By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com

The University Interscholastic League, the state’s sanctioning body on high school sports, will announce realignment for the 2016-2018 academic years on Feb. 1.
The unveiling is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, with new alignments for football and basketball.
Realignment will take place based off cutoff numbers local independent school districts released to the UIL last fall.
Schools are required to give the UIL a “snapshot” number, which essentially is the district’s high school enrollment – based on three different possible formulas.
Bowie’s snapshot number is 454, one of the higher totals in Conference 3A Division I, but not enough to bump the Rabbits into Conference 4A.
Nocona’s number was reportedly 246, which means expect the Indians to remain in Conference 3A Division II for the next two-year cycle.
The biggest changes will occur for smaller schools in the Bowie News’ coverage area as Forestburg turned in snapshot number of 68, and Gold-Burg 61.
The cutoff number for Conference 1A Division II is 58 and below.
Since Forestburg and Gold-Burg both turned in numbers higher than 58, that means the Longhorns and Bears will both play in Conference 1A Division I for the next years. Read more, and compare recent snapshot numbers, in the Jan. 30 Bowie News.

University Interscholastic League. (Logo provided by the UIL, used with permission)