The Guyer High School senior and Oregon State commit was coming off a regional championship in the discus and would be making her second trip to state in two years, which included a fifth-place finish in the same event in 2024. But if she was to bring home a medal this spring, it would require her to do something she struggles with the most—trust in the process.

“My biggest challenge has definitely been my mindset,” Chamizo said. “I have learned to not dwell on myself when things are not going my way—learning to never doubt myself and stay focused when other athletes are throwing further than me. Trusting the process has also been a huge challenge I had to come into realization with. Trusting the process is definitely not easy, but I never stopped showing up.”

Chamizo, 18, is a five-time District Champion, two-time Area Champion, and one-time Regional Champion between the discus and shot put events and said she had an inkling that throwing could be an area where she potentially excelled before high school even started.

“When middle school track season came around my mom really pushed me to try throwing for something new apart from basketball and volleyball,” Chamizo said. “I found throwing pretty cool considering my build and thought I could be really good at it.”

Coach Malaika Green said Chamizo is an “amazing competitor” and said it is inspiring to see her grow as a person and athlete every day.

“She brings phenomenal leadership, work ethic, and confidence to our team,” Green said. “She is obviously a thrower but has respect from all of the athletes on the track team. She is a standard setter, she is always doing the right things on and off the field, which is why she is a perfect example of what we look for in a Guyer girls track and field athlete.”

Chamizo, who can be found crafting, coloring or doing something creative when she is not going to school or training, said because she is trying to trust the process more this year, her objectives heading into the season did not really revolve around personal accomplishments.

“My goals for this season were to compete to my full potential and to get out every day and practice even if it was just working on footwork,” Chamizo said. “Consistency with my marks throughout the season was also a big goal for me and having that goal set helped me accomplish it to a very high standard.”

And it has paid off.

Chamizo won a regional championship in the discus with a toss of 159.2, which was two feet beyond her nearest competitor and almost 17 feet farther than her qualifying throw at state last season.

She also finished third in the shot put at region.

Beyond the accolades, Chamizo feels that perhaps her biggest contribution to the team is her attitude.

“I like to bring positivity to my team; being that fun team leader who my teammates look up to is very special to me,” Chamizo said. “Having a positive attitude towards hardships is important and I’ve learned to grow in that state of mind.”

These sentiments are not lost on Green, who added that Chamizo’s accomplishments are not too shabby either.

“She has truly been a blessing to our program,” Green said. “She is the school record holder in both the shot put and discus and has continued to break her own records over the years she has been with us at Guyer.”

The Wildcats thrower is headed to Oregon State University on scholarship, and said for her, it was love at first sight.

“I chose Oregon State because I loved the environment,” Chamizo said. “(The city of) Corvallis has so much room for adventure. I see myself not only growing as an athlete but also as an individual. Oregon State also provides so much academic help that supports student athletes.”

Green said she believes it was a good fit for Chamizo as well.

“I know she will excel in any program because of her coachability, mental toughness and dedication,” Green said. “Oregon State has a rich history of track & field athletes competing at the NCAA Championships and Olympic level. She is excited to compete at Oregon State University and we cannot wait to see her compete.”

Chamizo competed in the state meet on Saturday and finished in fourth place.

Chamizo’s Favorites

Favorite Athlete: Nicholas Ponzio

Favorite Food: Anything with grilled chicken

Favorite Movie: “Hacksaw Ridge”

Book I’m currently reading: “A Little Life”

Favorite Artist: Noah Kahan

The post Guyer’s Olivia Chamizo hurls her way into the record books appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

While George has always taken a back seat to the coaching staff at NISD since assuming his role as Director of Athletics, now that his son Cooper is in high school, the two of them often discuss their mutual passion for the sport of distance running.

“Thankfully, we are loaded with great track and field coaches at Northwest High School,” George said. “Those guys do a great job working with him 12 months out of the year. We talk a lot at home regarding racing, training, and recovery, but those guys pull the strings when it comes to workouts and meets. Cooper is fortunate to have the coaches he has around him.”

And the results have borne that out.

In two separate meets this track and field season, the Northwest sophomore set records while competing in the 800-meter run.

It started with the Red Raider Invite in Lubbock, where Cooper won the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:50.15, setting a new national sophomore indoor record.

Cooper followed that up with a time of 1:46 to break the overall high school record at the Millrose games.

Unfortunately, the runner who held the high school record, Josh Hoey, was in the race and broke the American Record, so Cooper gained a record but lost the high school record all in the same race.

