Cypress-Fairbanks ISD football and basketball teams have been realigned to Region III and will compete in District 17-5A for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 athletic seasons. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) released its biannual district realignment at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1.

District 17-5A will include 10 schools: Cypress Creek, Cy-Fair, Cypress Falls, Cypress Lakes, Cypress Ranch, Cypress Ridge, Cypress Springs, Cypress Woods, Jersey Village and Langham Creek high schools.

Cypress Lakes and Cypress Ranch join the football district for the first time since opening in August 2008. Both schools competed at the junior varsity level during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years before climbing to the varsity ranks.

CFISD football and basketball teams were realigned to Region II in 2008 for a two-year stretch after four consecutive years among the Region III ranks.

Bi-district playoff opponents will come out of District 18-5A—a seven-team district featuring Alief Elsik, Alief Hastings, Alief Taylor, Aldine, Aldine Eisenhower, Aldine MacArthur and Aldine Nimitz.

“We are pleased to be back in Region III,” said Larry Peil, director of athletics. “Competing in Region II presented an extra challenge—lengthy postseason road trips—that our coaches now won’t have to worry about in their early playoff matchups.

“The jump to 10 teams in our football district makes for an interesting mix. While it’s difficult to have just one non-district game to prepare for nine district games, an early loss or two won’t necessarily prevent a team from recovering and qualifying for the playoffs.”