And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
UIL Releases District Realignment
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – The last two lines of the Robert Frost poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” state, “And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Apparently, the University Interscholastic League is a fan of Robert Frost – at least when it comes to district realignment. The UIL released its “2018-2020 Official District Alignment” on Thursday, Feb. 1 and several area teams will truly have many miles to go before they can sleep.
Starting with football, the Oakwood Panthers have been placed in Class 1A DII District 13. Their six-man district opponents will be: Apple Springs; Chester; and Trinidad.
At the Class 2A DII level, Grapeland and Lovelady will renew a district rivalry as both been placed in District 12. The two Houston County Class 2A schools will be joined in District 12 by: Colmesneil; Evadale; Sabine Pass; Saratoga West Hardin; and Burkeville.
Here’s where the travel part comes in. Using Google Maps as a reference, it is approximately: 28 miles from Grapeland to Lovelady; 90 miles from Grapeland to Colmesneil; 140 miles from Grapeland to Evadale; 180 miles from Grapeland to Sabine Pass; 128 miles from Grapeland to Saratoga West Hardin; and 132 miles from Grapeland to Burkeville.
Moving to the Class 3A DI level, it appears the UIL actually created a district which made sense. The Crockett Bulldogs, Elkhart Elks, Trinity Tigers and Westwood Panthers will all compete in District 11.
They will be joined in the district by the Coldspring-Oakhurst Trojans, Diboll Lumberjacks and Franklin Lions.
The Palestine Wildcats will still remain in the “District of Doom” as they join Carthage, Henderson, Kilgore, Tyler Chapel Hill and Van in District 10-4A DI.
While the boys are on the gridiron, the girls will be at the net for a little volleyball action. The Class 2A area schools area broken up into three districts. District 21-AA will feature: Cayuga; Grapeland; Kerens; Latexo; Malakoff Cross Roads; Neches; Oakwood; and Trinidad.
District 22-AA may well be one of the toughest volleyball district’s in the state as it will be home to the Iola Lady Bulldogs and Leon Lady Cougars. Throw in North Zulch and you have three final four teams from the last two years. Other teams include: Centerville; Lovelady; Normangee; and Richards.
In District 23-AA, the teams are: Colmesneil; Groveton; Apple Springs; Chester; Goodrich; Kennard; and Leggett.
While the area 2A teams are scattered throughout three districts, at the Class 3A level, all the area teams are packaged into one district. District 20-AAA will be comprised of: Buffalo; Crockett; Elkhart; Frankston; Groesbeck; Teague; and Westwood.
Rounding out the area volleyball alignments, the Palestine Lady Cats will compete in District 19-AAAA, where they will compete against Fairfield, Madisonville, Mexia and Rusk.
The 2018-2019 Official District Alignment for Basketball was also released on Thursday. The Class A level shows the smallest area schools competing in District 28-A. The schools are: Apple Springs; Chireno;
Groveton Centerville; Kennard; La Rue La Poynor; Laneville; Neches; Oakwood; and Wells.
Moving to the Class 2A level, area schools have been assigned to District 19-AA and District 20-AA. In District 19, the schools are: Cayuga; Frost; Italy; Itasca; Kerens; and Malakoff Cross Roads.
In District 20-AA, the schools are: Centerville; Grapeland; Groveton; Jewett Leon; Latexo; Lovelady; and
Slocum.
At the 3A level, area schools were placed in District 20-AAA. The schools are: Buffalo; Crockett; Elkhart; Frankston; Groesbeck; Teague; and Westwood.
The Palestine Wildcats and Lady Cats will compete in District 19-AAAA. They will face Fairfield, Madisonville, Mexia and Rusk in district competition.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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