The University Interscholastic League announced new alignments this morning, but not much has changed for Lake Highlands athletics. The Wildcats will remain in District 7-6A with the Richardson and Irving schools, plus Jesuit College Prep. Highland Park dropped down to 5A due to their lower enrollment.
Realignment happens every two years, and many had speculated that RISD schools would be matched again with the Plano schools. Plano ISD, once a juggernaut of high school football, only had two teams make the playoffs over the past four years. They’ll remain in District 6-6A with Allen, McKinney and Prosper schools.
Highland Park High School, whose athletes, band and drill team show up at games in shiny charter buses, will need to increase their gasoline budget. They’ve landed in District 7-5A and will travel to Tyler, Red Oak, Midlothian, Lufkin, Joshua, Cleburne and Burleson.
The Lake Highlands Wildcat Club, already planning for the playoffs, noted that District 8-A also changed very little. Only Haltom City Haltom was added to the group of Arlington and Grand Prairie teams LHHS will face in the bi-district round.
You may view the entire list of classifications and alignments here.