66 questions for District 6-6A

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:14 PM

Week 2: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...79d007466.html
1. What was the best overall team in 6-6A in 2014-15?
Matt Welch: The district boasted four total state champions, plus teams and student-athletes that were recognized as being among the best in the state and the country.
But only one ended its season ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Allen football team’s third consecutive UIL Division I state championship – a feat matched by no other football program within the state’s largest classification – was won on the shoulders of a year that was unlike any other in the echelons of the program’s rich football history.
In addition to going 16-0 and extending their gaudy winning streak to 43 games, the Eagles bested a gauntlet of powerhouses that included DeSoto, Arlington Martin, Euless Trinity and Skyline – all in consecutive weeks.
Adversity naturally struck, as Allen was either tied or trailing against all four during some juncture of the fourth quarter. The Eagles had an answer every time, often doing so in a manner that fluctuated between dramatic and emphatic.
Helmed by quarterback Kyler Murray and a defense with a penchant for crunch-time heroics, Allen finished the year ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps and Scout.
2. What are some rivalries that emerged from the first year of 6-6A?
Ethan Grant: The first and most obvious choice is Plano East and Flower Mound boys basketball, where the two teams turned what could have been an ugly feud into what should be a healthy rivalry for students and athletes alike next season – potentially in all sports.
Another solid rivalry that emerged on the hard court was between the Flower Mound and Plano West girls. Natalie Chou and the Lady Wolves got the better of the Lady Jags in district, but Lauren Cox and Co. returned the favor in the regional final as Flower Mound made it to the state tournament.
Another batch of games next season should provide similar fireworks. After a football game that produced over 110 total points, I could see Plano East-Lewisville turning into a nice battle royal on the gridiron this fall, while McKinney Boyd-Flower Mound volleyball and West-Hebron girls soccer also stood out as can’t-miss contests.
3. What lies ahead in the 6-6A cross country landscape in 2015-16?
Justin Thomas: Without even glancing at potential rosters, it’s easy for figure that 6-6A will again be one of the top distance running districts in the state.
In 2014, 6-6A claimed four of the six state berths available from Region I, including sweeping the team spots on the girls side.
Hebron’s girls would go on to claim the state title and will return five of their top seven runners in 2015, while Drew Cummings qualified individually for a Hebron boys team that finished second in the district last year.
Marcus advanced both squads to state last year where the girls finished as runner-up to Hebron and return plenty of talent, including Maddy Reed and Quinn Owen.
The Lady Jaguars were also in action in Round Rock, taking sixth, while Plano West’s boys were the final regional representative from 6-6A but missed out on a state berth.
However, the Wolves, and 2014 fourth-place finisher Allen are primed to contend for regional spots and beyond next year.
To do so, however, they will have to bypass LISD squads that are staggeringly consistent.
Over the past three years, Hebron’s girls have made treks to state three times with its boys squad a perfect 3-for-3 in regional appearances, including multiple individuals making the medal stand in Round Rock.
Marcus’ boys and girls have both made state in two of the last three years and regionals in all three seasons, while Flower Mound’s girls are coming off consecutive state berths — missing by just one spot in 2012 — with its boys team also in the midst of a run of three straight regional appearances.
When the dust settles this fall, anticipate 6-6A to perform admirably at regionals with multiple teams and individuals on the medal stand at Old Settler’s Park.
4. Overall, was McKinney Boyd at a competitive disadvantage by having the smallest enrollment in the district?
Jackson Long: Absolutely. The disparity in classification cutoffs is large, but never more drastic than 6A. In 4A, the largest difference in enrollment possible is about 600 kids. In 5A, it’s 1,000. With 6A’s current cutoff at 2,100 and above, the inequality is infinite.
At the time of the 2014 UIL realignment, Allen had the highest enrollment in the state at 5,987. Second through fourth were West (5,531), Plano Senior (5,394.5) and East (5,300). Boyd’s enrollment was 3,043.
The fact that schools with an enrollment gap of 3,000 consistently play each other in district play is astonishing. The talent pool is exponentially deeper for the likes of Allen and the Plano ISD schools.
While the sport-by-sport, head-to-head results vary between Boyd and the other eight (all larger) schools in 6-6A, the matter is plainly unfair, by principle.
5. Which team state champion in the district is most likely to repeat next season?
Matt Welch: This choice is made on a bit of a technicality, since the UIL alignment slots it under 8-6A, but as one of the nine de facto 6-6A schools, Allen’s championship pedigree resonates loudest on the wrestling mat.
The Eagles are in the midst of a high school dynasty, having won six consecutive state titles and seven straight dual state championships, and there aren’t exactly any signs of slowing down.
Allen’s latest state title run was commandeered by a talented crop of underclassmen, including individual championships won by then-freshmen Juwan Robinson and Braeden Redlin. Of the Eagles’ nine state placers on the boys side, only two were seniors (Garrett Miller and Daniel Cartagena).
Factor in the continued growth of standouts like senior Dalton Miller (170-pound state champion last season) and sophomore Logan Brown (106-pound runner-up), and Allen again projects as the favorite in Class 6A next season.
6. What was the biggest surprise in the first year of 6-6A?
Matt Welch: Although 6-6A boasts plenty of depth across all sports, the fact remains that only four teams make the playoffs. It’s on that stage where the district was arguably at its strongest.
In the eight sports that require playoff brackets, the district posted an overall record of 57-30 (66 percent) and had a team advance to at least the fourth round in volleyball, football, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer and softball. In no sport did 6-6A’s four postseason representatives post an aggregate playoff record of below .500 – a surprising figure considering the wealth of talent in Region I.
Justin Thomas: In each of the past two years, three baseball teams in the current 6-6A configuration reached at least the fourth round of the postseason.
And with reigning state champ Flower Mound and regional finalist Marcus among the top-ranked teams in the state entering the year (with each squad ranked No. 1 in certain polls), sending just one team to at least the regional semifinals seemed a foregone conclusion.
But alas, the Jaguars were eliminated in the regional quarterfinals, while Hebron and Marcus bowed out in the area round and Plano in the bi-district round.
Ethan Grant: Entering the season, the 6-6A girls soccer teams figured to account for three-fourths or so of the teams in the regional quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Only one even qualified for the round.
West,Hebron, Boyd and Allen were the four qualifiers from the district, and the Lady Eagles were dispatched in the first round. The Lady Wolves and Lady Hawks, who played in last season’s 5A title game, both suffered tough losses in the area round.
Boyd fell to Coppell in the third round, but ended the year with the designation of making the deepest postseason run from 6-6A.
Jackson Long: Despite the aforementioned inequality in enrollment, Boyd’s volleyball team outperformed expectations in the district. Allen was projected to be a top squad statewide, but Boyd split the season series with the Lady Eagles and eventually took second in the district standings at 14-2, while Allen missed the postseason at 9-7.

