Mountain Heritage and Mitchell High athletes will be competing in a new conference beginning in 2013 but the details of that new league are still up in the air. The Cougars and the Mountaineers currently compete in the split 1A-2A Western Highlands Conference which allows the two schools to stay relatively close to home for most of their athletic events. Redistricting plans currently being considered by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association puts 2A Heritage and 1A Mitchell in another split conference which would include 2A members Draughn, East Burke and West Caldwell as well as 1A Avery County. Another option being considered is a ten team pure 1A league including current WHC members Mitchell, Avery and Thomas Jefferson as well as Bessemer City, Highland Tech., Pine Lake Prep., Community School of Davidson, Christ the King and Lincoln Charter School. The NCHSAA initial draft placed Heritage in a seven team 2A league including Brevard, Hendersonville, Owen, Smoky Mountain, Madison and Franklin, and Mitchell in a six team 1A conference which includes Avery County, Alleghany, East Wilkes, Elkin and Starmount. Whether or not the Western Highlands Conference as it now exists will survive is a big question mark for participating members who want to keep long time rivals on their schedule for the sake of fan support and larger gate receipts. Following a regional meeting at Maiden High School on January 23, the NCHSAA will review alternative plans put forth by schools on February 15. New conferences will be finalized by the realignment committee in March.