East St. Louis (IL) petition to move up to IHSA's Class 7A approved

East St. Louis’ (Illinois) bid to move up in IHSA classification has been approved: the Flyers’ petition to advance into Class 7A was granted on Tuesday. East St. Louis, an 11-time IHSA state championship team, previously petitioned for higher classes, first to climb into 6A and earlier this month to reach 7A. The team is coming off a title-less year after falling to Fenwick (IL) 38-28. The Flyers play Belleville-East (1-3) at home on Friday night. East St. Louis finished the 2025 season No. 3 in the Illinois High School Football Massey Rankings. It will also be without 2027 four-star RB Myson Johnson-Cook, who averaged 1,341 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns through 12 games last year, with production expected to shift to Ronnie Gomiller.