The University Interscholastic League (UIL) announced the conference and division cutoff numbers, resulting in Sweetwater dropping to Class 3A, while Comanche and TLCA-Abilene move up a division for football. Sweetwater's enrollment of 523 students placed it within the cutoff for Class 3A, significantly impacting the school's sports programs beyond football. TLCA-Abilene, a six-man program, will now transition to Class 2A Division I, while Comanche moves up to Class 3A Division I with 373 reported students.

By the Numbers
  • Sweetwater reported 523 students, placing it within the Class 3A cutoff range of 254 to 544.
  • TLCA-Abilene reported 185 students, meeting the cutoff for 2A Division II (181.5-253), but the transition will now place it within 2A Division I.
  • Comanche reported 373 students, moving it up to Class 3A Division I (369-544).
State of Play
  • Russell Lucas, Sweetwater’s football coach and athletic director, expressed excitement at the move, believing it will provide a more level playing field for the school's teams.
  • The realignment will likely lead to significant changes in the districts for Abilene schools, with the UIL set to announce the district realignments in early February.
What's Next

The UIL is expected to announce the district realignments in early February, which could have a substantial impact on the configurations of the school districts for Abilene schools and the dynamics of the respective competitions.

Bottom Line

The UIL's announcement of the conference and division cutoff numbers has led to significant changes for schools such as Sweetwater, TLCA-Abilene, and Comanche, impacting their athletic programs and future competition dynamics.