Sports > Sports Blogs
Look at 8-5A go
By Cory J. Mageors, Guest Blog
In 2007, the Allen Eagles suffered a tumultuous playoff loss to Rowlett, when many thought they would go deep into the playoffs and possibly challenge for a Class 5A State Championship. Plano ended up extending its playoff run to the semifinals.
This year, not only does Allen claim, but another district foe in Wylie made it to the Division II State Championship game, only to lose to Katy.
I have heard it, and written columns about it and even began training my son to understand.
This 8-5A district, last year’s 9-5A, prepares you for the toughest of tough competition.
No matter the sport, basketball, soccer, football or golf, you are going to find a potential State Champion looming in the bunch.
Look ahead to boys basketball and Plano West is obviously a favorite for the next two years at least.
Give me any of the Plano or Allen soccer teams to make a run, and that’s just on the girls field. In fact, every girls coach in Plano and even Allen’s head coach Karen Hunnicutt has won a State Title except for Plano East coach Dawn Crow, who has four national rings from North Carolina and led East to the State Finals last year. Hunnicutt won hers with West.
Granted, Jesuit and McKinney Boyd changed the culture of this district, giving the powerhouses somebody to beat up on, but even still, you have to like the competition that is bred in 8-5A.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget about returning State and National Champs Plano West on the diamond. You think the group of seniors, juniors and sophomores that were on that team last year are going to take it easy during district play?
Maybe it is the tightness of the city layout, the fact that the Plano schools are so close and have built such big rivalries and the fact that none of them like Allen, and all of them want to pummel AHMO.
Maybe it is the fact that the coaches in this area are superb, the parents give generous support and the athletes are high-level on every scale.
Or maybe, the act of taking part in sports just brings out the cream of the crop and this area has constantly been on the rise.
Either way, congratulations to Allen for kicking off another exciting athletic season with one of the biggest wins of them all. And good luck to all of the other schools that hope to attain the same.
This year, not only does Allen claim, but another district foe in Wylie made it to the Division II State Championship game, only to lose to Katy.
I have heard it, and written columns about it and even began training my son to understand.
This 8-5A district, last year’s 9-5A, prepares you for the toughest of tough competition.
No matter the sport, basketball, soccer, football or golf, you are going to find a potential State Champion looming in the bunch.
Look ahead to boys basketball and Plano West is obviously a favorite for the next two years at least.
Give me any of the Plano or Allen soccer teams to make a run, and that’s just on the girls field. In fact, every girls coach in Plano and even Allen’s head coach Karen Hunnicutt has won a State Title except for Plano East coach Dawn Crow, who has four national rings from North Carolina and led East to the State Finals last year. Hunnicutt won hers with West.
Granted, Jesuit and McKinney Boyd changed the culture of this district, giving the powerhouses somebody to beat up on, but even still, you have to like the competition that is bred in 8-5A.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget about returning State and National Champs Plano West on the diamond. You think the group of seniors, juniors and sophomores that were on that team last year are going to take it easy during district play?
Maybe it is the tightness of the city layout, the fact that the Plano schools are so close and have built such big rivalries and the fact that none of them like Allen, and all of them want to pummel AHMO.
Maybe it is the fact that the coaches in this area are superb, the parents give generous support and the athletes are high-level on every scale.
Or maybe, the act of taking part in sports just brings out the cream of the crop and this area has constantly been on the rise.
Either way, congratulations to Allen for kicking off another exciting athletic season with one of the biggest wins of them all. And good luck to all of the other schools that hope to attain the same.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News