Gonzales County teams affected by UIL district realignment

The Gonzales Apaches football team have found themselves back in District 15-4ADI with some familiar opponents. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) released realignment information Thursday morning, placing Gonzales Apaches back in Region IV, after moving them up to Class 4A Division I.

The realignment for 2014-16 saw the Apaches match up with La Vernia, Rockport-Fulton, Beeville Jones, Pleasanton and Robstown in Division I. Now that Gonzales is back up to Division I, UIL has matched the Apaches with Beeville Jones, La Vernia and Pleasanton. Rounding out the five-team district will be Boerne, a playoff team from last season.

In December, Gonzales reported an enrollment number of 793, barely making the cut for 4A Division I football, as UIL set the cutoff for 4A Division II at 505-789. Gonzales is tied for the third smallest school in the division, with Seminole reporting an enrollment number of 793, Celina at 792 and Bridge City at 791.

For playoff purposes, District 15-4ADI will take on 16-4ADI in the bi-district round. That district consists of Hidalgo Early College, Kingsville King, La Feria, Rio Grande City Grulla and Zapata.

After two years of having to schedule a non-district game against their rivals, the Apaches will finally face off against Cuero at least twice a season in both basketball and volleyball since the teams were realigned to District 30-4A. Included in the seven-team district are Navarro, La Vernia, Pleasanton, Poteet and San Antonio Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering.

For playoff purposes, District 30-4A takes on 29-4A in the bi-district. That district consists of Carrizo Springs, Crystal City, Devine, Hondo and Pearsall.

-----------

Nixon-Smiley won’t see much change in football as they are back in District 15-3ADII with Dilley, Natalia, Poth and Stockdale. Skidmore-Tynan replaces Karnes City, who had to move up to 3A-DI, rounding out the six-team district.

For playoff purposes, 15-3ADII takes on 16-3ADII in the bi-district round, a district which consists Banquete, Corpus Christi London, Hebbronville, Monte Alto, Odem, Santa Rosa and Taft.
Relief was provided this realignment for the basketball and volleyball programs in District 27-3A. This season, the teams are operating under an eight-school district. But that will soon change, with the new UIL realignment. The district now scales back down to Nixon-Smiley, Luling, Stockdale and Yoakum, adding Karnes City and Poth to round out the six-team district.

For playoff purposes, 27-3A takes on 28-3A in the bi-district round, a district comprised of Altair Rice, Bloomington, Columbus (previously a 4A team), Edna, Ganado, Hallettsville, Schulenburg and Vanderbilt Industrial.

-----------

Waelder will see some new faces in volleyball. The Lady Wildcats have been placed in an eight-team district with Flatonia, Louise, Shiner, Wallis Brazos, Weimar, Damon and Prairie Lea. In volleyball, Class 2A and Class 1A are combined during district play, but then split off for the playoffs. Of the eight teams in District 27-2A, Damon and Prairie Lea are Class 1A teams with Waelder. Since three teams come out of district for the 1A playoffs, Damon, Prairie Lea and Waelder will automatically make it to postseason play, with the winner of the three earning a bye in the bi-district round.

For basketball, Waelder remains in District 30-1A with Dime Box, Fayetteville, Moulton, Prairie Lea and Round Top-Carmine, adding McDade to fill out the seven-team district. For playoff purposes, the bi-district round matches up 30-1A with 29-1A. Those teams include Burkeville, Chester, Goodrich, High Island, Leggett and Spurger.