The University Interscholastic League, the governing body of public schools, went behind the scenes to reline the districts for athletics for the next two school years.
Every two years schools wait to determine their opponents in district play and then fill in the remainder of the schedule and some of the district changed a little and some saw quite a change.
The Fairfield Eagles will remain the same for the next two school years. It did have one addition with the Madisonville Mustangs coming in to join the Eagles, Mexia Blackcats, Salado Eagles, Lorena Leopards, Robinson Rockets and Conally Cadets. The new district number 8-4A puts them in Region II instead of Region III.
Wortham has been going east the last two years but will not see a single like opponent for the next two years.
Wortham will avoid Tenaha and Timpson but return to a district that features the Bulldogs, Hubbard Jaguars, Frost Polar Bears, Dawson Bulldogs, and Meridian Yellowjackets.
No one wanted to see defending Division I champion Mart in the district, but the Panthers dropped down to Division II and into District 11
The Teague Lions also saw quite a shift. They lose the great rivalry with the Malakoff Tigers with their move to Region II. Kemp and Eustace join them, and Elkhart is gone.
The new district is the Lions, Grandview Zebras, Groesbeck Goats, Maypearl Panthers, McGregor Bulldogs, West Trojans and Whitney Wildcats.
Teague will take on Malakoff in a non-district game, so the area can still enjoy the rivalry.
Buffalo probably took the largest change of any in our area. They will connect with a district that will occupy most of Interstate 45.
They will join District 7 in Region II and face the Mildred Eagles, Rice Bulldogs, Scurry-Rosser Wildcats, Palmer Bulldogs, Edgewood Bulldogs, Dallas Gateway Gators, and Blooming Grove Lions.
Oakwood will stay in District 13 in the top half of Region IV. Their district opponents will be the Chester Yellowjackets, Apple Springs Eagles, and Trinidad Trojans.
The basketball and volleyball districts changed but that will come in an edition closer to the sports when they start. The district alignments will begin in the 2018-2019 school year.
For all of the alignments in all sports across the state, you can access them at www.uiltexas.org.
