After being placed in the 16-5A district, Ennis was set to compete with schools as far as Lufkin, a town more than two and a half hours away. Ennis took an appeal to the UIL Committee asking to be moved into the much closer 14-5A district, which includes Legacy. The UIL committee granted the appeal, moving all of Ennis’ competitive events to 14-5 A, with the exception of Ennis’ football team.

With the addition of the Ennis teams, Legacy’s 14-5A district will now have eight other schools to compete with except for football, which will remain in district 16-5A, allowing the 14-5A district to become the largest district in the region. Last year Ennis took first place overall in the Academic UIL District Meet just ahead of Legacy’s second place. They also finished the season two places ahead of Legacy in boy’s basketball.

“Ennis has a very strong academic and debate team,” Academic UIL Coordinator Amanda Sykes said. “I expect them to be our strongest competition this year as well.”

The district change will effect sports scheduling by either introducing a second bye week, meaning each team now gets two off weeks without a game. The extra company at Academic UIL meets will not become effected and will continue to host the same number of competitions.

“It’ll be difficult to schedule because of the odd numbers,” Boys Athletic Coordinator Coach Melson said. “Some teams won’t play each other anymore because of the way the scheduling is.”

Ennis will be a strong competitor in basketball and UIL in the 14-5A district as well. Other schools that Legacy will compete against include Arlington Seguin, Lancaster, Lake Ridge, Summit, Timberview, Red Oak and Waxahachie. Even with the nine team district, Legacy coordinators and athletes look forward to the challenge.

“I’m not worried about their baseball team,” junior Brock Mudie said. “It just gives someone else to beat.”