New realignment gives Apaches just one common opponent

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and athletic directors, athletes and sports fans around the state wondering if high school athletics will return before the end of the school year, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) released new realignment information for spring sports leaving Gonzales Apache fans now wondering why they’re aligned with so many different schools.

On a post through Twitter, Apaches athletic director and head football coach Mike Waldie wrote, “we officially have a different district for football 13-4AD2, soccer is 28-4A, baseball/softball is 27-4A minus Pleasanton, basketball, volleyball and sprint sports is 27-4A and Cuero is the only common opponent in all? Seriously.”

Realignment for football, volleyball and basketball were previously announced on Monday, Feb. 3. 

Football – District 13-4AD2:

• Gonzales
• Cuero
• Giddings
• La Grange
• Navasota
• Smithville

Volleyball, cross-country, basketball and spring athletics (golf, track and field and tennis – District 27-4A:

• Gonzales
• Cuero
• Geronimo Navarro
• La Vernia
• Pleasanton

Soccer – District 28-4A:

• Gonzales
• Beeville Jones
• Port Lavaca Calhoun
• Rockport-Fulton
• Palacios
• Yoakum

Baseball/softball – District 27-4A:

• Gonzales
• Cuero
• Geronimo Navarro
• La Vernia

The realignment gives the Gonzales Apaches 13 different schools to compete against in the four districts they were placed, with just Cuero as the common opponent for most of their districts. Currently the Gobblers do not participate in soccer.

With four teams automatically advancing to the playoffs, the Apaches baseball and softball teams next season will be headed to the postseason after the announcement of a four-team district.