“The race at Texas Tech was basically a warm-up for Millrose,” George said. “Cooper had never been on an indoor track before, so we wanted to make sure he had a feel for what the shorter, tighter track felt like. We knew he had a chance to win at Tech just knowing his fitness but stepping up to collegiate competition and on an unknown surface you just never know what will happen.

“As far as Millrose in New York, the whole plan was to just hang on, hoping to stay in the race just enough so that he would have a chance to run fast. It worked out well as he broke the U.S. High School National Record and Under 18 World Record Indoors.”

Cooper, 16, said the experience of competing in the two events is something he will never forget.

“Those races were just awesome,” Cooper said. “Getting the opportunity to run against such great competition was just unreal as a 16-year-old. I was pretty nervous before the meet at Texas Tech since it was my first time indoors. Getting the win there though definitely helped for Millrose in New York. I knew that if I ran the race correctly, I would run fast.

“That race didn’t disappoint as three National Records were set and I was able to break the U.S. High School Record. My whole thought was just to not think and hold on to the pack as long as possible. I’m not going to say it didn’t hurt, but once I saw the time that faded pretty quickly.”

One of Cooper’s greatest assets as a distance runner is his versatility, as the Northwest sophomore demonstrated over a three-week period from late February to March 21.

At the Northwest Invitational on Feb. 28, Cooper won the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:23:57 and followed that up with a gold medal in the 400 meters at the Aledo Bearcat Relays on March 6 with a time of 47.77.

Cooper then won the 800 meters race on March 21 with a time of 1:48:57 at the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays, making it three separate victories in three different events in a span of three weeks.

Running is a tradition in the Lutkenhaus family and Cooper said he was initially drawn to the sport of distance running because he wanted to follow in his loved ones’ footsteps.

“My mom was a two-time state qualifier in track and my dad ran collegiately,” Cooper said. “My brothers also ran with my oldest brother George Jr. swimming collegiately in Colorado at Adams State. My middle brother Andrew runs the 800m at the University of Tulsa and qualified for state twice in high school. I guess you could say it’s just what we are good at. Who doesn’t like to win? Just a natural fit, I guess. I like the competition and testing my limits.”

Cooper said he does not feel any added pressure being a former coach’s son and said his father has helped him improve his game immensely.

“He has been great,” Cooper said. “It’s nice to have someone to go to with such experience. My high school coaches do a great job, but having my dad to talk with is a real bonus.”

Cooper said he has many fond memories with his father and cross country and track but said perhaps the greatest thing he received of all was a sense of preparation for what the sports involve and require.

“I have been going to the State Track Meet with my dad since before I could walk,” Cooper said. “Getting to watch his former athletes compete along with my brother before me at that level was invaluable. When I got my chance to run there last year as a freshman, I really felt no pressure just because I had been there so much. It was just another meet.”

Cooper won a state championship in the 800 meters as a freshman last season in track and field for the Texans team.

George said that despite all the success Cooper has enjoyed in his career to this point, he is not as concerned about the accolades, but more about the work ethic.

“All we have ever stressed at home is effort,” George said. “You can’t control what others do so just focus on yourself and the effort you put forth daily. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, all we can ask is your best and that the effort is there. My hope is that he takes things as far as he wants to. It’s up to him. So far, we know the talent is there and the work ethic is there to match to be successful.”

Cooper’s Favorites

Favorite Athlete: Bryce Hoppel

Favorite Sports Team: Dallas Cowboys

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite Movie: “Remember the Titans”

Favorite TV Show: “Young Sheldon”

Book Currently Reading or Last Book Read: “Running with the Buffaloes”

Favorite Musical Group or Performer: Morgan Wallen

The post Speed Runs in the Family: Lutkenhaus legacy continues at Northwest High School appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

Five of the seven southern Denton County teams reached the postseason and four went more than one round, including two state tournament appearances.

With a wealth of returning talent, 2025 could be an even better season than 2024.

The Argyle baseball team has become synonymous with greatness, and coach Ricky Griffin said he expects more of the same this year.

Some of the Eagles stronger returning players from last year’s team include junior shortstop Grady Emerson, senior pitcher Baron Mannis and junior outfielder Jaxon Casselberry.

Argyle finished 29-9 overall last season, won bi-district, area, and regional quarterfinals championships and reached the regional semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Grapevine.

Griffin said the goal for this season is to win a state championship, and said he will need some players to step up.

“We’re a very inexperienced team, but chemistry is very good,” Griffin said.

In order to achieve the goal of winning state, Griffin said it basically boils down to two things.

“Inexperienced players must grow up fast and pitchers must throw strikes,” Griffin said.

