Back on October 29, 2021 when “snap-shot” day took place, Brownfield ISD, Meadow ISD, and Wellman-Union ISD pretty much knew that they would stay in their respective University Interscholastic League (UIL) conferences (classifications) which BISD is in 3A (DI in football) , MISD & WUISD are in 1A (both DI in football) and that came true today as UIL released the classification cutoffs.
BISD turned in an enrollment of 474 in the high school, and the past 2020-2022 UIL realignment cutoff for 3A was 514. There had been rumors and talk that the top number could go down because across the state enrollment was down due to COVID-19. However that was not the case at all as there are more than 47K more students enrolled in Texas publics schools, this according to the difference between the 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 enrollments number given from UIL. Now the new 3A top cutoff number is 544. BISD Superintendent Chris Smith said, “The UIL released their cut off numbers a little earlier than expected, but they were within the expected ranges. Now it’s just a waiting game to see how the districts will be divided. February 1st will be an interesting day for the whole state. We know we will be 3A , but where at remains to be seen.”
Although the enrollments numbers , conference and football division cutoffs are in, no school will know who they’ll be with in district until February 1, 2022. The current district the Brownfield Cubs football team are in is Denver City, Kermit, Lamesa, Shallowater, & Slaton. The basketball/volleyball/spring sports & academics district BISD is in, is Denver City, Dimmitt, Friona, Lamesa, Littlefield, & Muleshoe. BISD Athletic Director & Head Football Coach Aarrohn Flores said, “Brownfield will still stay in 3A-D1, last year to this year the numbers have really increased and some tough 4A-D2 schools have now dropped to 3A-D1. You’re looking at Vernon and Iowa Park dropping so now that makes our division and region a lot tougher. Districts will shake up with some 3A-D1 schools like a Littlefield dropping to D2, but all in all it’s an exciting and anticipating time of year for all schools around the state!”
When it comes to the two 1A schools in Terry County, they had already known exactly what conference they would be in since UIL already determined those number prior to snap-shot day. The 1A cutoff number is a 104.9. This number has not changed in several realignments, and the division I & II cutoff for six-man football purposes did not change from the 2020-2022 realignment, which 59.5 to 104.9 is DI and 59.4 & below is DII. Looking at the newest numbers there will sure be some changes in the districts. MISD turned in 86 and WUISD turned in 69 making both DI football. MISD Superintendent Bric Turner said, “We already knew where we stood, we just don’t know the districts yet.” When asked about Morton electing to go 11-man because they fall into the 6-man class Turner went on to say, “Well… we kinda thought they would elect to go up in football, and now Sands will move into the DI side. With that we are thinking we might go north where as Wellman-Union is that wildcard. We don’t know if they’ll end up with us or not.”
In the 2018-2020 & 2020-2022 realignments, UIL kepts both MISD & WUISD together in the football and basketball districts. Currently MISD & WUISD are in district 4-1A DI with Borden County, O’Donnell, & Whiteface. Also they are in District 7-1A for basketball, spring sports, & academics which include Loop, Welch-Dawson, Whiteface, & Whitharral. The WUISD Lady Cats Volleyball team is currently in District 3-2A/1A. According to UIL’s 2022-2024 realignment Conference and District Assignment Policies and Procedures, it states, “There shall be six (6) conferences for the following activities: Cross Country, Football, Basketball, Music, Academics, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball.” as opposed to the UIL’s 2022-2024 realignment Conference and District Assignment Policies and Procedures that states, “There shall be six (6) conferences for the following activities: Cross Country, Football, Basketball, Music, Academics, Golf, Tennis, and Track and Field.” and “There shall be five (5) conferences for the following activities: Volleyball, Baseball and Softball.” The Lady Cats have been in district with 2A teams and when the playoff begin they were split into each respective conferences. That will all change this go around as 1A school who participate in volleyball will be placed in there own 1A districts.
WUISD Superintendent Ben Prowell hopes to continue to be competitive saying, “Obviously we didn’t know what the exact cut off number would be, but we expected to stay division 1. Now we wait to see what our new district will be in early February. Our goal is to always be competitive in whatever district we are in.” WUISD Head Girls Basketball Coach Landry Kidd also reiterated the growth being a positive for WUISD. “Not a lot will change for us on numbers. We will stay division 1 with our football, which will be tough but we can handle the competition. In my mind, it’s good that we remain division 1 because it shows growth of our numbers at the WU. Means we are doing good things.” said Coach Kidd. MISD Athletic Director & Head Football Coach Josh Conner stated, “The numbers turned out to be a little different than expected and obviously I expect there to be some changes. However, I am excited to see who UIL puts us with in district. We are excited and ready to compete for a District Championship!”
Here are the complete cutoff numbers from UIL
