Kirbyville drops to Class 2A
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Goodbye Jasper, West Orange- Stark and Class 3A.

Hello Newton and Class 2A.

That was the message Friday, Feb. 1 when the University Interscholastic League announced its realignment in the athletic classes of the districts.

Kirbyville dropped down to Class 2A after years of being a powerhouse in Class 3A and instantly becomes one of the teams to beat in Class 2A.

"I think it is going to be good for our school district overall," said Kirbyville Athletic Director Jack Alvarez. "I think it will help us in some other sports and UIL competitions. I think it will help us in everything including band because I think we have been fighting with a short stick.

"This doesn't mean we are going to win a state championship," Alvarez said. "West Orange and Jasper dropped in classification and they still haven't won a state championship but it sure gives us a better chance."

The move had been long rumored but Alvarez still admitted he was surprised when the decision was announced that the Wildcats were dropping down in classification.

"We had no idea this was going to happen," Alvarez said.

He said the one scheduling conflict the move gave him was a non-district contest with Newton. Now that Newton is in the same district with Kirbyville that had to change.

"We picked up West Orange and Jasper in nondistrict," Alvarez said.

With Newton and Kirbyville in the same district, Alvarez believes the district will be very competitive.

"Newton didn't lose a district game and everybody else was pretty much even," Alvarez said. "I think it's going to be tough."

Kirbyville will play Diboll, Jasper, West Orange-Stark, Liberty, Hamshire-Fannett in nondistrict before the district play begins.

"We're going to try to keep playing at the same level that we've been playing at," Alvarez said.