Up the road at Liberty Christian, the Warriors went 5-0 prior to entering the tournament season, and coach Billy Jordan said he likes what his team is showing him.

“The season is looking like a strong one,” Jordan said. “After a final four appearance last year, we return seven starters and are excited for another deep run.”

The Warriors return Brady Janusek, Hogan Nelson, Caleb Ruiz, Drake Hawpe, Zach Drew and Colton Zahorik.

Liberty Christian went 27-11-3 with a 9-3 mark in district last season, winning a district championship along the way.

Jordan said the objective this season is to let his core of strong returning players set the tone for the rest of the team.

“We want to lean on our veteran returners to make another deep playoff run and get back to the state tournament,” Jordan said.

To pick up where the team left off in 2024, Jordan said his players need to do two things.

“If we can get players to understand the ‘team’ is the most important thing and when we all understand our roles, it will be a special season,” Jordan said.

Over in Flower Mound, the Marcus baseball team finished third in district last season and lost in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

Coach Jeff Sherman said his team lacked experience in 2024 and said this year should be better.

“We were very young last year with a very hard schedule,” Sherman said. “I feel like we have already been battle-tested and are progressing to the plan.”

Sherman said he will look to Rock Duer to lead the way for Marcus this season.

The Marauders finished 16-14 overall in 2024, and Sherman said he is trying to get his lineup just the way he wants it.

“We still have some guys competing for some positions and we’re hoping guys step up into those roles,” Sherman said. “On the mound, we have about 4-5 guys trying to solidify the 1 or the 2. We have very competitive players.”

Sherman said to have another successful season, his team will have to remain “healthy, gritty and keep improving on our toughness,” throughout the season.

“If we come together as a team and play for each other, we have a chance to be very good,” Sherman said. “But time will tell. We have team speed and pitching depth. I really like our athleticism.”

Across town at FMHS, the Jaguars are coming off of a phenomenal 2024 season in which they went 40-5 and lost in the state tournament.

Coach Danny Wallace said his team was hit pretty hard by graduation and right now it’s still up in the air in terms of how things are shaping up for 2025.

“It’s really not possible to know until we start playing,” Wallace said. “We are replacing a large amount of starters.”

The Jags do return standouts Cooper Harris, Shane Ferris and Adam Hawrylak.

Flower Mound went undefeated (14-0) in district last season and won a district championship, and Wallace said the objectives this season are similar.

“We want to win the district and make a run in the playoffs,” Wallace said.

To have another long run in the postseason, Wallace said his team will need to make progress.

“We need to stay healthy and improve each week as we gain experience with new players,” Wallace said.

For the Coram Deo Flower Mound baseball team, finishing fourth in district last season was a disappointment, but coach Jeff Luterek said he was proud of the way his team fought until the very end.

“While we did not make the playoffs, our team was eliminated in the final game of the season,” Luterek said. “We lost two district games by one run, signaling the potential of our young group of players.”

Luterek said this season Coram Deo is off to a great start.

“We are a young, developing program whose foundation is built on fundamentals, defense, and excellent pitching,” Luterek said. “On offense we are aggressive, attacking anything in the zone, along with opportunistic base running.”

The Lions return seven starters from last season’s team including second team all-state selection Sebastian Young.

“He dominated last year for us at the plate and on the mound,” Luterek said. “Offensively he hit .375 with 6 doubles and 4 triples, and on the mound he threw 57 innings, with 76 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.09.”

Also returning is all-district selection Grant Edens, as well as all district centerfielder Sebastian Luterek, and Ephraim McNamer, “an excellent defensive catcher with pop at the plate.”

The Lions finished 12-16 overall last season with a 4-8 district record, and Luterek said the objectives for this season are to glorify God and focus on taking the next step and earning a playoff spot.

“Last year we knocked on the doorstep but could not push our way through in close games,” Luterek said. “This year we are aiming to take another step.”

To get over the hump in 2025 Luterek said he wants his players to focus on four areas.

“It will take excellent pitching, strong fundamental defense, timely hitting and making the pitcher work and at bat,” Luterek said.

Up in Denton, the Guyer baseball team finished 7-7 in district and lost in a play-in game to just miss the playoffs.

Coach Patrick Watson said he is impressed by the improvement he has seen from his team early on this season.

“For the first four weeks of the year I think we have continued to get better as a team in each scrimmage that we have played so far,” Watson said. “If our pitchers are able to throw strikes, I think we will be good defensively and on offense. We don’t have any over-powering arms, so we will need to rely on location and mixing speeds up, and not giving up free bases from walks and hit batters will be key to our success.”

