UIL re-alignment: Tivy drops to 4A, Ingram and Center Point face challenges

The University Interscholastic League’s 2026-2028 realignment brings significant changes for Kerr County’s three high school football programs, with Kerrville Tivy returning to 4A for the first time in more than a decade while Ingram Tom Moore and Center Point navigate challenging new district landscapes.

Tivy will compete in 4A Division I District 13 alongside Austin Johnson, Austin Northeast, Austin Travis, Comal Canyon Lake, Comal Davenport, Fredericksburg and Taylor. The move marks the Antlers’ first season below 5A since the 2013-14 school year, driven by enrollment numbers that no longer keep pace with 5A classification requirements.

The Antlers have held their own in 5A in recent years, posting .500 records in three of the past four seasons, including 6-5 campaigns in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. But the drop to 4A brings both familiar faces and significant unknowns.

Fredericksburg represents Tivy’s most frequent opponent in the new district, with the Antlers holding a 9-4 advantage in football since 2004. But the competitive picture gets murkier beyond that. Tivy is 1-3 against Davenport, including a 66-13 loss in 2025, and hasn’t faced most of the Austin-area schools in recent history.

Tivy’s volleyball outlook appears brighter in 4A District 27, where the Antlers face Bandera, Canyon Lake, Davenport, Fredericksburg and Wimberley. The program holds dominant records against Fredericksburg (24-6), Bandera (9-2) and Canyon Lake (4-1), with Wimberley (6-9) the only opponent presenting consistent challenges. Boys and girls basketball districts mirror the volleyball alignment.

Ingram Tom Moore faces perhaps the most daunting football assignment, placed in 3A Division I District 3 with Early, Llano, San Angelo Texas Leadership and Wall. The Warriors are coming off their deepest playoff run in more than a decade, but the obstacles are significant.

“It will be interesting to see someone like Wall in the district,” Ingram Tom Moore Athletic Director and football coach Tate DeMasco said. “We are excited about the opportunity.”

Wall won the 3A Division II state championship in 2025, finishing 16-0 and capping a 52-7 run over four years in Division II before moving up to Division I for the realignment. Ingram is 0-2 all-time against Wall, last meeting them in a 56-14 loss in 2013.

Llano presents an even more frustrating challenge. The Yellow Jackets are 10-0 against Ingram since 2005, and finished 13-2 in 2025, reaching the state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Yoakum 71-12.

Geography compounds the competitive concerns. Ingram faces a 142-mile one-way trip to Early, 129 miles to Wall and another 142 miles to San Angelo. Against those three programs, Ingram’s all-time record stands at 0-4, with the only bright spot being a 2-0 mark against Texas Leadership, the district’s weakest program.

DeMasco said his only concern heading into the new football alignment is the travel schedule for Ingram’s middle school program.

Ingram’s volleyball and basketball districts offer slightly more favorable matchups, pairing the Warriors with Blanco, Comfort, Florence and Llano in 3A District 25.

Center Point enters 2A Division II District 14 with familiar foes but no relief from years of struggle. The Pirates’ all-time record against new district opponents stands at 18-69, including a 1-19 mark against Brackett, 4-14 against Harper and 1-9 against D’Hanis.

Junction, finished 13-1 last season, and may be the top team in the district. Center Point is 2-6 all-time against the Eagles. The Pirates hold winning records against none of their new district opponents: Brackett, Harper, Junction, La Pryor (3-10), Sabinal (7-11) and D’Hanis.

Center Point’s volleyball district includes Harper, Johnson City LBJ, Junction and Sonora in 2A District 29, while basketball districts mirror football alignments with the addition of Brackettville Brackett and San Antonio Stacey.

The new alignments take effect for the 2026-27 school year and run through the 2027-28 season, affecting all UIL athletic and academic competitions.