Re-alignment: Joaquin going 2A, Shelbyville 1A

Shelbyville is going down to Class 1A. Joaquin is making the jump to Class 2A. And for the first time in a number of years, Center and Carthage will no longer be district foes - in fact, they won't even be in the same region. Those are the big changes effecting Shelby County Schools as the University Interscholastic League announced its biennial re-alignment Monday morning.

Some of the more noticeable changes across the state includes Class 1A and 2A football teams being divided up into Division I (big school) and Division II (small school) beginning in the 2010-11 school year. In the last two years these two classifications of football teams were divided when they went to the postseason, as were all classifications in Texas. But next year that separation takes place in the regular season as well.

Also, in Class 1A and 2A, because of the two divisions, only the top two teams in each district will qualify for the playoffs in football. In the past it was the top three squads.

The cut-offs between classifications didn't change much from two years ago. Class 1A is still and enrollment of 199 and below and Class 2A will continue to be 200-429. There will be a slight change in Class 3A, changing from 430-979 to 430-989. Class 4A will change from 980-2084 to 990-2064. Class 5A is currently 2085 and up. The reclassification has made it 2065 and up.

Here's a quick rundown of the five Shelby County schools and where they will be calling 'home' in 2010-11:

Center High School
With an enrollment turned in of 622, Center will continue to reside in District 18-3A, along with Diboll, Huntington, Jasper, Hudson (no football) and Central (no football). Kirbyville has moved up in classification and will no longer be a member of 22-2A, but will now be join the squads in 18-3A.

Center played Kirbyville in the 2008 football season in a nondistrict contest. The Wildcats were the 22-2A champions and advanced to the Division I State Championship game, where they lost to Pilot Point, 35-18.

Gone from 18-3A is Carthage, the long-time rival of Center and the two-time defending Class 3A Division II State Champion. The Bulldogs will now join Gilmer, Gladewater, Henderson (which dropped down from 4A), Spring Hill and Pittsburgh in District 16-3A. Rusk will be a member of District 17-3A beginning in 2010-11 and join Athens, Brownsboro, Bullard and Chapel Hill.

Shelbyville High School
Shelbyville turned in an enrollment of 178, which is 22 under the cutoff mark of 200 for Class 2A school. That means the Dragons will be Class 1A Division I next year.

The football team will be a member of District 10 and will join Alto, Cushing, Garrison - which also dropped down from Class 2A to 1A - Grapeland and Timpson. In basketball, Dragon and Lady Dragon teams will be in District 22-1A and play against Beckville, Garrison, Gary, Tenaha and Timpson.

The old District 22-2A will consist of Corrigan-Camden, Hemphill Central Heights (no football), Newton, San Augustine, Woden (no football) and Woodville.

Joaquin High School
With enrollment numbers of 201, Joaquin will now go from being a large Class 1A school to one of the smallest Class 2A schools.

The Rams will be a Class 2A Division II football team and play in District 9-2A beginning next fall. Joaquin will be joining the likes of Arp, Frankston, Union Grove, West Rusk and Winona.

Joaquin will participate in District 20-2A in basketball, joining Elysian Fields, Harleton, Jefferson, Tatum and Waskom, a very formidable group.

Tenaha High School
Tenaha turned in an enrollment number of 117, which makes the county school one of the smaller Class 1A schools again. The Tiger football team will be in new 'surroundings' in District 12-1A in football and have only three other district opponents. Newcomer Union Hill will join Beckville and Mount Enterprise, along with Tenaha. That means, with only three district ballgames, Tiger Athletics director Terry Ward will be scrambling for non-district contests.

Old football district foes are mostly in Division I. West Sabine is now is District 11 with Colmesneil, Hull-Daisetta, Lovelady and West Hardin. Joaquin and Waskom are now in Class 2A, while Timpson is in District 10-1A of Division I.

In basketball, Tenaha will be in District 22-1A once again. Joining THS will be Timpson, Shelbyville, Gary, Garrison and Beckville.

Timpson High School
Just under the cutoff for Class 2A two years ago, Timpson once again finds itself as a large Class 1A school as the re-alignment is announced. That means the Bears' football team will join Alto, Cushing, arch-rival Garrison, Grapeland and Shelbyville District 10-A of Division I.

The Timpson basketball teams will be in the Division I, joining Beckville, Garrison, Gary, Shelbyville and Tenaha in District 22-2A.

A List of 2010-11 new districts involving Shelby County-area teams

Here are some links of interest:

Class 5A Re-alignment for Football & Basketball

Class 4A Re-alignment for Football & Basketball

Class 3A Re-alignment for Football & Basketball

Class 2A Re-alignment for Division I Football

Class 2A Re-alignment for Division II Football

Class 2A Re-alignment for Basketball

Class 1A Re-alignment for Division I Football

Class 1A Re-alignment for Division II Football

Class 1A Re-alignment for Division I Basketball

Class 1A Re-alignment for Division II Basketball