Changes ahead for teams in UIL’s realignment
Senior Jesse Viramontez looks to move the ball up the court against Montgomery. The boys have won their second district title and gone undefeated in district play for the first time in school history. Next year, they will face an entirely new district in the UIL’s realignment.
February 15, 2022
With the UIL release of the 2022-2024 district realignments for Kingwood Park sports, many opinions are being voiced. Some are looking forward to the new competition, but others have made certain that their displeasure was noted.
Some of the biggest challenges facing the teams will be a much smaller district combined with much more travel. Both head boys basketball coach Jeffrey Hamilton and football offensive coordinator and head baseball coach Bruce Cox have expressed that their seasons will be filled with out of district games in order to prepare for the playoffs.
“It is only a six-team district so we get to schedule a lot of extra games and play a lot of people to get us ready for the playoffs,” Cox said. “Travel is going to be a challenge. Some of our district games are two hours away.”
The new districts bring a few teams KPark has never faced. The football team will be competing against Goose Creek Memorial, Lee, Sterling, Crosby, La Porte, Barbers Hill, Porter and Memorial High School. The teams are excited for the new competition, but will have to start preparing for a hard season early.
“[There are] some good teams towards the top so it should be very competitive,” Hamilton said. “Lufkin is currently undefeated in their district and #20 in the state. We will need to get stronger, build chemistry & start creating our identity.”
The district created for programs like basketball, volleyball, soccer and baseball will include Dayton, Huntsville, Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Porter.
Cox said he is excited for the new challenge and what being in Region II will entail when playoffs hit.
“It is very exciting to have some familiar opponents and some we have never played before,” Cox said. “Should be a lot of fun, as we continue to develop our young players and get them ready for next baseball season. They are very excited about moving to Region II.”
No matter the competition, KPark culture remains KPark culture: striving for success and never settling.
“We are who we are and the standard is the standard,” Cox said. “We still want to win the region, it is just a new region and we will see what challenges it brings.”
