Sports > Schools
Pitch Perfect: Soccer again proves it is best sport PISD has to offer
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
It is widely believed that football is king in the city of Plano.
And that is almost true as it is actually futbol that rules the Plano ISD athletic scene by nearly every measurable component.
"I think a big part of the reason for the city's success in soccer is because Plano got in on the ground floor," said Dawn Crow, Plano East girls head coach. "The first year you could have a varsity soccer team, Plano did, which has a lot to do with the history and tradition this city has established."
PISD has had a great deal of success in a variety of sports.
But when compared, it's a case of anything those other sports can do, soccer can do better.
"This area has always been a hotbed for soccer with such talented players," said Jennifer Grubb, former West girls head coach and former Plano player. "And the tradition is so big too; it started when my brothers and I played. You had players getting to or winning state and once you are there, you want to do it again."
PISD has seven state football championships, all won by Plano Senior.
With the Plano West girls' 1-0 state finals triumph over Katy Seven Lakes on Saturday, PISD soccer teams have won 15 state titles in the past 26 years with the Plano boys, Plano girls and Lady Wolves all having won championships. On the boys side, the Wildcats lead the state in all classifications with six titles. On the girls side, the Lady Wolves are tied for the state lead at any classification with five titles and the Lady Wildcats are third with four championships.
If that balance isn't enough, the other three varsity PISD teams (West boys, East girls and East boys) have all been to the Class 5A State Tournament.
PISD won a MaxPreps National Championship in 2008 courtesy of the West baseball team.
The Plano boys, Plano girls and West girls have all been lauded by various outlets as their national titlists through the years.
The Plano boys and West girls basketball teams snagged state titles within a week of one another in 2006 while the Plano boys and West girls won dual championships on the same day in 2000.
The UIL's history of awarded state soccer titles goes back to 1983 and the PISD has had the best team of the decade in every decade since then.
The Plano girls were the best of the 1980s (taking titles in 1986, 1988 and 1989), the Plano boys were tops in the 1990s (capturing crowns in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995) and the best came from the West girls in the 2000s (winning championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007).
With West winning state this season and set to bring the bulk of its team back next year, the Lady Wolves may have the inside track to being the team of the 2010s.
"I think a big part of it is there is always amazing coaching," said Logan Beal, West senior forward. "We have great coaches now and there were great coaches before I got here; they let us be who we are."
PISD has had strong coaches both short- and long-term.
Bob Weir, who retired with the completion of the 2012 season, and Diane Davey have led the respective boys and girls programs at Plano for the better part of 30 years each. And the only three coaches the West girls have had (Karen Hunnicutt, Grubb and Carley Phillips) have all won state titles with the Lady Wolves and at least been to the state tournament as a PISD player.
"It seems like the soccer is improving in Plano every year," Phillips said. "The players get involved at a young age and there seems to be great soccer at every level coming up through the system."
And that is almost true as it is actually futbol that rules the Plano ISD athletic scene by nearly every measurable component.
"I think a big part of the reason for the city's success in soccer is because Plano got in on the ground floor," said Dawn Crow, Plano East girls head coach. "The first year you could have a varsity soccer team, Plano did, which has a lot to do with the history and tradition this city has established."
PISD has had a great deal of success in a variety of sports.
But when compared, it's a case of anything those other sports can do, soccer can do better.
"This area has always been a hotbed for soccer with such talented players," said Jennifer Grubb, former West girls head coach and former Plano player. "And the tradition is so big too; it started when my brothers and I played. You had players getting to or winning state and once you are there, you want to do it again."
PISD has seven state football championships, all won by Plano Senior.
With the Plano West girls' 1-0 state finals triumph over Katy Seven Lakes on Saturday, PISD soccer teams have won 15 state titles in the past 26 years with the Plano boys, Plano girls and Lady Wolves all having won championships. On the boys side, the Wildcats lead the state in all classifications with six titles. On the girls side, the Lady Wolves are tied for the state lead at any classification with five titles and the Lady Wildcats are third with four championships.
If that balance isn't enough, the other three varsity PISD teams (West boys, East girls and East boys) have all been to the Class 5A State Tournament.
PISD won a MaxPreps National Championship in 2008 courtesy of the West baseball team.
The Plano boys, Plano girls and West girls have all been lauded by various outlets as their national titlists through the years.
The Plano boys and West girls basketball teams snagged state titles within a week of one another in 2006 while the Plano boys and West girls won dual championships on the same day in 2000.
The UIL's history of awarded state soccer titles goes back to 1983 and the PISD has had the best team of the decade in every decade since then.
The Plano girls were the best of the 1980s (taking titles in 1986, 1988 and 1989), the Plano boys were tops in the 1990s (capturing crowns in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995) and the best came from the West girls in the 2000s (winning championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007).
With West winning state this season and set to bring the bulk of its team back next year, the Lady Wolves may have the inside track to being the team of the 2010s.
"I think a big part of it is there is always amazing coaching," said Logan Beal, West senior forward. "We have great coaches now and there were great coaches before I got here; they let us be who we are."
PISD has had strong coaches both short- and long-term.
Bob Weir, who retired with the completion of the 2012 season, and Diane Davey have led the respective boys and girls programs at Plano for the better part of 30 years each. And the only three coaches the West girls have had (Karen Hunnicutt, Grubb and Carley Phillips) have all won state titles with the Lady Wolves and at least been to the state tournament as a PISD player.
"It seems like the soccer is improving in Plano every year," Phillips said. "The players get involved at a young age and there seems to be great soccer at every level coming up through the system."
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