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:16 PM

Week 3: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...8efde2389.html
1. What was the biggest challenge faced by 6-6A in 2014-15?
Jackson Long: With enrollment numbers and immense talent spread across all sports, the biggest adversary to 6-6A in its first year was hype.
Living up to the expectations that came along with the realignment was always going to be tough for the grouping of nine schools. The district responded by producing four state champions, including three-peat football champion Allen, which garnered nationwide attention.
Close-fought games, thrilling finishes, a high postseason success rate and special individual performances helped 6-6A meet all the anticipation. In 2015-16, the challenge will be topping this past year’s events.
2. Which 6-6A student-athletes will be on the national recruiting radars in 2015-16?
Ethan Grant: Each playing field in 6-6A sports a laundry list of top-notch athletes, and even though I will try to avoid omitting any worthy names here, there’s a greater-than-good chance I will. The list is long, period, whether those names are on a national radar or not.
Starting in football (the only way to start in Texas), the trenches appear to be where the national recruiters are fixated. At Allen, left tackle Greg Little certainly comes to mind as he is the lone five-star prospect on the gridiron in the district. Opposite Little on the defense line, though, is Levi Onwuzurike, who had a coming-out party for the Eagles’ defense last season. Elsewhere, Marcus tight end Kaden Smith (a Stanford commit), McKinney Boyd offensive tackle Tyrese Robinson and Plano East linebacker Anthony Hines III and his absurd 70-plus offer list are of note.
On the volleyball court, Allen outside hitter Chandler Atwood (Texas Tech pledge) stands out, as does Flower Mound middle blocker Lauren Cox.
Cox, as many may know, is more well-known for her prowess on the basketball court as a triple-double waiting to happen. One of the top players in the world, Cox has already thrown her name in the hat on the U.S. national team, as has fellow district mate and Plano West’s Natalie Chou – another big-time recruit.
The Wolves, despite losing all five starters from their state champion boys basketball team, have Chris Giles earning new offers every day, while the West girls soccer team joins Hebron and Boyd in producing top talent in some of the most prestigious college programs in the state each year.
LSU pledge Maribeth Gorsuch led Lewisville on another run to the softball state tournament, while the talent from the baseball diamond is sure to produce at least a handful of youngsters in line for an MLB look with a good season.
As I said, it’s a laundry list, and more will assert their dominance in 6-6A and potential in college as the season goes on, but the names above are a few to get fans started when the district season re-kicks off in August.
3. What challenges will 6-6A’s bi-district opponents in 5-6A pose in 2015-16?
Justin Thomas: To be frank, not many.
District 6-6A ran roughshod over 5-6A in the postseason, compiling a 25-12 playoff record against 5-6A foes.
The belles of the ball for 5-6A in 2014-15 came on the diamond, where Keller’s baseball and softball teams each reached the regional final. However, the latter was eliminated by Lewisville — which took down three 5-6A teams en route to the state final — while the Indians came up short in their regional final against Arlington Martin. Outside of those two squads, 5-6A did not advance one program to the regional tournament in football, boys or girls basketball, boys or girls soccer or volleyball.
In the sports of golf, tennis, cross country, swimming and wrestling, only Keller’s boys and girls swim teams picked up regional titles or advanced to state. Conversely, 6-6A produced two golf teams at state, one tennis team, four cross country squads (with Hebron’s girls winning state), had a boys and girls swim team place second at regionals and earned a state title on the wrestling mat (Allen). Additionally, in sports with playoff brackets, 6-6A claimed two more state titles, had two others squads advance to state and another four reach the regional tourney.
While Keller certainly has programs capable of given 6-6A teams fits, and Denton Guyer is traditionally a state title contender on the gridiron, returning talent and program pedigrees suggests 6-6A will again be the dominant district in 2015-16.
4. What lies ahead in the 6-6A tennis landscape heading into 2015-16?
Matt Welch: Death, taxes and West tennis towering over its district opposition.
The influx of Lewisville ISD talent did little to stymie the Wolves’ reign of district dominance in 2014-15, and initial forecasts looking ahead to this fall should once again shine favorably on West.
The Wolves are projected to return three-quarters of last season’s Class 6A state semifinalist team, but will still have openings to fill near the top of their boys and girls lineups after graduating tenured veterans like Anshul Pandey, Josh Granberry and Alahna Reto. However, that still leaves seven players who saw action at the state tournament last fall, plus notable springtime contributors in juniors Camryn Moortgat and Ally Zhang.
If any program has posed a notable threat to the Wolves in recent years, it’s Allen, who should again be a formidable adversary this fall. That’s particularly true on the girls side, thanks to talented juniors Joyce Tiong, Kayleigh Holt, Brittany Goodman and Nicole Gordikov, but the Eagles will also be without one of the surest bets in the district after graduating Dillon Pineda.
Marcus is in a similar boat at the top end of its lineups after graduating Preethi Kasilingam and Sebastian Langdon – two of the most successful players in program history – but will be well-stocked thanks to returning all-district performers like senior Truman Coe and junior Jordan Thorn.
Whether it’s enough to dent West’s armor in the fall remains to be seen, but there should still plenty of opportunities for the district’s depth to shine through in the spring. Last season, Plano Senior produced strong district tourney showings from junior Brett O’Brien and senior Casey Hopper, while East senior Pablo Llambias and junior Dylan Patel went from unseeded doubles duo to district semifinalists.
5. What sport could 6-6A potentially improve the most in during the 2015-16 season?
Justin Thomas: Could the sport with the most potential to improve also be one that produced a program to the state title game?
One look at the 6-6A all-district softball team suggests yes.
Of the eight superlative winners in 6-6A, seven will be back in 2016, as will 10 of the 20 first-team selections and 10-of-18 second-teamers.
Leading the way will likely be Lewisville, which lost in the state final in the last at-bat, but returns 7-of-9 starters, including LSU commit and pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch.
Outside of the Lady Farmers, however, only Flower Mound advanced past the bi-district round before bowing out in the regional quarterfinals.
The Lady Jaguars typically have little difficulty reloading and should again be one of the area’s top programs next year.
Postseason rebounds are also likely from typically strong Plano programs, while Marcus and Hebron have each also made trips to the regional final in the past four years.
The softball tradition in 6-6A and returning talent suggests that getting just one team past the third round is more of an aberration than a sign of things to come.
6. What were some of the most memorable performances in 6-6A in 2014-15?
Matt Welch: The West boys basketball team mounted a second-half comeback against Houston Clear Lake to win the Class 6A State Championship, and in no small part thanks to the heroics of alum D.J. Hogg.
Despite shooting just 3-of-14 from the field through three quarters, Hogg caught fire over the final eight minutes. The sharpshooter buried 6-of-7 shots in the fourth quarter – including four makes from beyond the arc – capped by a game-winning jumper from the top of the key as time expired to clinch the Wolves’ 56-54 victory.
Justin Thomas: Flower Mound’s run to state in girls basketball goes beyond the transcendent play of standout post Lauren Cox, who averaged 28 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks per game in the postseason.
Receiving clutch contributions from players across the board, not only did Flower Mound shock Plano West in thrilling overtime fashion to clinch the program’s first state berth, the Lady Jaguars needed extra time to upset Southlake Carroll and advance past the area round.
Ethan Grant: Not only was West running back Soso Jamabo’s 469-yard, six-touchdown rushing performance against Sachse on Sept. 5 memorable, it was mind-blowing.
Jamabo rushed for just 8 yards after one quarter, meaning 98.3 percent of his yards came in just three quarters. Though it came early in the season, the night was a shining example of the excellence that has Jamabo entrenched as one of the top players in program history in any sport.
Jackson Long: It’s hard to advocate that a 7-for-23 passing output from a quarterback in a rivalry playoff matchup is worthy of being recognized as a standout performance. But what Allen’s Kyler Murray did on the ground and in the final stretch against DeSoto in the area round of the 6A Division I postseason truly was spectacular.
The superstar rushed for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns in the game, including a 46-yard scoring dash followed by a two-point conversion pass to tie the game in the fourth quarter. On the final drive, Murray put his team in position for the game-winning field goal.