The Wildcats return seven starters from last year a year’s team including all-district selections right fielder Jody Murillo, catcher Isaac Calderon and pitcher Davin Seale.

Guyer finished 19-13 overall for the season in 2024, and Watson said the objective for this year is to improve in each game and play up to expectations.

“First and foremost is making it into the playoffs where anything can happen and hopefully you get hot at the right time,” Watson said. “We have several of our guys who we brought up to the varsity for the 2023 run in which we lost to the eventual state champions in the regional finals.”

Over in Justin, the Northwest baseball team went 16-16-2 last season, with a 6-6 mark in district competition and lost to eventual state champion Grapevine in the area round of the playoffs.

Strong returners include pitchers Reid Brezina and Cooper Davidson. Strong returning position players include Ricky Morgan, Jackson Merritt, Noah Murphy and Trey Poe.

The coaching staff said the objectives for 2025 are “to keep the game simple while playing an extremely competitive, hard-nosed style of baseball. We will rely on our experienced defense and pitching staff to help us win games.”

The Texans return eight starters from a year ago and have a large senior class of 16 players.

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The UCA National Cheerleading Championship included more than 1,200 teams and coach Stephanie Jones said the Warriors cheer team rose to the occasion.

“With so many large schools and established programs participating, it creates an incredibly competitive atmosphere that can be intimidating,” Jones said. “However, I’m proud of our athletes and how they remained focused, overcame adversity and pulled off an upset in the final round to bring home a national championship.”

Winning has become old hat for the Liberty cheer team, but this particular win stands out.

“This is our fourth win, but the first three were in the Game Day Division,” Jones said. “Also not an easy feat, but this was our first win in the traditional performance division, which is more tumbling and stunts. It was a super special win because this traditional team was 10 years in the making. We have made finals every year and placed in the top five but never won. We have been four-tenths of a point away from winning, but have never been able to finish first.”

Liberty is also an 11-time defending state champion, and Jones, who has coached the LCS cheer team the last 12 years, attributes her team’s success to a few factors.

“We have been very fortunate over the years to have athletes who buy in and trust the process,” Jones said. “They work extremely hard and are motivated to raise the bar a little higher each year. The support from our parents, alumni and the Liberty community has played a huge role in building a successful program.”

While winning as become a way of life for the Warriors Cheer team, Jones said it never loses its luster.

“Winning is always fun but it definitely adds a lot of pressure,” Jones said. “We try to minimize it as much as possible by focusing on improving as a team and setting goals to reach each season, but I know the kids still feel the pressure of wanting to meet or exceed expectations. We say a lot—’Pressure is a privilege, be thankful for the opportunity, the ability and the skills to compete.’”

While the cheer team’s success makes cheer a popular program and serves as a great source of pride for the Liberty Christian community, Jones said that the training and preparation that goes into it can be quite challenging.

“Our team has a pretty rigorous training schedule throughout the year,” Jones said. “We have offseason training from April-June and then have daily practices from August-February. They also have to work outside of practice on their own to develop new tumbling and stunting skills. I am also blessed to have an amazing coaching staff who go above and beyond to ensure our athletes are prepared.”

Jones, 50, who said she has been fortunate to collect several great memories over the years said that this year’s event, held in Orlando at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, created a few of its own.

“I witnessed the most exemplary sportsmanship I’ve ever experienced at a cheer competition,” Jones said. “One of our top competitors, Greenup County High School from Kentucky, has an amazing history of having competed in every championship for the past 45 years and securing 17 titles.”

Greenup has been such a perennial powerhouse that Jones herself competed against the program when she was in high school.

“During the awards ceremony, they were seated next to our team and as the placements were announced, they received third place,” Jones said. “Afterward, they reached out to our girls to genuinely encourage and cheer for them as they celebrated their first national title in the traditional performance division. Winning in this division is tough, and we knew it was going to be a nail-biter right up to the finish.

“To share the stage with a team that has the same goals and passion for the sport, yet still takes the time to celebrate with our program as they did speaks volumes about the character of their athletes and coaches. They made the experience special for our kids and I know it’s a memory they will never forget.”

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Jones said she hopes her athletes have a few takeaways.

“We try to create a team culture that strives for excellence, fosters a family-like atmosphere and teaches a few life lessons along the way,” Jones said. “My hope is that our athletes leave the program with lasting friendships and cherished memories, knowing they contributed to making the program and community better during their time with us.”

The championship will air on ESPN in the spring.

