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UIL realignment: Shakeup with 2A splits
02/04/2010 - By Evan Ren
With the UIL splitting classes 1A and 2A into two 16-district divisions, extended travel and greater expenses were to become a reality for many schools statewide.
That was the accepted sacrifice many superintendents knew they would have to make in the quest for greater enrollment equity. It hit home Monday, when the UIL released its realignments for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons.
Hardest hit among Big Country teams might be Colorado City, which has been placed in Class 2A Division I along with Crane, Denver City, Kermit, Grape Creek and Wall. But also included in the mix is an uber-isolated program from Alpine — an almost 275-mile one-way trip from Colorado City.
“We might have to leave tomorrow to get to that game on time,” joked Colorado City coach Frank Johnson. “Travel is definitely going to be a concern for us.”
Quality competition, however, shouldn’t be. And that seems to be the case throughout much of the realignments involving Big Country teams.
In District 3-2A Division I, for example, improving teams from Clyde, Early, Merkel, Jim Ned and Ballinger will coexist with a burgeoning power from Brady.
“We’re excited about it but I’m glad it’s all over,” Clyde coach David Ritchey said. “I had my map out highlighting every school and what I thought their enrollment would be and I did it every way I thought the UIL might do it, and of course, I wasn’t right.”
The speculation is over in District 4-2A as well, where an expected drop from 3A by Breckenridge matches the Buckaroos with Eastland, Dublin, Comanche, Clifton, Godley and Whitney. At least three high-profile matchups could come from this league between Eastland (6-5) and Comanche (9-3), and of course, Breckenridge (1-9), which expects the drop to 2A to be a big help.
“Obviously there are some teams in that district I’m not quite as familiar with right now as I will be by tonight,” new Breckenridge coach Steve Freeman said. “But I’m assuming that it’s going to wind up being a real competitive district and it will be a situation where a lot of people will have their eyes on us as we move into that arena.
“We’ll be somewhat targeted with expectations, but our own expectations will be the strongest of any. Whatever happens on the outside in is none of my business, but our own expectations will certainly be at a high level.”
Class 2A Division II
Cisco is one of the few Big Country programs fell into this division.
The Loboes, who have played for three state championships during coach Brent West’s tenure, are stretching south and east to District 4, where they will face Crawford, Hamilton, Hico, Millsap and Rio Vista.
“This is a district that Cisco has been in, back in the late ’90s,” West said. “It was definitely a thought that we might go that direction, but we didn’t expect to go as far east as Crawford.”
In actuality, the drive to Crawford from Cisco is a manageable 125 miles. And it is against Crawford (8-3) that the Loboes (12-1) may find their stiffest competition.
“Crawford is pretty notorious for having great football teams,” West said. “They beat us in 2004 in the area game and went on to win a state championship that year. And they haven’t fallen off very much.”
Elsewhere at this level, District 2 will present a travel headache for Hawley, which will share the league with Anson, Coahoma, Forsan, Idalou, Post and Stanton. A one-way trip from Hawley to Idalou is 176 miles — a 3 1/2-hour ride by school bus.
Class 1A Division I
It is here where one of the area’s most competitive leagues may evolve in District 4. There, state runnerup Albany (14-1) joins state semifinalist Haskell (9-5), Seymour (9-2), an improving team from Stamford (6-4) and Olney (3-7), which is dropping from 2A.
“The new district is really our old district,” Albany coach Denney Faith said. “We’ve been with those guys before, so we’re glad to get to come back and play with some guys that we’ve been in a district with.
“It’s going to be a good, solid district. From top to bottom, it’s going to be as good as any around, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Also at this level will be De Leon, which slides into District 7 with Bosqueville, Itasca, Santo and Valley Mills.
In District 8, defending Division I state champion Goldthwaite will face a 205-mile one-way drive to Big Lake for a league game with Reagan County. Rounding out this district will be Winters, Mason and Eldorado.
Class 1A Division II
A pair of noteworthy districts involving Big Country teams exist at this level, beginning in District 7 where traditional rivals Hamlin, Roby, Roscoe and Rotan will join Crosbyton and Ralls.
In District 9, long-suffering programs from Baird (3-7), Cross Plains (4-6) and Ranger (0-10), will finally get enrollment justice in a league featuring Gorman (3-7) and Meridian (3-7).
The area’s two remaining teams at this level — Bronte and Munday — will call District 6 and District 8 home, respectively. Bronte will slug it out with Christoval, Menard, Irion County, Miles and San Angelo TLC Academy. Munday will see some familiar faces from Archer City, Electra and Windthorst, along with a newcomer in Perrin-Whitt.
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