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:19 PM

Week 4: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...7ef04464f.html
1. What effects did Region I have on 6-6A?
Justin Thomas: The additions of Plano ISD, Allen and McKinney Boyd to 6-6A only bolstered what was already a deep and talented Region I.
Of the 13 team sports that programs from 6-6A were in Region I, the region produced six state champs with three coming directly from 6-6A. State medalists Coppell and Allen also represented the region well on the golf course.
While the region continued its tradition of finding success at the state level, perhaps the biggest impact aside from budgetary concerns came in the early rounds of the postseason where titanic showdowns became the norm.
District 6-6A volleyball co-champs Flower Mound and Boyd each met their demise in the area round to Colleyville Heritage and Southlake Carroll, respectively.
On the gridiron, Allen endured a gauntlet on its way to the state title. The Eagles topped DeSoto in a battle of nationally ranked teams in the area round before surviving upset bids from Arlington Martin and Euless Trinity in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.
Girls basketball regional champ Flower Mound endured an overtime victory over a higher-ranked Carroll squad in the area round, while Coppell and Marcus had hopes of claiming state titles on the baseball diamond but were forced to face off in the second round.
But perhaps the biggest instance came on the pitch where four of the nation’s top 15 girls programs according to topdrawersoccer.com squared off in an area-round doubleheader that featured the previous three and six of the last eight state champs. Those early round tilts prompted many area coaches to wonder if a reformatting of the playoff structure should be in the cards.
2. Which team is most likely to go undefeated in district play in 2015-16?
Matt Welch: In 2014-15, among the eight bracket sports, five teams didn’t lose a district game (Allen football, West boys basketball, West girls basketball, Flower Mound baseball and Boyd boys soccer).
Although at first it’s tough to envision that figure being replicated in 2015-16, the best bet to go unbeaten remains with the program that has captured three consecutive UIL Division I State Championships in football.
Yes, Kyler Murray has graduated and Allen has its share of areas to iron out on offense, but the Eagles’ district dominance dates well before the star quarterback’s entry into the program.
In October 2005, Plano Senior routed Allen to the tune of 45-7. Since then, the Eagles have won 61-of-62 district games, with the lone setback coming in October 2010 against Hebron.
That loss aside, Allen has gone unbeaten in district eight of the past nine seasons. Although the district’s volume does increase the odds of a slip-up, the Eagles’ track record over the past decade is as imposing a trend as there is in 6-6A.
And on top of having history on its side, Allen will play six of its eight district games at home next season. Not a bad caveat considering Eagle Stadium holds 18,000 people – the overwhelming majority assured to be donning navy blue, red and white each Friday night.
If taking non-bracket sports into consideration, it’s tough to look past Plano West tennis’ assembly line of perfect district campaigns, a regular-season streak that spans even longer than Allen’s on the football field.
3. What lies ahead in the 6-6A track and field landscape heading into 2015-16?
Matt Welch: The Class 6A state meet was a productive one for 6-6A last spring, with the district combining for seven medals.
Of that lot, only Boyd senior Aaliyah Miller, Allen junior Chelsey Cole and one leg from the Plano East girls 4x400-meter relay (senior Amarachi Ngwakwe) return, but that shouldn’t suggest any sort of drop-off in quality.
Miller alone is as credentialed a runner as there is in the state after winning gold in the 400 and 800 last season, and she’ll remain a lofty favorite in both next year. In Cole’s case, placing second at state in her first full season as a triple jumper is a productive harbinger of what may lie ahead.
And even then, the district will return additional state qualifiers such as Marcus seniors Ian Braxton and Maddy Reed, Allen senior Bryce Douglas, Plano junior Charles Brockman and East senior Jackerria Hughes.
Team-wise, the Marauders swept both 6-6A titles in the spring, but will have their work cut out replacing a few key cogs in their well-rounded arsenal, particularly on the girls side with Bridget Tobias, Sydney Laudwig and Hannah Bradley graduating.
Marcus’ closest challenger last season for each title was Allen, which should have enough returning talent to contend once again.
Placing third in the 6-6A girls meet was Plano, which could be a potential dark horse for the district title next spring after making immense strides under coach Amy Dehdari and returning gobs of underclassmen.
4. The district’s nine schools captured four state titles in 2014-15. Is it more likely that 6-6A matches, exceeds or recedes in that category in 2015-16?
Jackson Long: A safe bet would be “matches.” The standard was set quite high in 6-6A’s first year, and four state championships is a very impressive feat to try to follow up on. Allen football will no longer be the favorite across all of 6A – as DeSoto and others are anticipated to challenge for the gridiron crown. The West boys hoops team lost Mickey Mitchell, D.J. Hogg and Tyler Davis to graduation – meaning the Wolves shot for back-to-back titles will be tough.
But while the same teams may not repeat, others in 6-6A could rise to new heights – that is the beauty of the depth in the district. West and Flower Mound girls basketball are set up for strong seasons, as are a litany of cross country programs, and Lewisville softball.
So while four state crowns is a bold prediction, the district was excellent in the postseason in 2014-15 and there is no reason to expect anything different this year.
5. Which team that missed the playoffs in 2014-15 will make the playoffs in 2015-16?
Ethan Grant: Thanks to the nine-team layout, there are any number of directions to take this answer.
You might have to come back to our “bold predictions” questions to see this theory in more depth, but with the parity displayed in 6-6A, I feel there’s a strong chance none of the eight major UIL sports will have repeat four-team playoff qualifiers. In other words, there’s a good shot at least one team that missed the postseason last year in every sport will find their way back to bracket play in 2015-16.
Some teams that stand out at first glance include Allen volleyball, Hebron football, East football and Marcus girls basketball, but I’m going to go with the Marcus football team as the biggest lock to reach the postseason in the fall.
The Marauders were one of the surprise teams on the gridiron last year, giving eventual state champion Allen fits in an eventual setback and ultimately coming a loss to Plano away from making the playoffs.
With top-flight talent such as tight end Kaden Smith, quarterback Andrew Parish and running back Nate Hopkins all returning on offense and defensive end Andrew Fitzgerald leading the charge on defense, look for Marcus to make a run at top-four billing in the district upon conclusion of the 6-6A football slate.
6. What were some of the most notable coaching performances in 6-6A in 2014-15?
Matt Welch: Allen football’s area playoff victory over DeSoto went down to the wire, thanks to some timely execution during the game’s final sequence – set up after Kyler Murray was tackled inbounds at the DeSoto 4-yard line with just 14 seconds left in the game.
In a sequence head coach Tom Westerberg said his team practiced every week, Allen hurried its field-goal unit onto the field and alum Sawyer Williams converted a 25-yard attempt for the 25-22 victory just as time expired.
The decision to not call a timeout and stop the clock – a gutsy choice given the lack of time remaining – didn’t allow DeSoto to set up a block against the kick, a masterful stroke by Allen in besting its playoff rival.
Justin Thomas: In one of the wildest games contested in 6-6A this season, Lewisville head football coach Gregg Miller pulled out all the stops in the Farmers’ 58-56 comeback win over Plano East. Trailing, 49-27, with seven minutes remaining, Lewisville rattled off 31 unanswered points over 4:55 of game time — a stretch in which East’s scorching-hot offense didn’t touch the ball — following a series of onside kicks, trick plays and a safety.
Ethan Grant: Every head coach in the 6-6A boys basketball landscape had it tough, but East head coach Jeff Clarkson conducted maybe the most difficult eight-game stretch of his career in the Panthers’ first eight district games.
After a win over Boyd, East played five straight overtime games (3-2 record). It took a buzzer-beater by Isaac Asrat to keep the streak from running to six against Flower Mound. The Panthers were clearly fatigued down the stretch of 6-6A action after a brutal first half, but Clarkson managed to keep the team in playoff contention – East was a win over Marcus in the four-way play-in tournament from reaching the postseason.
Jackson Long: The smallest enrollment in the district, a first-year quarterback and no major Division I college prospects. Boyd’s Don Drake wasn’t handed the ideal circumstances to succeed in the 2014 football season, but the coach worked with what he had to advance his team into the second round of the postseason.
The Broncos went a surprising 6-2 in 6-6A with a simple game plan of good defense, relentless rushing and smart passes. Boyd trounced Keller Fossil Ridge in the bi-district stage of playoffs then put up 28 points in a loss to eventual 6A Division II champs Cedar Hill.

