Teammates become rivals as Bay City Academy joins All Saints in Big Thumb next year

At the end of this school year, Bay City Academy and Bay City All Saints are ending their partnership.

And beginning their rivalry.

Bay City Academy announced Thursday that it has been accepted into the Big Thumb Conference, a vital step in forming its own sports program for the 2026-27 school year. The Lumberjacks expect to land in the BTC’s revamped Red Division, where they will take on Carsonville-Port Sanilac, Caseville, Kinde North Huron, Peck and current co-operative partner All Saints.

“Our student-athletes have truly benefited from the co-op, and for that we are thankful,” Academy athletic director Jason Newsham said. “But as we turned the page, being familiar with the travel, schools of similar size and competitive levels (in the Big Thumb Conference) was very attractive to us.