Things went pretty much as expected for Odessa High and Permian when the University Interscholastic League released its 2022-2024 realignment districts Thursday.
The Bronchos and Panthers remained in District 2-6A, along with Midland Legacy, Midland High, San Angelo Central and Wolfforth Frenship.
Gone is Abilene High, an anticipated move as the Eagles had dropped below the 6A cutoff number of 2,225.
With enrollment numbers in hand since December, that allowed Odessa High coach Dusty Ortiz and Permian coach Jeff Ellison to get a head start on the 2022 schedule.
UIL‘s announcement made sure there was some scrambling at the OHS Fieldhouse.
With Abilene High moving into a seven-team district with Lubbock- and Amarillo-based schools (Coronado, Monterey, Cooper, Amarillo High, Tascosa, Caprock), suddenly the Bronchos were looking for a Week 5 opponent to replace Lubbock Coronado.
“It’s been quite eventful,” Odessa High coach Dusty Ortiz said. “We had Coronado and then we were looking to see if we were going to travel eight or nine hours to play.
“We ended up with Schertz Clemens to fill that spot. That game will be a good indicator of where we are heading into district and it will be a neat experience for our kids who have never been to that area (San Antonio) before.”
The Bronchos now will open against Lubbock Monterey before facing El Paso Americas, Keller High, Amarillo High and Schertz Clemens the first five weeks of the season.
With six teams in the district, everyone will have the bye during Week 6 before heading into district play.
“We haven’t set the district schedule yet,” Ortiz said. “We’ll meet next week some time and draw to see when everyone plays.”