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:24 PM

Week 5: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...c96c61919.html
1. Which 6-6A school will win the most district championships in 2015-2016
Jackson Long: The biggest school in the district (and the state) will have the best shot to win the most district titles in 2015-16.
Allen won the 6-6A football title last year and despite losing their star passer and other big names, the Eagles are still projected for a great season on the gridiron. Last year’s volleyball squad was expected to excel but fell short of the postseason. A good core of returners after a 9-7 season could vault the Lady Eagles to the top of 6-6A. Boys basketball finished second on the ladder last season and with the Plano West roster being depleted, Allen could take the crown there as well.
With as deep of a talent pool as Allen has access to, it is tough think they would be out of the mix in any district sporting race as Allen didn’t finish last in any of the eight bracket sports in 2014-15.
2. Although they won’t collide in the same district, what lies ahead in the wrestling landscape for the nine de facto 6-6A schools?
Ethan Grant: One of the few areas where 6-6A doesn’t include all nine schools is wrestling, where Lewisville ISD gets to keep the label while Plano ISD, Allen and McKinney Boyd compete out of 8-6A alongside Rockwall.
Over the past few years, it hasn’t mattered what district the Eagles compete in, though.
Allen, the six-time consecutive state champion, shows no signs of slowing down when the mats unroll in the fall, if for no other reason than it had seven underclassmen finish in the top five at the Class 6A state tournament in February.
The Eagles had three freshmen (Braeden Redlin, Juwan Robinson and Logan Brown) reach championship bouts and a handful of others make deep runs in the winner’s bracket. While nothing is for certain, placing Allen as a state wrestling contender is about a sure of a thing as there is in the UIL today.
Elsewhere, Hebron, Flower Mound and Boyd are among the schools with strong individual wrestlers to watch. PISD consistently sends a handful of athletes to state, as well, but hasn’t been able to make much of a dent in the team standings.
On the girls side, gone are Lewisville’s Brittany Marshall and Plano East’s Luciana Schement – both state champions in their respective weight classes as seniors. Allen sophomore Alex Liles leads the next wave of great female wrestlers from the district, with PISD and others hopeful to develop strong female programs in the years to come.
3. Who are some potential impact sophomores to keep an eye on in 6-6A?
Ethan Grant: It’s incredibly tough to crack a varsity rotation as a freshman.
It’s less tough to do so a sophomore, but in most cases, sophomores who end up making an impact are a surprise to the world outside of their specific program.
That said, it isn’t hard to find 10th-graders who will at least be on the radar to shine during the 2015-16 school year, starting with a number of youngsters on the volleyball court.
Allen’s Alina Lam will be a sophomore and could form a potent one-two punch in the setter department with returning incumbent Peyton Marshall. Elsewhere, Plano Senior’s duo of Adanna Rollins and Shanel Bramschreiber helped the Lady Wildcats return to the postseason in an incredibly difficult district.
Though Plano East volleyball had a rough go, the trio of Allison Owen, Sara Porsa and Kirby Smith all saw time as freshmen. With a healthy Payton Cabrera back, the Lady Panthers have a foundation for the future.
Looking elsewhere, it was the female sports that generated the most freshmen in action. Plano was at the heart of the effort on the basketball court (Emma Halverson, Katie Farrell) and the softball diamond (Kaira Pittsinger, Bronte Rhoden and Lindsay Edwards).
Marcus’ freshmen girls were all over the 6-6A girls soccer all-district list, including Taylor Moon, Katie Hemperly, Olivia Kovach, Maddie Algya and Avery Hudson, while Boyd had a strong freshmen duo as well in Macie Kolb and Laura Mauldin.
On the golf circuit, East’s Libby Winans made the state tournament in her first try; she will look to continue to climb the ladder next year.
Hebron’s Michael Betrus made his varsity debut as a freshman and performed well on the baseball diamond, while Mason LaPlante did the same for Allen.
4. Although they won’t collide in the same district, what lies ahead in the swimming landscape for the nine de facto 6-6A schools?
Matt Welch: In hindsight, coaches and swimmers alike were probably fortunate that these nine schools didn’t cross paths until the 6A state meet given the talent level spread among the group.
PISD, Allen and Boyd had their hands full in the deep end of 10-6A with Southlake Carroll, but the Eagles and Plano still managed a healthy representation at the state meet. Ditto for Lewisville ISD, which posted two top-15 team finishes by Flower Mound at state.
Plano, Allen and Flower Mound are all in the enviable position of returning multiple key cogs in their respective postseason runs, while also graduating a couple dominant seniors.
The Eagles still boast one of the top girls rosters in the state, led by seniors Sofie Underdahl, Sarah McDonald and Emma Wagner, but will have to replace Gillian Wagner while the boys graduated breaststroke extraordinaire Thomas Kim.
The Plano boys will look to build off last year with the consistent pairing of senior Duncan Lee and junior Jared Murphy, but graduated Ian Kennedy and top girls swimmer Laura Brasier.
The Jaguars graduated longtime program staple Jerik Wong and three-quarters of their girls’ state qualifier 200-yard freestyle relay, but return two of top juniors in the Metroplex in Samantha Porter and Stephen Cheng.
Lewisville junior Kara Eisenmann has qualified for state in her first two seasons with the program and there’s little that should stand in the way of a third trip in 2016, and West’s girls could emerge as a sleeper candidate in 10-6A. Of the Lady Wolves who qualified for regionals last year, all but two return.

