton Christian, Millard, North Sevier, North Summit, Rockwell Charter, Rowland Hall, Wasatch Academy and Waterford remained in the grouping from last season.

Panguitch, winner of the past two 1A boys titles, leads 31 schools that remained in the classification from last year.

A new big man on campus

At last year’s state championships, all five boys individual crowns were won by seniors, creating opportunities for new standouts to capture titles this season.

Lehi senior Ryan Raff ran the fourth-fastest 3-mile time in meet history by clocking 14 minutes, 52.6 seconds at Sugarhouse Park and Highland High to finish fourth in the 5A final behind the American Fork duo of Casey Clinger and McKay Johns, along with Weber’s Talon Hull.

Raff is now in 4A this year, but has the potential to produce the fastest time of the meet and join Clinger as the only individual in state history to break 15 minutes twice in a career. Hurricane junior Caleb Armstrong has won six races this year and is a formidable challenger for Raff.

Despite realignment, 5A remains the deepest field, with Springville junior Grant Gardner and senior Brandon Garnica squaring off against Timpanogos senior Brennan Benson and Timpview senior Aidan Troutner.

American Fork junior Dalton Brems will attempt to follow Clinger in continuing the legacy of Cavemen individual champions when he matches up against Fremont senior twins Bronson Winter and Zack Winter, in addition to Westlake senior Logan Anderson and Lone Peak senior Justin Hartshorn.

Sargent ready to take over spotlight

North Summit senior Sadie Sargent not only captured her first 2A girls title last year, but she also became the 14th female athlete in state history to break 18 minutes.

Sargent, who has set every 2A class record in her first three seasons, is not only looking to add a fourth standard but defend her championship and possibly produce the fastest female time of the day.

Desert Hills junior Bailey Brinkerhoff is the only other returning girls state champion, looking to secure the 4A title this season after capturing the 4A crown last year.

Weber senior McKenna Lee returns with the fastest time from last year, clocking 17:46.9 to take second in the 5A final behind Bingham’s Whitney Rich. Lee is competing in the inaugural 6A final this season.

Springville freshman Heidi Sumsion will attempt to follow older sister Julie Sumsion, who captured the 4A championship last season. Heidi Sumsion is racing in the 5A final this year, along with Skyline senior Camille Winterton.

Different cast, same expectations for Cavemen

American Fork is seeking an eighth boys title in nine years under coach Timo Mostert – but the first in 6A – even more impressive considering the Cavemen graduated four athletes from last year’s 5A championship lineup, including the most talented trio in state history with Casey Clinger, McKay Johns and Patrick Parker.

Dalton Brems, Carson Clinger, Luke Grundvig, Cole Phillippi, Aaron Steed, Kobe Serrano and Alex Garces give American Fork the necessary depth to prevail against Herriman, Davis, Lone Peak and Westlake. The Cavemen would be the state’s eighth program to capture eight boys titles.

Only Mountain View’s nine consecutive championships – five in 5A, four in 4A – are a longer run of dominance in the state’s highest division than American Fork, which had its streak interrupted with a third-place finish in 5A in 2015.

Desert Hills, Millard look to continue dominance

After four consecutive 3A titles, Desert Hills was moved up to 4A, looking to become only the fifth boys program in state history to win five in a row.

But it could be an old rival Hurricane – fifth last year in 3A – that could stand in the way of Desert Hills extending its legacy. Hurricane prevailed 45-52 over Desert Hills in the Region 9 Championships.

Ogden, fourth last season in 4A, is also a title contender after edging Stansbury 29-33 in the Region 11 Championships.

Millard is seeking its fourth straight 2A championship, but North Summit – third last year by a 72-93 margin – is primed to capture its first title since 2003.

Drive for five could encounter roadblock

North Summit is pursuing a fifth straight 2A girls title, looking to become only the seventh program in the state to achieve the feat, but despite returning seniors Sadie Sargent and Maggie Zwahlen – the top two finishers from last year’s final – the Braves likely enter the championship meet as underdogs.

Millard, third at last season’s championship, along with last year’s runner-up North Sevier and Rowland Hall – winner of the 2011 and 2012 crowns – all have the potential to halt North Summit’s impressive streak after the Braves graduated four members of last year’s title lineup.

After winning the past two 1A girls titles, Parowan has been moved up to 2A this year. Timpanogos, now in 5A, is also seeking a three-peat after back-to-back 4A girls championships.