The 2024-26 UIL redistricting plan gave Mineola’s football program a more southerly focus, drastically reshaped Alba-Golden’s basketball competition and reshuffled Mineola and Quitman basketball and volleyball. 

The Yellowjackets have traded-in one perennial football powerhouse for another as Pottsboro is no longer in District 7-3A DI, however Malakoff has joined. Malakoff and neighboring school Eustace are new to the district which rounds out with well-known foes Commerce, Mt. Vernon, Rains and Winnsboro. Bonham also departed the district.

The Bulldogs of Quitman will be on the gridiron against new opponents  Paris Chisum and Prairiland this year in District 9-3A DII. Harmony, Edgewood, Grand Saline and Lone Oak complete the district. The eastern-located schools of Arp, Troup and Winona have departed the district. 

Alba-Golden’s District 9-2A DI is largely the same. One change was made as Paul Pewitt high school replaced Wolfe City. The familiar roll call of Como-Pickton, Cooper, Honey Grove, Quinlan-Boles and Rivercrest constitutes the remainder of the district.

Alba-Golden basketball teams will face almost all new competition in the next two years. They will compete in District 19-2A with opponents Cayuga, Crossroads, Frankston, Fruitvale, La Poyner and Martins Mill. The challenges faced with basketball powerhouses Martins Mill and La Poyner will present a real test for Panther hardcourt teams in the next two seasons.  

Mineola and Quitman basketball and volleyball  squads are assigned to District 15-3A. In addition to nearby opponents Edgewood, Grand Saline and Winona, the schools of Malakoff and Eustace joined the district, with Winnsboro and Mt. Vernon exiting.  

Lady Panthers volleyball will compete in a short (five school) district – District 12-2A – with Como-Pickton, Fruitvale, North Hopkins and Yantis.    

Alba-Golden Athletic Director Drew Webster shared his thoughts on realignment, which are likely shared by many in Texas scholastic sports, “Realignment is an exciting day…in reality all those school names are just that – names on a paper. Our goals remain the same.”

He explained that to compete in these groupings, “We have to be great each day and practice better than we ever have.”

Webster expressed how proud he is of his athletes and the athletic program and how they all want the opposing teams (whomever they might be) to think, ’Dang, we have to go play Alba-Golden!’