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:26 PM

Week 5 Continued:
5. Who are some of the top multi-sport athletes in 6-6A?
Justin Thomas:
Lauren Cox (Flower Mound, volleyball and girls basketball)
What’s new? The discussion begins with the only player from 6-6A to be earn superlative honors in multiple sports. Cox could name her college choice on the volleyball or basketball court. The senior is coming off a season in which she garnered MVP honors (and Gatorade Texas Player of the Year) in basketball and the district’s top blocker award in volleyball.
Ade Omotosho (Plano East, football and track and field)
Omotosho opened his 2014-15 season by grabbing first-team all-district honors at receiver after posting team-highs in catches (31), receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (four). The rising senior then capped his year by advancing to regionals in track and field after placing second at the district meet in the long jump.
Grant Restmeyer (McKinney Boyd, football and baseball)
Restmeyer helped Boyd’s football team to the postseason in 2014 hitting on 56 percent of his attempts for 2,100 yards and 24 touchdowns. But it was on the baseball field where he earned all-district honors, making his way to the second team after going 4-3 as a pitcher with a 2.77 ERA.
Derek Mueller (Hebron, football and baseball)
Mueller was named to the all-district team in baseball following a season in which he batted .333 with 13 RBIs and a team-high 17 stolen bases as an outfielder for the Hawks. The senior also led a ground-and-pound Hawks’ football team with 18 catches for 150 yards.
Quinn Waterbury (Plano Senior, football and baseball)
Waterbury was thrust into duty as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback last year. As a junior, the signal caller completed 57 percent of his passes for 648 yards and four touchdowns while splitting time. A first baseman on the baseball team, he was named the District 10-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2014.
Alex Albright (Marcus, football and baseball)
A second-team all-district selection on the gridiron, Albright was second on the Marauders in receptions (26) and receiving yards (293) while also chipping in 105 yards and a score on the ground. On the diamond, Albright hit .412 in a reserve role but is likely in line for an increase in 2016 on a Marcus squad that graduates 17 seniors.
Tyler Campbell (Plano West, football and baseball)
Campbell was a first-team all-district choice at defensive back last year for the Wolves but following the graduation of Soso Jamabo will shift over as West’s top option at halfback. Campbell also contributes to the West baseball team as a catcher and hit .256 with four stolen bases this season.
Tyrell Shavers (Lewisville, football and baseball)
Shavers broke out late in the season for Lewisville’s football team, finishing his campaign with 15 catches for 249 yards and five touchdowns, including hauling in five grabs for 165 yards and three scores in a comeback win against East. The junior doubled as an outfielder and pitcher for the Farmers’ baseball team.
Dylan Ditzenberger (Allen, boys basketball and baseball)
Despite being just a sophomore, Ditzenberger played key roles on Allen’s baseball and boys basketball teams. A starting middle infielder on the diamond, Ditzenberger handles point guard duties for the Eagles on the hard-court.
6. What are some potential surprise teams in 6-6A for 2015-16?
Matt Welch: Plano Senior volleyball
The Lady Wildcats were competitive enough to nudge into the playoff picture last season, but aspirations will be higher this fall and for good reason.
Plano graduated a mere two players – Emily Conard and Amy Kunz – from last year’s roster, returns its entire starting lineup and is overflowing with players who have already verbally committed to play college volleyball.
Even in a minefield as competitive as 6-6A, the Lady Wildcats have the ammunition to turn last year’s fourth-place finish into a potential district title in 2015.
Justin Thomas: Marcus girls soccer
West and Hebron have grabbed headlines of late and rightfully so. But despite missing out on the postseason for the first time program history, Marcus posted a 6-4-6 mark, allowed just 10 goals in 16 district matches and returns nine all-district performers, including five freshmen.
Expect the Lady Marauders to return to their traditional spot of contending for district titles in 2016.
Ethan Grant: Plano East football
With junior quarterback Miklo Smalls entrenched as the starting quarterback, senior wideouts Omotosho and Tim Wilson on either side of the formation and a quartet of strong runners in the backfield, head coach Joey McCullough expects the pieces to fit on offense.
Though the defense will be the unit that has to step up, a switch from the 3-3-5 back to a more traditional outlook figures to help junior linebacker Anthony Hines III make more plays from sideline to sideline. If 7-on-7 action is any indication (Panthers are 10-2 in SQTs), this bunch has a shot to compete with the rest of the district.
Jackson Long: McKinney Boyd boys soccer
The Broncos have been at the top of their district for years. Boyd is perennially good, but will suffer a big hit from graduation as it loses four of its top five goal-scorers from a season ago.
If the Broncos recover and win the district again it won’t be a shock, but if they understandably falter, it will be a surprise to see them first on the ladder. In a deep 6-6A, I could easily see that happening.

**JagFan** · 07-14-2015, 12:27 PM

Week 6: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...e3bdd7199.html
1. Who’s the preliminary favorite in 6-6A boys soccer?
Jackson Long: McKinney Boyd has won its district five years in a row; so choosing against the Broncos seems unwise.
In last week’s installment, I wrote that Boyd soccer could falter due to the graduation of four of its top five scorers from a season ago. The team’s ability to reload over the years is evident so I can’t see the Broncos slipping out of the playoff picture.
With that said, Plano West’s lone loss in 2015 was to Boyd (the teams tied in their other faceoff), and with far more returners in the mix for 2016; I would give the initial edge in 6-6A to the Wolves. West made it to the second round of the playoffs last year before being ousted by Coppell.
2. Who’s the preliminary favorite in 6-6A girls soccer?
Justin Thomas: District 6-6A was widely regarded as the strongest and deepest girls soccer district in the state last year despite failing to advance a team to the regional tournament.
That will likely change in 2016 with perennial powers Hebron, West, Boyd and Marcus stocked with young talent returning from their 2015 versions.
The same can be said for Allen, which will be seeking a fourth consecutive postseason berth with 11 all-district selections returning, including four first-teamers and a superlative winner.
The Lady Marauders were the lone aforementioned team to miss out on the postseason last year, but with nine all-district performers back, Marcus could be primed to make a run. However, just two of those returners will be seniors, and that lack of experience could prove challenging in a district as seasoned with postseason success as 6-6A.
Much of that resides with West, where the Lady Wolves bowed out in the area round in 2015 following three consecutive appearances in the state tourney with two titles. But on paper, West’s returning talent doesn’t figure to stack up with the other contenders despite the presence of reigning MVP Abby Grace Cooper.
Boyd (12 all-district players) may possess the best mix of veterans and underclassmen, but will that be enough to vault the Lady Broncos from third place to elite status in 6-6A?
Hebron may have a lot to say about that. The Lady Hawks are just one year removed from a state title, bring back 13 all-district performers — many of which were key cogs in the run to state — and finished atop the league standings last season.
As of now, Hebron is still the team to beat in 6-6A on the pitch.
3. Which 6-6A school will boast the best student section in 2015-16?
Ethan Grant: Just about every school in 6-6A can get its students out for Friday night lights, but it’s the winter and spring sports that separate the dedicated fans from the straight-up sports junkies.
In those sports, it’s West that does a bang-up job of showing up night-in and night-out for their Wolves. That trend is especially prevalent on the basketball court, where the West student section is next to none in 6-6A. Between the choreographed chants and impromptu skits during intermissions in a game, the Wolves are a clear class above, no doubt in part because the majority of their programs compete at a high level in the district.
As mentioned, it doesn’t take much searching to find a great student section for football games. Plano Senior and Allen also come to mind on the gridiron.
One team to potentially watch with respect to the student section rankings is Flower Mound. The Jaguars have a number of sports in which they have a legit shot to make it to the state tournament (volleyball, girls basketball, baseball, softball) and the games I managed to cover the team this year, had a strong showing of support regardless of the sport.
That said, the student section rankings still run through West. It would take a truly creative, passionate, season-long effort for one of the other eight programs to dethrone the Wolves.
4. Which program gets the better of the rivalry on the baseball diamond: Flower Mound or Flower Mound Marcus?
Justin Thomas: With a combined eight appearances in the regional quarterfinals or better over the past seven seasons, including four apiece, both the Flower Mound and Marcus baseball programs have displayed the ability to consistently reload.
Next year figures to be no different, as the two perennial contenders gun for top-two finishes in district for the fourth consecutive seasons, respectively.

