Two years ago, Legacy moved up to 6A for the first time in school history. The last two years UIL placed the Broncos in arguably the toughest district in the state, deemed the “District of Doom.” However, Legacy’s time in 6A-District 11 ended this week as the new UIL district realignment was announced Feb. 1 and places Legacy in 6A-District 3. Realignments will go into effect next school year.
District 3 will consist of Crowley, Boswell, Mansfield, Lake Ridge, North Crowley, Mansfield Legacy and Lake Ridge. Football played Crowley in a non-district game for the past two years and have been in and out of their district. However, the west side of the district marks new territory for all of Legacy, including head football coach and Athletic Director Jeff Hulme.
“I was completely surprised. Honestly, I thought if there was gonna be any change that we would go with Arlington because Mansfield was going with Arlington before,” Coach Hulme said. “For Legacy as a whole, the new district, in a way, it’s going to give everybody a much-needed boost of morale, and it’s also going to allow everybody to be more competitive.”
This district provides more even competition from the previous district consisting of two back-to-back state champions as well as reducing the population difference between schools. Coach Mark Walker joined the Legacy coaching staff three years ago and this will be the third district in his time at Legacy.
“I think [the new district] is a great opportunity for us,” Coach Walker said. “There’s opportunity to compete. The teams are beatable. They’re teams that are the same size as us. That’s the biggest thing. We’re not in a district where you’re playing some teams that are two times our size. So we’re playing schools that have the same capacity as us and are close to 500 [more] not 2,000 more. It just gives an opportunity for a little bit of an equal playing field.”
About half of Legacy sports underwent some sort of coaching change in the last three years, and although another change, a less competitive district provides a chance for an easier adjustment. Football won a total of three district games in two years in the District of Doom, but remains positive about the future of the program.
“I think that to be honest, the culture is changing and the mindsets are changing,” Coach Walker said. “To me, there is an opportunity every Friday night, Tuesday night with soccer, softball, baseball to go compete with schools that are same size, equal, and kind of that daunting [thought] of you’re trying not to get hurt against the DeSoto or Duncanville, then I think the mindset changes.”
Although the new district is easier for sports like football and volleyball, it introduces new competition for sports like softball and baseball. Football powerhouses such as Duncanville, DeSoto, and Cedar Hill have weaker spring sports, and the new district provides more competition throughout the entire season with the removal of DeSoto, Skyline, etc.
The district realignment affects all UIL-sanctioned athletic and academic activities. North Crowley poses the biggest challenge as, aside from volleyball, consistently places top four in their current district and finished the football season ranked 61st in the nation.
“We’re gonna hold our own just fine,” Coach Hulme said. “I think it will be a lot of fun. It’s going to be new. It’s gonna be exciting.”