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“It was my first time ever competing at a World Championship and the experience was absolutely surreal,” Bassett said. “I had the most amazing time training and exploring with my teammates, coach, and family.”

The Flower Mound teen traveled to Chuncheon, South Korea in the fall to compete in the Junior Taekwondo World Championships, which is the most important junior event in the world.

Bassett, 17, defeated athletes from Tunisia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Spain to make it to the finals, but came up just short in the championship match and claimed the Silver medal.

“If I’m being 100 percent honest, I am very proud of how I performed, but I think I could’ve done better,” Bassett said. “Considering it was my first tournament of that caliber, I am happy with my performance under all of the pressure I was faced with.

“But, if I could go back and do it all again, I would tell myself to forget about everybody else. I think I was too focused on trying to please other people, rather than competing for myself.”

The Bassets made the most of their experience following the tournament as well, spending some time in their host country and experiencing the culture and customs.

“Visiting South Korea was such a unique experience and was definitely my favorite trip I’ve taken so far,” Bassett said. “After competing in Chuncheon, my family stayed in Seoul and we got to explore the city, shop, and learn a lot about the culture. South Korea is such a beautiful country. The city’s ambiance is unmatched, the scenery is beautiful, and the people are very kind and welcoming.”

Bassett has competed internationally for two years in such countries as the Netherlands, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Canada, and Romania.

While it would become a great passion for the Flower Mound teen, competing in a martial arts was not always on Bassett’s radar—not even close.

“Since I was little, I have always been extremely competitive,” Bassett said. “I used to play every sport you could think of: soccer, basketball, volleyball, track, swimming, and cross country. But for me, playing on a team was a little difficult. The girls on my team didn’t always have the same drive to win as I did, and I would get really frustrated.

“This frustration caused me to lose my passion for team sports and eventually quit. After about a year of not playing any sports, my dad asked me if I would want to join Taekwondo. I told him no, and begged him to not make me take a class. After a lot of disagreement, I agreed (forcefully) to go. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I fell in love with the sport immediately and the rest was history.”

Bassett has been training for the last seven years and said what initially drew her to Taekwondo after her initial reluctance was the individual nature of the sport.

“I think what appealed to me in the beginning was the fact that everything that happens in a fight all depends on me and my decisions,” Bassett said. “There is nobody else to blame, so whatever happens, win or lose, is all on me.”

Bassett trains three times a day, including two Taekwondo sessions and a weight-lifting session and is a first-degree black belt in the sport.

Injuries provide a frequent challenge, as Bassett has suffered sprains, four broken fingers and a dislocated knee in her career.

“In 2022, I took a kick to my knee that caused me to lose feeling and control of my right leg below my knee for six months,” Bassett said. “I was diagnosed with Perineal Nerve Palsy, which is a form of paralysis (aka foot drop). I went through lots of treatment, and luckily I was able to come back about eight months after the initial injury.”

Bassett attends school online, counts baking among her hobbies and trains at NTA Taekwondo.

The Flower Mound teen said the reaction she received following the event from her coaches and teammates was overwhelming.

“I think my coaches and teammates were all very proud of my performance,” Bassett said. “I am the first-ever world medalist from my Taekwondo school, so I think they were all really happy for me. I was sent tons of messages and I was greeted with lots of congratulations when I returned home.”

The post Flower Mound teen puts up a good fight at world championships appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

Two local teams had long playoff runs in 2024 and three more earned a playoff berth.

The Guyer softball team is coming off of a phenomenal 2024 season, in which the Wildcats finished 35-7 and reached the state semifinals.

Coach Keith Medford said he believes his team is capable of picking up where it left off last season.

“Things are shaping up nicely so far,” Medford said. “Our 2025 team has been working extremely hard in the offseason and preseason preparing for a challenging 6A campaign.”

Finley Montgomery, Brianna Williams, and Aubriella Martinez should lead the way for Guyer this year in a season in which Medford said the expectations are pretty straightforward.

“The objectives this season are to win the district and make a deep playoff run,” Medford said.

The Wildcats finished 13-1 in district last season and won a district championship.

To repeat that type of success, Medford said the team will need to do a few things.

“It will take great pitching, timely hitting and incredible team chemistry for us to make a deep playoff run,” Medford said.

Over in Flower Mound, the Marcus High School softball team went 24-10-2 last season with a 12-2 mark in district competition.

Coach Christy Tumilty said the great thing about the coming season for the Marauders is that most of her players are back.

“We are returning all but one starter from last season, so we hope to accomplish many things this season,” Tumilty said.

