Coaches discuss new districts

Area coaches had mixed reviews of their new districts, which were announced Feb. 3.

Jacksboro’s new ”everything but football” district is a change for the Purple, but one it has seen before. It includes Bowie, Breckenridge, Henrietta, Holliday, Nocona, and Wichita Falls City View. All have been a district foe in recent years with Breckenridge the most recent holdover from the last two years.

Jacksboro Boys Basketball Coach Aaron Bass said the realignment brings some familiarity with it.

“I think alignment is a good opportunity for us to play teams we are a little more familiar with,” Bass wrote in a text.

Jacksboro Volleyball Coach Tennessee Arey, going into her third year at the helm said “the idea of new competition is always exciting. We have been thrown into the mix with a lot of talented teams and coaches. I look forward to what next year holds.”

One of the biggest surprises was having Class A county rivals Perrin and Bryson in separate districts in everything but football. Bryson is in the new District 9-A with Archer City, Petrolia, Windthorst, Gold-Burg, Electra, Harrold and Prairie Valley. Prairie Valley went deep into the volleyball playoffs last year as did Bryson, both teams going to the Region II Tournament.

Bryson Volleyball Coach Kim Hauger admits seeing some new teams will help her squad.

“I’m excited about the changes,” Hauger explained. “It will be an opportunity for us to see a new selection of competition that have a history of being very competitive schools. I think we will have another competitive year as we looking into making another run deep into the playoffs.”

Perrin, on the other hand, moved into District 10-A with Alford, Chico, Lindsay, Poolville, Graford, Saint Jo and Forestburg. Perrin Volleyball Coach Rebekah Bland said the new alignment took her completely by surprise.

“It wasn’t even close in my thinking,” Bland said. “It’s going to be a tough district with a lot more travel for us (both) JH and HS. I was surprised about losing Bryson, they are within 30 miles of two teams and lost both of us and now have to travel three times the distance.”

Bland said despite her being here just two years, she has enjoyed the district rivalry with Bryson and will miss that.