Groesbeck to stay in Class 3A ranks

After sharing a district with teams from the west for the past two years, Groesbeck and Mexia are headed east.

The Goats and Blackcats will move from District 19-3A that included Waco-area schools Lorena, Connally, Robinson and LaVega to District 20-3A. Joining the two Limestone County schools will be Fairfield, Madisonville, Palestine and Palestine Westwood.

The changes are part of the Texas University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment process, which is used to group schools by student population.

Groesbeck will remain in the Class 3A ranks despite heavy speculation that the school would drop to Class 2A because UIL had discussed increasing the number of students allowed in 2A schools.

Groesbeck, with 449 students, is one of the state’s smallest 3A schools, and school officials said if the number of students allowed in Class 2A schools went up, then Groesbeck likely would drop.

School districts with 200 to 429 students compete in Class 2A, and those numbers haven’t changed since 2007-2008 school year. School districts with 430 to 979 students compete in Class 3A.

“We’re still 3A, and yes, we’re one of the smallest 3A schools,” said Dr. Harold Ramm, Groesbeck’s superintendent of schools. “But our kids are just as competitive as students at any other school.”

School Board president R. Scott Wilson said he expected Groesbeck to drop to Class 2A.

“Being one of the smaller 3A schools does present challenges,” he said, “but I think we will step up and play whoever we have to play. This new district does have some big 3A programs, especially Palestine High.”

Coach Steve Burrow, who also serves as Groesbeck’s athletic director, said he expected UIL to lower the student population number for 3A, a move which likely would have resulted in Groesbeck dropping to 2A.

“I knew we were right on the bubble and it could go either way,” Burrow said. “It really doesn’t matter. We’re going to keep working hard and try to get better no matter who we play.”

Burrow was busy Monday lining up non-district opponents for football season.

The Coolidge Yellowjackets will compete in District 13-A in football along with Apple Springs, Laird Hill, Leveretts Chapel and Oakwood. In basketball, Coolidge will compete in District 20-A along with Abbott, Aquilla, Bynum, Penelope and Waco Rapoport.

For complete realignment information, visit www.uil.utexas. edu.