UIL REALIGNMENT! | Here are the new districts for schools in the ETBLITZ area
Sage Orange (20) of Kilgore finds a hole made by his offensive line in the Livingston defense in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs, in Carthage. (Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – ETBLITZ.COM)
It’s time once again for the University Interscholastic League – the governing body of all things Texas high school sports – to announce its biennial realignment (every two years).
Here’s a quick look at all of the schools in the ETBlitz.com coverage area, and what districts they’ll be in for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
We’ll be back with a longer run-down, including schools that are just outside the ETBlitz.com coverage area, later today.
Kilgore, Henderson
Both the Kilgore Bulldogs and Henderson Lions remain Class 4A, Division I, and their district – again District 9-4A, Division I – will get a new look this year.
Palestine, whose coach, Lance Angel, just retired, is back to join them, as are the Lindale Eagles, and yes, the Chapel Hill Bulldogs.
But Athens is out, as is Jacksonville, and in their places, a pair of former district rivals: Mabank, and an old rival from the past: Pine Tree, the Longview school who comes down from Class 5A, Division II.
That means basketball is – interesting.
Both Kilgore and Henderson will compete in District 16-4A, and here’s the list of their district rivals: Carthage, Cumberland Academy (a former and now again district rival, in Tyler), Gilmer, Pine Tree, Spring Hill and Chapel Hill.
And in volleyball, it’s that same alignment.
Sabine, West Rusk, Gladewater, Arp, Troup, Tatum, White Oak
The Sabine Cardinals’ football district doesn’t look just a lot different that it did in 2022 and 2023. Atlanta, Gladewater, Jefferson, Tatum and White Oak are all still there, and Liberty-Eylau has joined the party – now a seven-team district in District 8-3A, Division I.
West Rusk, Arp, and Troup all play in the smaller 3A, Division II. The West Rusk Raiders have owned their district for some time, but it’s being shaken up a bit.
The Raiders, Arp and Troup will remain district rivals, but will now compete in District 11-3A, DII against Arp, Troup, Buffalo, New Diana, Elkhart, and Winona. Out are Grand Saline, Quitman and Edgewood.
In basketball, Sabine, West Rusk, Gladewater, Arp, Troup and White Oak will all be in the same district, District 16-3A. And they’ll also compete in that exact same district in volleyball: District 16-3A.
Overton
Overton will remain in Class 2A, DII, and will compete in District 11 again. Their opponents will be Alto, Cushing, Lovelady, Mount Enterprise, and Tenaha, who dealt Overton its only regular season defeat last year in the final game of the regular season, and claimed the district title.
In basketball, Overton will compete in District 22, and their rivals will be Alto, Cushing and Mount Enterprise again, as well as Douglass, New Summerfield, and longtime rival Carlisle.
And in volleyball, the Lady Mustangs will be in District 19, along with Alto, Grapeland, Latexo, and Carlisle.
Leverett’s Chapel
The Lions will continue to compete at the six-man, or 1A, level, which has been great for their program since football was revived at the school back in 2005.
In 2024, LC will compete in District 10-1A, Division I, along with Campbell, Union Hill, Saint Jo and Savoy. High Island, a coastal school (which meant long trips), is out, moved to District 12 with former LC rivals Apple Springs, Burkeville, and Chester.
LC doesn’t play basketball in a district, but in volleyball, they’ll be in District 23-1A, along with Neches and Trinidad.