Dateline: February 9, 2006

UIL realignment shakes up local sports seasons

By Sandy Anderberg, Clarendon Enterprise

The UIL realignment for the 2006-2007 season will add one more team to the play off road as each district is allowed three teams to enter post-season play. 

Clarendon ISD will be in a six-team district for football, but drops to a four-team district in basketball. 

Due to an increase in numbers, Wheeler, who played six-man the last two years, is back up to 11-man status and will be in the Broncos’ district.  Claude is out of the district because they will not host a football program next year. 

The 3-1A district will consist of Clarendon, Wheeler, Memphis, Shamrock, Wellington, and Quanah. 

“This definitely gives us a tough district,” Clarendon Athletic Director Gary Jack said.  “Wheeler had a tradition of winning, and they are always tough.

“The fact that three teams go to the playoffs instead of two is a good thing.”

While the football district stayed basically the same as far as team numbers, the basketball district changed considerably. No longer are the Broncos and Lady Broncos in a six-team district, but are now in a four-team district.  Several schools were set up into a four-team district with CHS in the mix. 

The basketball district 7-1A consists of Clarendon, Wheeler, Claude, and White Deer.  Former district foes Wellington, Memphis, Quanah, and Shamrock will make up district 8.  Instead of taking two teams to the playoffs, they will now take three in each district. 

“It really is ridiculous,” head girl’s coach Steve Myatt said.  “Now everyone in the district but one gets a playoff game.” 

Similar sentiments were offered by head boys’ coach Wade Callaway. 

“I think it is ridiculous to have three teams going to the playoffs in a four-team district,” Callaway said.  “I think the UIL needs to reconsider their stance on letting so many teams make the playoffs. 

“It will be a tough district with Claude, White Deer, and Wheeler all making the playoffs this year, so we’ll have our work cut out for us, but that’s how it should be.”

Athletes at Hedley High School will also be facing a different line up next season. The Owls and Lady Owls will no longer face Silverton and Valley in basketball but will play a district consisting of Hedley, Groom, Lefors, Samnorwood, and McLean.

Hedley also moves from Division II six-man football to Division I six-man, and the Owls’ district will include Hedley, Chillicothe, Crowell, Paducah, and Valley in Region II, District 6.

The realignment is governed by the University Interscholastic League and will be last until the end of the 2008 season.