NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School is seeking entrance into the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools immediately.

That means the Green Wave will no longer be a part of Class 1A in the Mississippi High School Athletics Association or MHSAA.

In a meeting Wednesday, Cathedral chief administrator Pat Sanguinetti and the school decided to seek approval from the bishop of the Diocese of Jackson to make the move, and it was approved later in the afternoon.

“The bishop granted us the ability to seek entrance into the MAIS,” Sanguinetti said. “We’ll have to go through the accredidation process and have to be a member of the MAIS in order to participate in athletics, but I will begin the process of getting us in as a full member.”

Sanguinetti said there was no question as to what Cathedral would do.

“The MHSAA’s decision was not in the best interest of our schools,” said Sanguinetti referencing the recent ruling by the MHSAA to ban out-of-state residents from playing sports in Mississippi. “Everybody realizes at this point in time, had we taken legal action, we don’t know when we could’ve gotten a hearing. There is no question what we had to do.”

Cathedral athletic director Craig Beesley said it was a relief to see everyone on the same page about the decision.

“We’ve got some wonderful people in the school and it showed our ability to work together,” he said.

Sanguinetti said he was pleased with how the situation unfolded and is ready to move forward.

“I’m proud of the parents and they have fully supported me and realized there is a big picture to look at. Every decision we made is based on the kids,” Sanguinetti said. “I can’t see myself not allowing Louisiana kids to play. Louisiana kids are a part of our school and we aren’t going to punish them. I’m praying it is a smooth transition and doesn’t affect the children.”

For head football coach Ron Rushing, whose sport is quickly approaching, the change hasn’t gotten him too worried.

“It isn’t going to be tough at all,” Rushing said. “We look at the first team. We’re excited and ready to move forward instead of backwards. It is a positive thing.”

Cathedral won state cham-pionships in football and baseball last season at the Class 1A level.

The football team finished with a 14-1 record, while the baseball team wrapped up their season at 25-4.