On the same day football teams around the state kicked off the season with jamborees, the Missouri State High School Activities Association released the class and district assignments for the remaining fall sports.
MSHSAA announced assignments for cross country, boys soccer, softball, girls tennis and volleyball. None of the 17 local teams moved class or district in any sport.
In softball, defending Class 1 champion Van Buren will have to go through a gauntlet of high-powered teams once again. Naylor, Neelyville, Chaffee and Bakersfield will rejoin the Lady Dawgs in the Class 1 District 1 tournament at Naylor High School.
Ozark Foothills Conference rivals Doniphan and East Carter stand pat in Class 2 District 2 along with Alton and two-time state champion Willow Springs. The Donettes will host. Twin Rivers stays in District 3 with East Prairie, Jefferson-Festus, Saxony Lutheran and host Kelly.
In Class 4 District 1, Poplar Bluff will go for its first district championship in 12 years against familiar faces in Fox, the tournament hosts, Jackson, Oakville and Seckman.
The Twin Rivers volleyball team will defend its district title in Class 2 District 1 against Caruthersville, Hayti, Malden, Portageville, Senath-Hornersville and South Pemiscot. The Lady Royals upset top-seeded Malden, which hosts the tournament for the second time in three seasons, with a miraculous third-set comeback last season to win their first district title since 2012.
Likewise, Bloomfield will go for its fourth straight title in the Class 2 District 2 tournament at Puxico against Charleston, Clearwater, Greenville, Puxico, Scott City and Woodland.
After having its bid for a sixth consecutive district title ruined by Advance last year, the Bernie Lady Mules return to Class 1 District 2 as the hosts with the Hornets, Bell City, Campbell, Oran and Richland. Clarkton, Cooter, Delta-Deering, Gideon, Holcomb, North Pemiscot and Southland make up the other side of the top bracket in District 1.
The Dexter Lady Bearcats have had a stranglehold on Class 3 District 1 but will have to get through traditional powerhouses Notre Dame and Perryville, as well as Doniphan, Fredericktown, New Madrid Central and Kennett. The Lady Indians host the district tournament.
Poplar Bluff, still in search of its first district crown, reunites with Cape Central, De Soto, Farmington, Jackson and Sikeston in Class 4 District 1 tournament play at Farmington.
Poplar Bluff, the only local boys soccer team, won't have to face powerhouse Farmington in district play for the second straight year, but the Mules will have to take down Jackson, Northwest and Seckman to win their second district title. A site for the district tournament has not been named.
Poplar Bluff and Dexter, the only two girls tennis teams, also stayed put in their respective classes and districts. The Mules, looking for their first title, stay in Class 2 District 1 with Farmington, Jackson, Mehlville and Oakville while the Bearcats will look to get on track in Class 1 District 1 with Caruthersville, Charleston, Sikeston, Notre Dame and defending champion Kennett.
Poplar Bluff will host the district tournament on their new courts while Dexter travels to Notre Dame.
All eight local cross country teams remained the same on the boys and girls side with Ellington and Van Buren staying put in the Class 1 District 3 brackets (Willow Springs hosts). Bloomfield, East Carter and Greenville remain in Class 2 District 3 at the Pike County Fairgrounds. Dexter and Doniphan are in Class 3 District 1 at Dexter High School, and Poplar Bluff will compete in Class 4 District 1 at Jackson City Park.