By Moses Leos III.
The possibility of Hays and Lehman athletics playing at the 5A level could be on the horizon.
On Friday, school districts released “snapshot” enrollment numbers. These preliminary figures aid the University Interscholastic League (UIL) in their biannual realignment and reclassification process.
According to Tim Savoy, Public Information Officer for Hays CISD, Hays has an enrollment of 2,319 students; Lehman has 2,210. Both are significant increases from 2012, when Hays and Lehman had 2,015 and 2,049 respectively.
Savoy pointed out the “raw” snapshot numbers are not finalized.
“They still have to go through and make adjustments for 1/2 day students, alternative placements, flex day students, etc. according to UIL rules,” Savoy said in an emailed response. “We will report to UIL by the deadline and the numbers may be different depending on any adjustments.”
Based on the 2012-2014-classification cutoff, both schools would jump to 5A. In 2012, 5A schools had enrollments of 2,089 or more students.
But nothing is set in stone, as the UIL has yet to release the official 2014-2016 classification cutoff numbers – and will not for the next few weeks.
An additional caveat to the process has been a change in class structure.
Last October, the UIL Legislative Council renamed classifications across almost all sports by adding 6A to the mix (5A will become 6A, 4A becomes 5A, etc.). The move could increase enrollment cutoff numbers.
Still, both athletic coordinators understand moving up may be on the horizon.
Lehman High athletic coordinator Todd Raymond realizes the rapid growth of the area has helped push the schools to this level.
“We knew it was going to happen,” Raymond said. “Our area is growing super fast. It’s part of it.”
For Raymond, should the school move up to 6A, he will look forward to finding out if the school will play Austin or New Braunfels/San Antonio teams.
Ideally, Raymond said he’d prefer to stay back in 4A for one more cycle. However, if told to move up, he is ready for that process.
“We’ll just have to get our ‘big boy’ pants on,” he said.
Hays High athletic coordinator Neal LaHue said his students are looking forward to the challenge of higher classification.
“If we move up to 6A, we will look forward to that challenge,” he said.
However, he felt the disparity between (what will be) 6A and 5A is not as big as it once was. This was something he experienced first hand at San Antonio Roosevelt – a 5A school.
“Many (current) 4A schools can compete with 5A,” LaHue said. “Our players will have to get used to playing (6A) teams week in, week out.”
However, both coordinators will have to play the waiting game. Once cutoff figures are released, reclassification will be done in February.
Until that time, both schools are at the mercy of a pin on a map.
