Changes are coming to the Coastal Bend, with the University Interscholastic League’s district realignment bringing new pressure as several long-time rivals shift divisions and district.
Gregory-Portland and Corpus Christi Ray headline the changes at the 5A level, as the new district sends them south for district play. The Wildcats and Texans are set to now see five new faces in their district. This past year both teams were in a district with five Corpus Christi ISD schools and Gregory-Portland. Now under new alignment, they will have to travel to the Rio Grande Valley to play their district games.
There are also major shifts in Class 4A Division I. Miller, Moody and King dropped down to 4A Division I schools and will now compete in Region 4, District 15 alongside Beeville Jones, Calallen, Port Lavaca Calhoun and Tuloso-Midway. Both Port Lavaca and Beeville Jones return to a district in the Coastal Bend after previously competing against teams to the north. Miller expected to face challenges with the loss of the winningest coach in program history Justen Evans, who is expected to take a job in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
London moves up to 4A Division II and into a larger, more competitive Region 4, District 16 that includes Ingleside, Robstown, and Rockport-Fulton. Kingsville King also joins the expanded district, along three Rio Grande Valley schools. The Rockport-Fulton Pirates look to build on success under second year head coach Eric Soza after advancing to the regional semifinals.
Sinton, meanwhile, moves down to 3A Division I after reaching the state semifinals, where it fell to West Orange-Stark 28-3. The Pirates join Region 4, District 15 with Aransas Pass, Corpus Christi West Oso, Goliad, Mathis and Orange Grove. With head coach Michael Troutman, a Sinton alumnus who took over the program in 2019, returning, the Pirates are expected to be an even stronger contender.
UIL COASTAL BEND REALIGNMENTS
5A Division 1 Region 4 District
- Brownsville Hanna
- Brownsville Rivera
- Corpus Christi Carroll
- Corpus Christi Flour Bluff
- Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial
- Harlingen South
- Weslaco East
5A Division 2 Region 4 District 15
- Brownsville Lopez
- Brownsville Pace
- Brownsville Porter
- Corpus Christi Ray
- Donna
- Gregory-Portland
- Mercedes
4A Division 1 Region 4 District 15
- Beeville Jones
- Corpus Christi Calallen
- Corpus Christi King
- Corpus Christi Miller
- Corpus Christi Moody
- Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway
- Port Lavaca Calhoun
4A Division 1 Region 4 District 16
- Alice
- Edcouch-Elsa
- Hidalgo Early College
- Pharr Valley View
- Zapata
4A Division 2 Region 4 District 16
- Corpus Christi London
- Grulla
- Ingleside
- Kingsville King
- La Feria
- Port Isabel
- Robstown
- Rockport-Fulton
3A Division 1 Region 4 District 15
- Aransas Pass
- Corpus Christi West Oso
- Goliad
- Mathis
- Orange Grove
- Sinton
3A Division 1 Region 4 District 16
- Bishop
- Lyford
- Progreso
- Raymondville Early College
- Rio Hondo
- San Diego
- Santa Gertrudis Academy
3A Division 2 Region 4 District 16
- Cotulla
- Falfurrias
- George West
- Hebbronville
- Odem
- Santa Rosa
2A Division 1 Region 4 District 16
- Banquete
- Dilley
- Freer
- Monte Alto
- Premont
- Refugio
- Skidmore-Tynan
- Taft