Early indications point to Flower Mound — which finished 2015 with a perfect 16-0 mark in district — remaining as the favorite, however.
The Marauders were perhaps hit by graduation harder than the Jaguars, losing four superlative winners and two all-district performers. Among those are front-line starting pitchers Jack Cushing and Ethan Nichols.
Although Flower Mound lost starter Sean Wymer as well, first-team selections Parker Scott (5-0, 0.66 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 31.2 innings) and Caleb Killian (4-0, 1.14 ERA, 49 strikeouts in 30.2 innings) will still provide the Jaguars with a formidable one-two combination on the mound.
5. Which program gets the better of the rivalry on the girls basketball court: Plano West or Flower Mound?
Matt Welch: The best thing going on the 6-6A girls hardwood next season was already going to be the battle for supremacy between nationally ranked phenoms Lauren Cox and Natalie Chou – and that was before West and Flower Mound’s dramatic trilogy in 2014-15.
The Lady Wolves technically got the better end of the duel, 2-1, but hardly came away from the season feeling like victors after the Lady Jaguars eliminated West from the playoffs in the regional finals.
That win marked Flower Mound’s first over the Lady Wolves since November 2009, which should lend a bit of clarity as to how the 2015-16 head-to-head series between the two could play out.
From a roster composition standpoint, both teams graduated two starters – Sydney Skinner and Kyrie McNeil for West; Kayla Mount and Courtney Fields for Flower Mound – and return the majority of their 2014-15 squads. Each squad has multiple talented underclassmen that should impress in elevated roles this season.
But in assuming both West and Flower Mound enter 2015-16 on relatively level ground in terms of gains and losses from the previous season, it’s hard not to give the benefit of the doubt to the Lady Wolves.
What West has had working in its favor for years is a blend of speed, shooting and athleticism that operates within a tried-and-true system as perennially well as any program in the state. It’s also worked particularly well against the Lady Jaguars, who the Lady Wolves had defeated 10 consecutive times – five during Cox’s tenure with the program – prior to the 2015 regional finals.
That’s enough consistency to suggest West has the better shot at gaining the upper hand between the two next season.
6. Which athletes are primed to make the greatest leap from 2014-15 to 2015-16?
Matt Welch: Chris Giles, Plano West boys basketball
There are few players within the district more compelling in 2015-16 than the Wolves’ two-year swingman.
Currently tabbed as the No. 11 player in the state for the Class of 2017 by Rivals, Giles developed into a steady two-way force to complement the Wolves’ arsenal of nationally revered prospects over the past two seasons.
With names like Tyler Davis, D.J. Hogg and Mickey Mitchell off to college, Giles now becomes the face of West hoops during the final half of his varsity tenure. With that kind of opportunity, it’s tough to find a player in 6-6A better positioned to turn in a career year across the board than Giles.
Justin Thomas: Connor Lee, Flower Mound football
The Jaguars lost the services of leading tackler Tyson Spencer to graduation, but head coach Dane Johnson is confident the dynamic underclassman is capable of filling the void. If Johnson’s encouraging words aren’t enough, Lee’s bloodlines instill more confidence. The linebacker is the brother of former standout running back Hunter Lee.
Ethan Grant: Miklo Smalls, Plano East football
As a junior, Smalls will be given the keys to the offense like never before. With a trio of wide receivers likely bound for the collegiate ranks in two years and a handful of running backs flanking him in the backfield, look for Smalls to put up huge numbers in the Panthers’ offense, likely earning him comparisons to top dual-threat quarterbacks throughout the state in the process.
Bold prediction: A 3,000-yard passing, 1,000-yard rushing season won’t be out of the question for Smalls.
Jackson Long: Grant Restmeyer, McKinney Boyd football
Restmeyer should burst onto the scene in 2015. Last season, the Broncos’ offense belonged to running back Dedrick Scrivens.
With Scrivens’ graduation and Restmeyer having proven to be quite accurate last season (2,100 yards, 24 touchdowns, two interceptions), the Boyd attack will shift to the air. With plenty of returning targets, Restmeyer is set to be one of the district’s top passers in 2015.

**Super B** · 07-14-2015, 06:25 PM

That's a lot of questions.

**JagFan** · 07-15-2015, 06:09 AM

Originally posted by Super B

That's a lot of questions.

Lol yes it is. Bored and ready to get the season going.

