Photo courtesy of Woodrow Wilson Athletic Booster Club
Every two years, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) realigns the high school sports landscape to accommodate new schools and changes in school population and to keep the districts competitive. This year, UIL moved Woodrow Wilson High School into a district with some local football powerhouses.
Lacking much competition during the regular season, Woodrow won six of its games by more than 30 points in 2017. Looking at next year’s schedule, that ought to change.
The football team’s new district includes familiar foes such as Sunset and East Dallas rival Bryan Adams, but it also includes Highland Park High School, the two-time defending state champions. Mansfield Legacy, which made it to the state semi-finals last year, will be another district opponent. In past years, Woodrow fans almost expected a district championship. But even making the playoffs may be a challenge for the next two years.
“Each year we prepare for championship competition,” Wilson Head Coach Bob Estes said. “I am very proud of how this group has reacted. Never satisfied- never scared.”
“Getting tougher competition excites me because it will bring out our best, week after week,” says junior quarterback Lucas Woltjen. “We’re ready for the challenge and are going to do whatever it takes to remain competitive.”
Woodrow’s other sports will face a tougher district as well, though it is slightly different from football. Highland Park High School joins the three Carrollton-Farmers Branch high schools and a few other Dallas ISD schools to challenge Woodrow in district play for the other sports. See the entire 5A football realignment here and the other sports here.
