Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Competing in the division-section configuration is old hat for the Longhorn wrestling team, but for the boys and girls basketball squads, it will be a first time experience. When the Arizona Interscholastic Association mandated the change, the switch last school year was only for all individual sports, such as wrestling.

For team sports, such as basketball, the switch takes place this year, which means the basketball teams will no longer play in the 3A East, but rather in Division III, Section III.

Just what the change will mean to Payson High School teams won’t be known until season’s end.

Most guess it will mean increased competition because Section III will have many more teams competing for the title than did the East Region.

In making the format changes, AIA officials said the new configurations would save schools money because there would be less travel time. Also, the changes were intended to reduce the time student athletes spent out of the classroom.

Both the boys and girls basketball teams will play this season under new head coaches. Joe Sanchez has replaced Bill Goodwin as boys coach and Jennifer White takes over for Kelly Krieg as the girls coach. Krieg, however, remains on the staff as assistant head coach.

Both the hoop teams tip off the new season today, Tuesday, Nov. 22, with a full slate of games at Globe.

The wrestling season gets under way Saturday, Nov. 26 with a Jayvee Jamboree at Perry High School in Gilbert.

Boys

• Tuesday, Dec. 13 vs. Snowflake:

Freshman, 4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity,

7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 3 vs. Page: JV, 4 p.m.,

Dome; Freshman, 5:30 p.m., Julia

Randall Elementary gym; Varsity, 7 p.m.,

Dome

• Tuesday, Jan. 10 vs. Show Low:

Freshman, 4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity,

7 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 11 vs. Salt River: JV,

4 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 13 vs. Mingus: Freshman, 4

p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 17 vs. Blue Ridge: JV,

4 p.m.; Freshman, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity,

7 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 25 vs. Mogollon: JV,

4 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 31 vs. Fountain Hills:

Freshman, 4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity,

7 p.m.

Girls

• Tuesday, Dec. 6 vs. Mingus: Freshman,

4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 20 vs. Fountain Hills: JV,

5:30 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 28 and Thursday, Dec.

29: Payson Holiday Hoops Tournament;

Varsity only; times and opponents TBA

• Tuesday, Jan. 3 vs. Page: Freshman,

4 p.m., JRE gym; JV, 7 p.m., JRE gym;

Varsity, 5:30 p.m., Dome

• Thursday, Jan. 4 vs. Snowflake:

Freshman, 4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity,

7 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 11 vs. Salt River: JV,

2:30 p.m.; Varsity, 5:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 25 vs. Mogollon: JV,

2:30 p.m.; Varsity, 5:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 26 vs. St. Johns:

Freshman, 4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.;

Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Friday, Jan. 27 vs. Miami: Freshman,

4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 3 vs. Show Low: Freshman,

4 p.m.; JV, 5:30 p.m.; Varsity, 7 p.m.

Wrestling

• Friday, Jan. 6 and Saturday, Jan. 7:

Payson Invitational; Varsity only; times

and opponents TBA