Tumilty said that “all of our returners played a part in our success last season and we will look to them for continued success this season,” and following a district championship in 2024, she said the recipe to repeat requires more of the same character her team demonstrated last season.

“We need to continue to have positive team chemistry and everyone focused on one goal and playing their best to achieve team success,” Tumilty said.

Players to watch for Marcus include Chloe Poteete, Emily Souders and Makenna Barr.

Across town at Flower Mound, the Jaguars were able to claim the fourth playoff spot in district with a 7-7 mark in 6-6A competition in 2024, and coach Mark Larriba said he is optimistic about his team’s chances in 2025.

“Things are going well,” Larriba said. “We are developing nicely. We’re still a young team compared to the years past.”

Adi Bicknell, Daph Galason and Olivia Rains should lead the way for Flower Mound this season.

The Jaguars fell in the bi-district round to Guyer last season.

“The objectives are always the same,” Larriba said. “To get better today than yesterday and continue to grow as a team/program.”

To get back to the playoffs, Larriba said he will need players to step up.

“We’re young but talented,” Larriba said. “We’ll start two seniors, four juniors; two sophomores and two freshmen. We need to have good pitching, great defense, and timely hitting.  If we grow every day, then we will be satisfied at the end of the season.”

In Argyle, the Eagles are looking to rebound from a sixth-place finish in district last season and 5-9 mark in 7-5A competition.

Coach Brianna Barnhill said while the Eagles are dealing with inexperience, she is impressed with what she has seen early on.

“Scrimmages have been encouraging,” Barnhill said. “New players in key spots are working on getting comfortable with one another. We’re a younger team when it comes to varsity experience.”

Players to watch for the Eagles this season include Avery Hankins, Kelsi Klein, Avari Sandifer and Brooklyn Barnett.

Argyle finished 13-19 overall last season, and the objectives for this season are to focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

“We have to take one game at a time,” Barnhill said. “We have to manufacture runs and control the controllables.”

To compete for a playoff spot this season, Barnhill said her team will need to have “consistency across all aspects of the game: pitching, defense, and offense,” and “making adjustments during games.”

Up the road at Liberty Christian, coach Johnny Isom said he is confident his team will compete for a playoff spot this season based on his observations to this point.

“Things are shaping up well so far,” Isom said. “We’ve got a strong core of returning players, and the new additions are showing great promise. The team has been putting in the work during the offseason, and we’ve seen a lot of growth in terms of skill development and teamwork. We’re feeling positive about the upcoming season, but we know there’s still a lot of work to do.”

Liberty Christian went 4-4 in district competition and finished in third place.

The Warriors fell in the first round of the playoffs to Grapevine Faith.

Strong returning players include Sydney Griffin, Avery Combest, Sloane McCown and Pearl Battaglia.

Isom said his team’s primary objective never changes, which is “to bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the way we play and interact with others during our season,” and on the field, it is to do better than it did last season.

“Our secondary objective is to improve on last year’s performance and make a deeper playoff run,” Isom said.

To compete for a playoff spot again, Isom said LCS will need a couple of things to happen.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work, discipline, and mental toughness,” Isom said. “We also wouldn’t mind some friendly bounces along the way. We’ll need to stay healthy and keep improving week by week. Our biggest key to success will be coming together as a team, battling adversity and playing for a bigger purpose than ourselves.”

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A traditional hotbed for soccer talent, the southern Denton County region typically produces some of the strongest programs in the state each year, and 2024-25 should be no different.

The Guyer boys team went 12-8-1 last season and 8-6 in district competition.

The Wildcats lost in the bi-district round of the playoffs, and coach Nicholas Klitgaard said he is returning 13 of 17 starters from last year’s team.

“Among them is Landon Newman, who broke the school scoring record last season,” Klitgaard said. “Alan Rosales is one of our most dynamic defenders and a fourth year varsity player. Hunter Sauser is also a fourth year varsity player who was our second most goal scorer last season at the wing, and Ben Abreu who is on his second year on varsity but looks like a seasoned veteran midfielder and represents our program to the letter.”

Klitgaard said that for Guyer to have a successful season and to make the playoffs the team will have to stay hungry to compete, take it game by game and focus on what they do every day to reach their goals.

“One of my favorite quotes from the book “Atomic Habits” is ‘You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems,’” Klitgaard said. “We have to make sure our day-to-day actions match who we want to be. If our goal is playoffs, and even the state championship, something we have never been to before, then we have to act and perform like a playoff or state champion team every day.”

Over at Flower Mound, the Jaguars are coming off of a 23-3-3 season where they made it all the way to the state finals before losing in overtime to Katy Seven Lakes.

