Southside High School is getting a new name when it comes to the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Boys soccer coach Randy Vice confirmed to The Gadsden Times that the school's request to go by Southside-Rainbow City for athletic purposes was approved by the AHSAA on Tuesday, Aug. 18. It comes almost two weeks after the Etowah County Schools Board of Education made the request to the AHSAA. "This is something that we have looked forward to and have been working towards for several years. This more accurately describes our community," Vice said. "We appreciate all the people who helped make it possible."
The school previously competed as Southside-Gadsden at the statewide level. That meant any state championship trophy or award was labeled with that name including all-state selections. Academically there will be no name change as the school will still be known as Southside High School. Even though the school is located in Southside, Alabama, the distinction is needed with Southside-Selma playing in the southern half of the state. The hope is that with Southside-Rainbow City the school will represent both communities that it pulls students from. The school was hoping the change to its name for AHSAA schedules, rankings and other forms of communication. The change is something that school leaders have been trying to work towards for the last few years. The school pulls students from both the City of Southside and Rainbow City and hoping that the new name helps represents both communities. "This change is about accurately representing our students, our school, and these communities. We appreciate the organizations that worked with us to make this update, and we believe it strengthens the identity of Southside High School and its connection to Rainbow City," Etowah County School superintendent Julie Talton wrote in a statement to The Gadsden Times on Aug. 5. Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times and USA TODAY Network. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Southside High School officially changes its name with AHSAA