**JagFan** · 07-23-2015, 08:11 AM

Week 7:http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...8989460c6.html
1. Who’s the preliminary favorite in boys basketball?
Matt Welch: Needless to say, this question is nowhere near the open-and-shut case that it was heading into last season.
There isn’t a ready-made state title contender ready to obliterate everything in its path like Plano West, which should only intensify the drama in a district where parity could be even more prevalent.
The Wolves should still be a solid team though, despite graduating maybe the most talented senior class ever rostered by a Plano ISD basketball program. They’ve still got the best overall player in the district in junior Chris Giles, talented varsity lettermen like Japheth Mengistu and Emeka Obukwelu and incoming players from a successful junior varsity team.
Despite graduating their leading scorers, Plano East and Hebron should be well-stocked for playoff contention by respectively returning four and five all-district selections.
Yet if there’s a preliminary front-runner in sight on the 6-6A boys hardwood, don’t overlook Allen.
Like any other team in the district, the Eagles have questions of their own to iron out after graduating the all-state duo of Olin Carter and Nick Rutherford, but there’s a foundation in place with plenty of promise.
Seniors Hans Burwitz and Myles Nesbitt proved to be capable contributors during the Eagles’ run to the regional finals, which meant placing second in 6-6A despite Rutherford missing the majority of district due to injury.
Allen did so thanks to one of the deepest rosters in 6-6A, and has another year of experience to look forward to from role players like seniors Jake Herrin, Ben Dixon and sophomore Jevon Jones.
Couple that with head coach Jeff McCullough’s penchant for maximizing the talent at his disposal, and the Eagles could well be the team to beat this season.
2. Who’s the preliminary favorite in girls basketball?
Justin Thomas: The top two teams in the district return two of the top players in the state after a 2014-15 season that saw West and Flower Mound finish first and second, respectively, in 6-6A before squaring off in the Class 6A Region I final.
With Lauren Cox and Natalie Chou back in the fold for their senior seasons, the Lady Jaguars and Lady Wolves again figure to be the teams to beat.
Both squads suffered minimal losses to graduation, though those that departed were critical pieces, including Sydney Skinner leaving West for Harvard and the Lady Jaguars losing the services of senior guards Courtney Fields and Kayla Mount to graduation.
Those losses figure to impact Flower Mound more in terms of leadership and perimeter shooting as Callie Owens and Morgann Yancey are more than capable of taking on greater roles in the West attack.
But while the Lady Wolves may have the more balanced team, the presence of Cox — the nation’s No. 1 recruit — keeps the Lady Jaguars squarely in the mix.
Factor in more improvement from the center, who is rumored to be mastering a hook shot this offseason, as well as the continued development of seniors Kenzie Grill and Marin Mills and sophomore post Melissa Johnstone and Flower Mound is the team to beat after taking the regional title last season.
However, both teams have goals that extend far beyond sitting atop the 6-6A standings, and the Lady Jaguars demonstrated in 2015 that finishing first in district isn’t necessarily a predictor of which squad will be the last team standing in the playoffs.
3. What are some of the potential state title contenders across all sports in 6-6A?
Jackson Long: Defending state champions deserve the benefit of the doubt, thusly Allen football, West boys basketball, Hebron girls cross country and Allen wrestling should be considered state title contenders in 2015-16.
The reality is that West’s hoops lineup will reset after its stars graduated and the Wolves are not in the conversation for a repeat year. Everyone knows that Allen loses Kyler Murray, but the Eagles are still nationally ranked and among the top three or four 6A programs in state. The Lady Hawks bring back five of seven from last year’s cross country squad, but I wouldn’t project another title. Allen wrestling – while not technically in 6-6A – is gearing up for another big year.
Allen girls golf, West boys golf, West tennis, Lewisville softball, plus Flower Mound and West girls basketball all had stellar seasons last year, but came short of a title – and that’s not to discount the talent on teams like Hebron girls soccer and Flower Mound baseball. A new year brings a new opportunity for all those programs.
I would project Allen wrestling to win the whole thing, as well as West girls basketball – spurred by the efforts of senior Natalie Chou. I think this is DeSoto’s year on the gridiron (finally), but would not be shocked in the least if Allen won its fourth championship in a row.
4. Which players are likely to lead District 6-6A in scoring in both boys and girls basketball?
Ethan Grant: On the girls side, look for it to be a two-woman race between West’s Natalie Chou and Flower Mound’s Lauren Cox. Individually, both averaged over 20 points per game, making them two of the highest scoring players in the area, as well as the district.
Although names such as Marcus’ Alexus Jones, East’s Andrea Martinez and others put up more than respectable numbers in the scoring department, it would be shocking if anyone other than Chou and Cox again battled it out while filling it up.
There will be a full-scale changing of the guard on the boys side, where virtually all of the top scorers in the district are headed for greener pastures. East’s Isaac Asrat led the way in 6-6A last year, averaging over 20 points per game, closely followed by the likes of alums such as West’s Tyler Davis and D.J. Hogg, Marcus’ Michael Mayhew, Hebron’s Tyler Williams, Lewisville’s Marquis Williams and Allen’s Olin Carter and Nick Rutherford. All are no longer eligible for high school competition.
With basically a clean slate as it relates to statistical leaders, who will rise to the top?
One name assuredly in the mix is Flower Mound senior Isaiah Brown, who came into his own last season as a scoring option alongside Connor Green and Jake Feickert. Brown has a strong mid-range game and will shoot the 3-pointer as well, making him a candidate to ascend to the top of the rankings. Others to watch in the scoring category include East’s Chris Parker and West’s Chris Giles, the latter of whom will be given the keys to the Wolves’ program in the fall.
5. What are the odds of either the Plano West boys or Flower Mound girls returning to the state tournament?
Matt Welch: Getting there last season was tough enough as is, given the quality of competition lurking in Region I – a brunt the Wolves and Lady Jaguars felt throughout their respective playoff runs.
A return venture to San Antonio figures to be exponentially tougher for West, which returns just five players from last year’s Class 6A state title team. Of that lot, only one (Giles) was a part of the Wolves’ playoff rotation.
West will still have talent next season, but in a region that still harbors programs like DeSoto and Cedar Hill, not to mention the hurdles within the Wolves’ own district, just making the playoffs will be a challenging endeavor for the reigning champs.
The light at the end of the tunnel is a bit clearer for the Lady Jaguars, if for no other reason than the presence of Cox – the best player in the country and a one-woman game-changer that no team in the state can slow.
Cox should have ample support next season as well, as Flower Mound returns nearly two-thirds of its state semifinalist roster. The West girls remain a serious threat and Duncanville will be dangerous in its own right, but the Lady Jaguars have the foundation in place to warrant a spot in the state tourney discussion within Region I.
6. Will there be any longstanding effects on basketball crowds in the wake of last season’s Plano East-Flower Mound sign scandal?
Ethan Grant: Plano ISD and Lewisville ISD effectively squashed this public relations nightmare by working together in the wake of a photograph taken during a Panthers-Jaguars game last February. Other than a few heated messages on social media and huge crowds at the rematch later that month – featuring a unity-laden message on free T-shirts – nothing too drastic came of the issue.
At least next season, I think we will see administration, staff and on-site security take a more active role in basketball crowds next season, particularly in any game featuring East and Flower Mound.
For starters, signs could be added to the list of banned objects at 6-6A games. If that’s seen as too drastic, someone will have to screen said signs beforehand before students can bring them into the gym. The signs used in the game in question were from the cheerleaders, per the school district, so consider a passing of those signs into the stands taboo from now on as well.
I also think adults and those close enough to the action will listen for offensive obscenities being said from the student sections and try to head off any potential controversies that might arise, particularly at a venue like Marcus or Flower Mound, where student sections can wind up being only a section apart from each other.
All that said, I think the most longstanding thing to come out of the sign scandal will be personal awareness. Whether the students who held up “White” and “Power” did so maliciously is irrelevant here; what matters is that the unfortunate action serves as a warning to others potentially considering toeing the line between being a rowdy fan and being a social pariah. Here’s hoping students in the future err on the side of the former.