Coach David Doyle said his team was hit pretty hard by graduation.

“With only three returning varsity players from last year’s roster it will be a rebuilding year,” Doyle said.

Top Jaguar returning players include defenders Oliver Marrujo and Andrew Ritzert, and midfielder Okko Keranen.

Doyle said in order to have a chance at a playoff spot and potentially another playoff run, he will need his younger players to adapt quickly.

“We will have to work very hard and have a lot of new players step up,” Doyle said.

Over in Argyle, Liberty Christian team finished 5-3 in district last season and clinched a playoff berth.

Coach Jorge Anduray said he also has to contend with the issue of youth this season, but said that so far he is seeing some promising signs early on.

“We have a very young overall roster of players who are continuing to improve and gel together,” Anduray said. “We have played well throughout the preseason and feel we can be competitive in district play.”

Strong returning players for the Warriors include Edgar Suarez, Aspen Hang, Jonah Sullivan, Mathew Harrison, Carter Holmes and Kyle Kozminski.

Anduray said to have a successful season, more than anything else it will boil down to one thing.

“In order to make the playoffs, we will need to stay healthy and free of injuries,” Anduray said.

Down the road in Argyle, first-year coach Chance Rose said that things are shaping up well for the coming season.

“I am really pleased with the overall effort this summer and fall from the players,” Rose said. “They are committed to improving on last year’s disappointing season and there is genuine belief that we can win a district championship.

The Eagles went 5-14-2 overall last season and finished 3-10-1 in district competition.

Argyle has a core of strong returning players, including Austin Roberts, Kayden Ayala, Michael Oduwole, Will Troseth, and Beckham Burns.

To make the postseason and potentially have a good run in the playoffs, Rose said it will two things—discipline and belief.

“We have to get back to the Argyle way of executing our play at a high level for 80 minutes,” Rose said. “Furthermore, believing in our qualities as a team and our abilities individually to maintain that high level of play for an extended period of time.”

Over in Justin, the Northwest Texans finished 12-6-6 overall last season and were area finalists.

Coach Isaac Linnabary said based on what he has seen so far this season, he is optimistic about Northwest’s chances.

“We feel good going into the season,” Linnabary said. “Scrimmages showed us some strengths and weaknesses of our team and what we need to address in practice. If we can fix some things as we go into tournaments and be ready for district, we have the potential to really turn some heads our first year in 6A.”

The Texans have a strong senior class returning led by Grayson Bowler and Ryan Schellenberg in the midfield.

Then the back line has three returning seniors with Chris Ceresoli, Jaden Torres, and Ryan Shawaluk.

“They will be the anchor for this team for sure,” Linnabary said.

Northwest finished 8-2 in district last season, and to have another strong year, Linnabary said it will take a couple of things.

“We’ll need to be competitive in our district games and pull some upsets along the way,” Linnabary said. “Moving up a classification is always tough, but going straight into this district would be tough for anybody. I believe we have the talent to be competitive and will find ourselves in some situations to steal some points that people may think we may not be able to get.

“We just need to remember it’s going to be a long season and to not get too high or too low based on results game after game.”

Across town at Marcus, the Marauders under Coach Sam Garza finished fourth in district 6-6A competition last year and qualified for the postseason.

Marcus lost in the bi-district round to Allen after going 13-7-1 on the season with a 7-6-1 mark in district competition.

Players to watch for Marcus this year include Brodie Colvin, Vincent Robles, Mason Einspahr, and Matthew Castro.

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In 2023, the Marauders brought home a state championship.

Marcus finished 23-1 this season with a 10-0 record in district competition and have established themselves as a perennial powerhouse in the relatively recent UIL sport, which was officially sanctioned in 2022 at the varsity level.

So what is the secret to the success of the water polo programs at MHS in Flower Mound?

“I have an amazing group of athletes on both sides,” coach Brandon Dion said. “They show up every day ready to work, understand the process and are committed to doing the work.”

Utility players Owen Kroh and Landon Heuer are two of those athletes, and both appear to be on board with what Dion and the Marcus coaching staff have tried to accomplish with the program, especially this past year.

“I am extremely satisfied with the season,” Kroh said. “Although we came just short of back-to-back state titles, the growth made by this team and the bond we made together is far more valuable than another gold medal. And for many of the boys, this is their first time making it to a state championship in general, so I think it will only fuel them to train harder and win next year.”

Kroh was a part of the team in 2023 that won a state championship, defeating Boerne Champion by a score of 25-12 in the championship match.

