District 26-6A looks primed to receive some big news on Feb. 3, when New Braunfels Canyon will drop to 5A classification after years of residing in the state’s highest bracket. 

On Tuesday, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) released its conference cutoff numbers and preliminary enrollment figures for 2020-2022, which determine UIL classifications for those years. The Class 6A cutoff was 2,220 students, which Smithson Valley soared past that mark with a 2,980 student enrollment figure. But Canyon fell just short with 2,027 students enrolled.

Fellow Comal ISD campus Canyon Lake High School will remain in Class 4A with 1,136 students enrolled, and brand-new Davenport High School will join them, with a projected 1,035 enrolled students. 

Athletically, this development might be a boon for the Cougars. Football’s 0-10 record could improve  as should boys basketball, which is currently 0-5. Every other sport is performing well: girls basketball (9-2), baseball (25-11), boys soccer (13-4-6), girls soccer (18-4-3), and softball (36-8), which earned a berth in the Class 6A state semifinals this past season.

The experience against high-level competition could be beneficial throughout the athletics department, and with the upper levels of students mostly untouched by Davenport’s opening, look for the Cougars to make a major splash in their newfound Class 5A playground.

On Smithson Valley’s side, this is worrying, especially for football. Not only do the Rangers lose their longtime rival, but that hole in the bottom of District 26-6A is almost certain to be filled by a more competitive school. The identity of that school is a bit harder to suss out.

Perhaps one of the Northeast ISD schools? Northside ISD athletic director Stan Laing stated the 11 Class 6A schools will split into multiple districts.

Official district alignments won’t be announced until Feb. 3., so only time – and UIL –  will tell.