**********AAR Tournament going with New Dates, New Format and Some New Teams too**********
Tournament Changes
Schedule: The event moves back to a post-Christmas timeline, scheduled for December 28–30, 2026.
Format: Organizers implemented a new tournament format to celebrate the milestone 50th year.
Teams: The 2026 field introduces new participating high school teams from the area.
Teams-Grimsley, Dudley, Page, Smith(girls), Northern Guilford, plus Greensboro Day School, Caldwell Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy, and New Garden Friends School(boys)…
Public School Bracket:Grimsley, Page, Dudley, and Northern Guilford….
Private School Bracket:Greensboro Day School, Caldwell Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy, New Garden Friends School(boys), Smith(girls)
Public School Champions and Private School Champions to be crowned on both the boys and girls sides….
Detailed Format Rules
Two Distinct Tiers: Instead of all area teams competing in one massive bracket, the field is divided into a “Top Tier” division and a “Secondary Tier” division based on competitive balance.
Guaranteed Games: Every participating team is locked in to play exactly three games across the three-day tournament.
Round-Robin Group Play: Teams play every other opponent within their designated four-team division over the first few days.
The “Fleet” Concept: To align with title sponsor AAR CORP, the divisions are branded under aviation motifs (referred to by organizers as “Meeting the Fleet”).
Division Champions: The team with the best record at the conclusion of the round-robin games within their specific tier wins that division’s championship trophy.