The Marcus senior said being a member of this program has been special for him.

“I have been on Marcus varsity water polo since I was a freshman, and one thing is certain, there were no accidental victories for this team,” Kroh said. “We are recognized as one of the most dominant high school teams in the state because my boys and I have worked harder than every other team in Texas. It means a lot to be a part of a program that stands for something and shows you get out whatever you put in. So if you wanna be great you have to show it in training.”

Dion, who was named the 2024 UIL Region 1 District 2 All District Boys and Girls Coach of the Year, said that reaching the state championship game in back-to-back seasons is difficult for any number of reasons, particularly if your program was hit hard by graduation. The men’s team only had four returning players from last year’s squad.

“It was pretty special,” Dion said. “We heard all the whispers that we weren’t the same team, we graduated too many guys, etc. We used that as fuel for the fire.”

Thankfully, there is a lot of crossover between sports, and Dion said a number of his athletes have had great success in more than just water polo.

“Last year, three of my athletes, Landon Heuer, Cy Dion and Kris Podsiadlo went to state twice in the same year in two different sports,” Dion said. “They were water polo state champions and then went to state in the 200 Free Relay for swimming.

Heuer said given what Marcus has accomplished in recent years, he is even more compelled to help continue the tradition of excellence.

“Especially since we fell short of first place this year, I am more motivated than ever to work hard, play hard, and continue our streak of success as a water polo team,” Heuer said. “I believe we have all the tools necessary to achieve incredible things and can’t wait to see what happens next year for our team’s water polo season.”

The Marcus junior said that challenges with school and fatigue have definitely had an impact on him, but said he constantly works to make time for everything.

“Maintaining good grades in tough classes at school and finding the time to work out and practice have been difficult for me,” Heuer said. “However, I’ve been able to achieve a decently good balance between the two and am able to pursue greatness in my academic and athletic lives.”

Both Kroh and Heuer were selected to the all-state tournament team.

Dion said he is pleased with the progress his programs have made and said it has been years in the making.

“I think we already have a strong foundation of tradition and culture,” Dion said. “I started the program in 2016, and we have been building toward this the entire way.”

And the Marcus coach’s opinion appears to bear out.

The Lady Marauders water polo team made it further than it ever has since UIL Water Polo began and was just one goal away from qualifying for state this season.

Camaraderie is also part of the equation for success along with talented and dedicated athletes, but Dion said it is even more than that.

“It goes beyond camaraderie,” Dion said. “It’s a family, and that’s part of the culture that we’ve built over the last seven years. I think we have all the right pieces and the mindset on both the men’s and ladies’ sides to get both of them to San Antonio next year.”

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The teams last met in the 2022 state semifinal, where SOC prevailed 14-6.

South Oak Cliff jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Early in the second, Anthony Ruvalcaba kicked a 26-yard field goal to cut Argyle’s deficit to 4 points.

The Golden Bears scored twice more before the end of the quarter and South Oak Cliff led 20-3 at the break.

SOC picked up where it left off in the third quarter, scoring 10 more unanswered points.

The Golden Bears scored again at the 8:10 mark of the fourth quarter.

On top of it’s stifling defense, South Oak Cliff forced two Argyle fumbles and a pick-six.

Argyle finished the season with a 13-2 overall record and 8-0 mark in district competition.

#ArgyleProud

Congratulations to the Eagles on an incredible state semifinalist season!! pic.twitter.com/pyy5ytiH0n

— Argyle ISD (@ArgyleISD) December 14, 2024

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The TAPPS Division I State Champions scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to put away the game.

Quinn Murphy connected with Brady Janusek on a 50-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors an early lead, but Episcopal answered with a touchdown of its own.

Chase Garnett then broke a 70-yard touchdown run to regain the lead for Liberty Christian, but an Episcopal field goal made it 14-10 LCS at the end of one.

In the second, Jonah Sullivan kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Liberty Christian a 17-10 lead, and Murphy hit Janusek on a 2-yard pass to make it 24-10.

Parish Episcopal scored again and the score was 24-17 Liberty Christian at halftime.

In the third quarter, Murphy tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Hawkins and a 28-yard touchdown pass to Janusek to give LCS a 38-17 lead.

Garnett then scored on an 8-yard run to make it 45-17 at the end of three.

Garnett finished the game with 234 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Liberty Christian finished 12-1 on the season with a 5-0 mark in district competition.

27-1 over the last two seasons. What's next?@NavyOut | @LCS__Football | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/XaUfjRimQd

— Texas Private School Media (@TXPSMedia) December 8, 2024

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