RGVSPORTS.COM
The University Interscholastic League, the governing body for high school athletics in Texas, released its 2016-18 Reclassification and Realignment this morning.
As expected, Edinburg Vela and PSJA High moved up a class to 6A, and two Brownsville schools – Veterans Memorial and Lopez – dropped a class to 5A.
The two Weslaco schools, Weslaco High and Weslaco East, are moving to District 32-6A with Brownsville Hanna, Brownsville Rivera, Los Fresnos, Harlingen High, Harlingen South and San Benito.
But the big surprise came in Class 5A, where 31-5A now consists of three Laredo schools – Cigarroa, Martin and Nixon. They join Sharyland High, Sharyland Pioneer, Rio Grande City, Roma, Valley View and Mission Veterans Memorial.
In 32-5A, Brownsville Lopez and Brownsville Veterans Memorial joins sister schools Brownsville Pace and Brownsville Porter, along with Edcouch-Elsa, Mercedes, Donna High, Donna North and PSJA Southwest.
However, it all opens the door for PSJA Southwest, which thought it was headed to District 31-5A but remained realigned in 32-5A, to appeal to move up to Class 6A.
Southwest had expected to stay in Class 5A because it missed the fall deadline to petition to move up. But once PSJA ISD athletic director Orlando Garcia saw 32-5A had expanded by one school to nine teams, his eyebrows raised and the thought of appealing to move up crossed his mind.
“They threw a wrench in this whole thing,” Garcia said. “Curve ball. Immediately when I saw it, my thinking was to go feel 32-5A out, and even a couple of guys from them came to me saying they’d let us go. Seeing nine teams just gave it the go.”
District 32-5A athletic coordinators agreed that an eight-team district is ideal. A nine-team district means one less non-district game and one more team competing for four playoff spots.
On Monday, Southwest had received unanimous verbal approval from 32-5A athletic coordinators to leave to District 31-6A, where it would join sister schools PSJA North, PSJA High and PSJA Memorial. District 31-6A coordinators also gave unanimous approval to accept Southwest.
Now Southwest awaits UIL approval before formally moving up in class.
Here are the reclassifications for 2016-18 for Rio Grande Valley Class 6A and Class 5A schools.
District 30-6A: La Joya High, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, La Joya Palmview, McAllen High, McAllen Memorial, McAllen Rowe, Mission High.
District 31-6A: Edinburg Economedes, Edinburg High, Edinburg North, Edinburg Vela, PSJA High, PSJA Memorial, PSJA North.
District 32-6A: Brownsville Hanna, Brownsville Rivera, Los Fresnos, Harlingen High, Harlingen South, San Benito, Weslaco East, Weslaco High.
District 31-5A: Laredo Cigarroa, Laredo Martin, Laredo Nixon, Sharyland High, Mission Veterans Memorial, Valley View, Rio Grande City, Roma, Sharyland Pioneer.
District 32-5A: Brownsville Lopez, Brownsville Pace, Brownsville Porter, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Donna High, Donna North, Mercedes, PSJA Southwest.
District 16-4A, DI: Hidalgo, Kingsville King, La Feria, Grulla, Zapata.
District 16-4A, DII: C.C. West Oso, Orange Grove, Port Isabel, Progreso, Raymondville, Rio Hondo.