After the UIL’s recent legislative decision this week, there’s a chance that Boerne ISD athletic teams could win two state championships in the same sport.
The UIL announced that it has approved a proposal to split each classification into two divisions once the playoffs start.
Four teams make the playoffs from each district and once the postseason begins, the two largest enrollment schools will go Division I or big school, while the two smaller schools will go Division II or small school.
Boerne ISD Athletic Director Stan Leech said it was time for the change and is happy with the decision.
“This has been a long-time coming,” he said. “I’m thankful they’re doing it because it’s more opportunity for schools. Football has had two state champions in each division for 34 years now, so it’s about time.”
Sports affected are volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and baseball. Football will stay the same, but as Leech mentioned, they’ve had two state champs in each classification for three decades.
The whole point of the move is to allow some of the smaller schools in each classification a better chance when going into the playoffs since they’ll be facing schools with similar size enrollments.
Boerne High and Boerne Champion will both be 5A schools once the 202425 school year starts in August and if both make the playoffs, the Chargers could theoretically go big school and win a 5A-DI state title, while the Greyhounds could go small school and win the 5A DII state title in the same sport.
Because of the split, one of the playoff rounds – the regional quarterfinals – will be eliminated and so will regional tournaments. The state finals have been in the seventh round of the playoffs but now a team can reach the championship game in six rounds. Each state tournament will consist of state finals only and not include state semifinals as previously done.
Comfort is a 3A school and Bobcats football coach and athletic director Jay Rieken said the smaller schools in each classification will benefit the most.
“It makes it a more even playing field. I think it helps the lower levels, schools that are on the bubble,” he said. “If they’re going to do it in football they need to do it in others.”
There was talk of the UIL adding a 7A classification, but this will keep it at six different classifications – 1A through 6A – for now.
Leech said the changes will take place right away and there will be two state champions in each classification starting with volleyball.
“I’m thankful they’re doing it because it’s more opportunity for schools. Football has had two state champions in each division for 34 years now, so it’s about time.”
Stan Leech BISD Athletic Director on the UIL allowing two state champions in each classification starting this fall.
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