KDH Pressbox

WACO — Kyle Cooper was caught off guard, shuffling throughout the crowded conference room trying desperately to redo next year’s non-district schedule.

Having coached in a different district every two years since he’s been at Gatesville, Cooper expected some change. But the bomb dropped by the University Interscholastic League in its 2012-2014 realignment wasn’t even in his periphery.
Gatesville was slotted into what is arguably one of the toughest districts in the state — and one of the largest — joining the likes of 3A powers Brownwood, Burnet, Lampasas, Liberty Hill and Llano in the new District 8-3A on Thursday.

“I think we’re ready for it. We’re excited about it, but it’s a tough district,” Cooper said. “It’s kind of out of the frying pan, into the fire.”

Coming from an equally competitive district in 19-3A against the likes of Waco La Vega, Robinson and Lorena, Gatesville knows what it’s like to be tested.

“It’s going to be a dog fight week-in and week-out, lucky for us, we’re prepared for that coming from our (last) district,” Cooper said.

Brownwood boasts an elite playoff pedigree, having made the playoffs 13 of the last 16 years. And beyond that, Brownwood is the fifth winningest team statewide in the last 50 years, logging 441 wins since 1960.

Liberty Hill has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 years, including claiming back-to-back 3A state championships in 2006 and 2007. It’s not much of a change for Lampasas, who competed against Burnet, Liberty Hill and Llano the past two seasons in District 25-3A.

“We’re excited, Brownwood has a rich tradition in all their sports, Gatesville does a good job ... and the rest of our district, we know how that is, they’re all good coaches,” Badgers coach Joey McQueen said.

As equally challenging is the flip back to Region I, where the Central Texas schools will be shuffled to Lubbock for the regional playoff rounds. Last season, Gatesville and Lampasas were in Region 3 and 4 respectively.

Outside of Llano, the new 8-3A features five schools with an enrollment of at least 800 students, led by the Badgers (978). Burnet is second with 951, followed closely by Brownwood (938), Gatesville (826) and Liberty Hill (807).

The Badgers finished 10-2 last year and advanced to the area round of the playoffs for their second playoff appearance in three years after struggling in 4A.

“We’re looking forward to it, it’s one of those you can cry and feel sorry for yourself, or you can say ‘We were 10-2 this year and we’ve got a good program, let’s go compete,’” McQueen said.