No change for Kennedale in realignment but district opponents unknown

?

Preliminary numbers are out for the UIL two-year biennial realignment for 2020-2021 and it looks a lot like 2018 and 2019. Kennedale remains solidity in Class 4A. {{more: Continue …}}

?

For those not familiar with the process, every two year, computers and the wise men/women in Austin get together to divide all the public and charter school districts into six separate classifications based on enrollment size. (There are private schools who choose to compete in UIL but most play in private school leagues).

?

The point of the realignment is to ensure school competition is done on a fairly equal basis in terms of enrollment. Realignment does not only pertain to athletic events but also academic, band, choir and theatre competitions.?

?

The following are the projected numbers for the next two years by classification with enrollment numbers, the change from previous years, and the number of schools in that classification. (Note: The enrollment figures are based on high school populations not total district enrollment figures).

• 6A? 2220 and above, no change, # of schools 245?

• 5A?1230-2219, no change at top but bottom number raised by 20, # of schools 205;?

• 4A 515-1229 while the bottom figure remains the same the top figure is up 20, # of schools 205. (Kennedale is in this group with an enrollment number of 955).

• 3A 230-514, up five on lower end and up 10 on the upper end, # of schools 235

• 2A 105-229, up 5 on upper end, # of schools 201

• 1A 104.9 and below, no change, # of schools 218

UIL further refines the numbers so that there are two divisions within 1A ? 5A to add more balance to the competition.? ?For Class 4A, Division 1 (large school) is 880 students to 1229 students. Division II (small school) the numbers are 515 to 879 students. There are ninety-three 4A schools in the large school division.

?

As for as changes, there is not much movement in the any of the classifications. For Class 4A, one major change would be Carthage falling back into Division II. The school was in Division II in 2011 but has been a major player in Division I football since. Carthage was state champion in 2013, 2016 and once again in 2017.? The 2017 championship was the year Carthage defeated Kennedale in the state title game. Last year, Carthage returned to the state final four but lost by 4 to Liberty Hill in the semifinals. This year Carthage is again in the state 4A Division I finals, playing defending state champion Waco La Vega for a chance to claim another title.

?

District-wise expect a change ?

?

What remains to be determined is district placements. This is one that keeps coaches up at nights. For travel purposes, Kennedale had an excellent district the last two years in District 9-4A. It was composed of Fort Worth metro schools with the longest commute across Fort Worth to Lake Worth.? The district however was weak competitionwise.

?

UIL likes to mix it up and Kennedale has seen its share of change over the years. The Wildcats have been a “swing district” that has competed at different times east towards Dallas, west towards Mineral Wells and Stephenville, north toward Springtown and Decatur and southward to Alvarado and beyond.?

Regardless of district assignments, in football, Athletic Director and Head Coach

Richard Barrett, has tried to arrange for a strong pre-district schedule. This

last year was especially strong. The pre-season scrimmage was against La Vega (defending

state champion and in the state finals this week), regular season opponents Decatur

(3^rd round), Midlothian Heritage (regional finals), Alvarado (area

round) and Springtown (state semi-finals).?

The 2020-22 alignments will be released Feb. 3, for basketball, football and volleyball. District alignments for other activities will be released in the order of their seasons. More information about UIL alignments can be found at?http://www.uiltexas.org/alignments.