By Michelle Dapper

Wilsonville, Ore. -- The Oregon Student Activity Association (OSAA), the group governing Oregon high school sports, voted Monday to bring schools from the same area back together again. The vote will put a hybrid plan into place.

It was four years ago that the current divisions were implemented, despite heavy protest from parents and school districts.

The new 6A/5A Midwestern Hybrid division includes nine teams: Sheldon, South Eugene, Thurston, Churchill, Marist, Marshfield, North Eugene, Springfield, and Willamette High School. School district officials say the changes will save them tens of thousands of dollars in travel costs and save students hours and hours of lost class time.

There are a couple of other changes. Thurston High School will move up to the 6A rank, and Marist High School will move to the 5A class.

The OSAA still has not decided how teams will qualify for state playoffs. The group says it will have an answer later this year.