**JagFan** · 07-30-2015, 10:12 AM

Week 8: http://starlocalmedia.com/allenameri...ea60c4ac6.html
1. Who’s the preliminary favorite in 6-6A baseball?
Justin Thomas: Coming off an unbeaten run through 6-6A competition, and with a pair of all-district first-teamers slotted atop the rotation (Parker Scott and Caleb Killian), Flower Mound’s baseball team will again be a tough out. Factor in the return of catcher Nick Thornquist and outfielder Skyler Cox, as well as the ability to consistently reload and the Jaguars appear to be the team to beat.
However, there are plenty clubs with the capability of ending Flower Mound’s recent reign.
Should Hebron find capable arms to replace the loss of David Rodriguez, the Hawks may boast the most talented lineup in the district. Michael Neustifter and Zach DeLoach are first-teamers that provide an intimidating presence at the plate, but will also likely be asked to increase their workload on the mound. Seniors Derek Mueller and Evan Alexander give the Hawks an all-district presence at every spot in the outfield and head coach Steve Stone and the Hawks have plenty more talent in tow.
Marcus has been about as consistent as a team can be over the past five-plus seasons. The Marauders have more talent to replace than maybe any squad in the state, but head coach Jeff Sherman is optimistic based on the depth he saw last year and the success of sub-varsity teams.
Plano Senior, meanwhile, is coming off a playoff berth of its own right and returns all-district talent in outfielder A.J. Liu, pitcher Jacob Mattox and utility player Brett Hudspeth.
And lest we forget about McKinney Boyd and Allen, who missed out on the postseason in 2015 — no shame in that in 6-6A — but were highly regarded entering their respective campaigns.
2. Who’s the preliminary favorite in 6-6A softball?
Jackson Long: You can’t come much closer to a state championship without actually winning it than Lewisville did last season. The Farmers fell in the Class 6A title game after Katy knocked a walk-off single with the bases loaded to nab the crown. Lewisville came up just shy of its second championship in three years.
Lewisville will be in good shape to make another big postseason push as pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch returns as an ace from the circle. The LSU commit led her team to second place in 6-6A last season.
Also contending in the district will be last year’s champion, Flower Mound, which went 15-1 in district play. The Lady Jaguars were bounced in the third round of the 2015 playoffs.
Flower Mound has won its district three years running, so watch for a close battle between the Lady Jaguars and Lewisville for the 6-6A title in 2016.
3. Which first-year head coach within the district will have the most successful debut?
Ethan Grant: As one might expect, there were a number of coaching changes within 6-6A during the offseason, most notably on the gridiron, where Scott Smith took over at Plano West, and the girls basketball court, where Jordan Davis comes to Marcus from Celina.
But for this answer, look to the pitch.
West’s new girls soccer coach, Tara Balogh, follows a long line of success with the program.
All four of her predecessors, including the latest one, Allie Rogosheske, took a Lady Wolves team to the state tournament. The previous three all won at least one state championship, highlighted by the program’s initial coach, Karen Hunnicutt, winning three straight from 2000-02.
Balogh will have to write her own legacy at West, but her experience under Rogosheske the past two seasons and her playing skins on the wall will certainly aid her in her attempt to become the fifth coach to take a West team to state.
Also aiding her in her first go-round is a talented roster, headlined by reigning district MVP Abby Grace Cooper. Sure, the Lady Wolves lost talented seniors such as Ashley Smith, Shannon Ballard and Kylie Burns, but being in a hotbed for soccer will certainly help the squad reload, as will the return of Lakyn Pope, Grace Waugh and goalie Mariel Gordon.
It certainly won’t be easy for Balogh, with Hebron returning a high number of starters and both Marcus and Allen boasting favorable underclassmen talent, but West has a tradition and expectation to uphold, and its new head coach has some prior on-job training to keep the Lady Wolves near the top of the 6-6A heap.
4. By that same token, which first-year head coach within the district has their work cut out for them the most?
Matt Welch: It’s never an easy task when taking over a basketball program coming off a single-digit-win season, and perhaps even more so when that job marks a head coach’s first at the varsity level.
Lewisville head girls basketball coach Sally Skeldon will look to clear each of those hurdles in her inaugural season with the Lady Farmers later this year.
Although Lewisville undoubtedly took its lumps last season in the last of Charlotte Jones’ 11 years with the program, finishing eighth in District 6-6A, the Lady Farmers shouldn’t lack for continuity in 2015-16. The team returns its top four scorers, led by junior JaKeiya Morgan and senior Naomi Hawkins, and has an established tradition of consistency in amassing playoff appearances in six of the past nine seasons.
Skeldon is hardly walking into a cellar dweller, but immediate returns for any first-year head coach will be easier said than done in a district as deep as 6-6A. That applies to girls basketball, where West, Flower Mound, Plano, Plano East, Allen and Marcus all return healthy amounts from teams that were in the thick of the playoff discussion.
Lewisville should be improved this season, but the depth of 6-6A could make those gains a bit tougher to reflect in the win-loss columns.
Then again, similar circumstances applied last season to East’s Cherilyn Morris – who wound up guiding the Lady Panthers to the playoffs one year after the team failed to win a district game – so a quick turnaround for a first-year girls basketball coach in 6-6A wouldn’t exactly be unprecedented.
5. What are a few of the most intriguing district matchups to look forward to in 2015-16?
Justin Thomas: Showdowns on the hard-court for various reasons (high-profile recruits and off-the-court issues) have already been well-chronicled in this series, so we’ll stray away from hoops this go around.
Instead, we’ll start on the gridiron. Time will tell if anyone can challenge Allen on the scoreboard, but the best individual matchup may occur in late September when Eagles’ tackle Greg Little — the state’s top-rated player — will likely be tasked with slowing unanimous all-district performer and Marcus senior defensive end Andrew Fitzgerald — who is coming off a season with seven sacks, 16 tackles-for-loss and 22 quarterback hurries.
An improved East squad, meanwhile, should add plenty more intrigue to the second installment of the McCullough Bowl when the Panthers square off against Plano.
Much more team-related intrigue will be available during the fall, notably cross country showdowns between Marcus and Hebron (who jockeyed for not only the top spot in the district, but in the state throughout the 2014 season) and volleyball tilts between Hebron and Boyd.
Turn the calendar and you’ll likely be able to find a stellar boys or girls soccer match by pulling two schools out of a hat.
On the diamond, meanwhile, pitting the staff of Flower Mound versus the bats of Hebron, as well as the budding softball rivalry between the Lewisville and Flower Mound, should be treats for viewers.
6. Name an athlete in 6-6A that could succeed in a sport he or she doesn’t currently play at the varsity level?
Matt Welch: Allen star offensive lineman Greg Little put basketball on the back-burner last season, but should the 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle so desire, he could carve out a role on the hardwood for the Eagles in due time.
Near the top of any scout’s breakdown on Little is praise for his footwork and lateral movement. Given the tight quarters he operates within on the line of scrimmage, that kind of mobility would translate well to the basketball court.
And if his film is any indication, Little is a monster in 1-on-1 situations. Good luck to the rest of 6-6A trying to get position on Little for a rebound.
Justin Thomas: Flower Mound standout girls basketball and volleyball player Lauren Cox also has district and area titles in discus and shot put under her belt. And that was from her freshman season. I’m guessing those distances would have increased a tad over the past two-plus years. But if that seems like a copout, how about Marcus’ Kaden Smith on the basketball court? Got ya.
Ethan Grant: East junior linebacker Anthony Hines III has over 70 collegiate offers in football. Could he garner that much attention in wrestling?
I’d wager yes, namely because it’s Hines’ pure athleticism and body type that continue to make recruiters salivate over his potential. He’d have to drop weight from his current mark of 227 pounds, but with a few months under East head coach Al Koebke, I could envision Hines finishing top four at 195 at the District 8-6A meet, at least.
Jackson Long: Boyd track star Aaliyah Miller has demonstrated the speed, endurance and mental fortitude to excel as an athlete. She wins in practically any distance run she competes in, and she has the gold medals to prove it.
While her prowess with a softball bat or her ability to shoot a jump shot are unknown, it wouldn’t be hard to envision here natural athletic ability translating to any sport she plays.

66 questions for District 6-6A

66 questions for District 6-6A

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