UIL Send Loboes West, Cowboys North for Two Years
    By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, February 3, 2006

The University Interscholastic League's biennial reclassification and realignment packets were released Thursday morning, and Ward County school districts were greeted with new directions for the next two seasons.

Monahans will move west and join Pecos, Fort Stockton, Anthony, Clint, Fabens, and Tornillo in District 1-3A.

Grandfalls-Royalty will take a northern route, joining Imperial-Buena Vista, Lamesa Klondike, Loop, and Welch Dawson to form District 3-Six Man, Division II.

For Monahans the move brings back memories of long road trips to compete in the El Paso district in 1996-1998 seasons.  Although those years were very successful campaigns for the Loboes, travel distances tightened school budgets and limited the traveling fan base to out of town games.

MHS will compete in the west district in football only.

The UIL opted to leave Presidio in District 2 all alone.  Presidio does not play football, and playoff teams from District 1 will automatically receive a first round bye.

Andrews dropped into the 3A mix from the Class 4A ranks, and they join Lamesa, Midland Greenwood, and Snyder in District 3-3A.

Seminole moved north into District 4-3A with Brownfield, Levelland, and Lubbock Cooper.

According to Monahans Athletic Director Mickey Owens, Monahans will not appeal the UIL decision.

"The odds of an appeal are stacked against you," Owens said.  "First you have to get the UIL to agree, then find a district that will accept you.  Those schools already have their schedules set, so the likelihood of making a change is almost impossible."

The UIL has set a time frame of February 2-13 for schools wishing to appeal and change districts.  In order to do so, the school must contact the district to which they have been assigned and the district to which they wish to change to and ask for a vote.

If a unanimous vote is achieved from both districts, both district chairs will contact the UIL office and report its decision.

"We'll play with what we've been dealt," Owens said.  "It's not as bad as it looks.  We'll only have to make two trips out to El Paso, and two of them will have to travel here."

Monahans has negotiated non-district games with Snyder, Andrews and Midland Christian.  Owens said he is still looking for a fourth game to complete the non-district schedule.

"It's not what we wanted, but it's not the end of the world either," Owens said.  "We'll make a run at the playoffs and play the schedule we've been given.  It's really not as bad as people think."

Grandfalls-Royalty Athletic Director Clint Lowry was all smiles after reviewing his UIL packet.

"It's kind of what we thought would happen for us," Lowry said.  "I am tickled about the new district and really like our chances in Division II."

With just a five member district, the Cowboys will have to fill six non-district games on the schedule.  Coach Lowry reported that GRHS has agreed to play Dell City, Sanderson, Garden City, and Rankin.  In addition, her will take the Cowboys on the road to Hico for the annual football showcase that premiers some of the states best teams in six man football.

Lowry said that he is currently negotiating a sixth opponent for the new schedule.

Balmorhea, Dell City, Marathon, Sanderson, and Sierra Blanca will make up District 1-Six Man, also in Division II.

Fort Davis moves to Division I, and will be a member of District 1-Six Man joining Ackerly Sands, Garden City, Lenorah Grady, and Rankin.  Subsequently, Rankin will make its six man football debut next fall, dropping from Class 1A.

For basketball, Monahans will compete with Fort Stockton, Pecos, and Presidio the next two years.

The UIL elected to move Midland Greenwood, Seminole and Lamesa to other districts in the realignment.

"It came out better than what we thought might take place," Coach Thomas Clay said.  "We are certainly happy with the travel time involved."

The new basketball district will match playoff teams from the west district in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

"The ironic thing about how this all worked out is that the teams that will be in out new district just happen to be the last 3 games on our current schedule," Coach Clay said.

Monahans will travel to Fort Stockton Friday, and make a road to Presidio next week before finishing at home with Pecos.

Keyed by Chino Arsiaga, Senior