The volleyball and football teams are gearing up for another standout season.  Volleyball is currently 10 and 3, and the football team will play the first game of the season against Kaufman at home next Friday.

“I love the start of the school year and one of the biggest reasons has to do with our athletic seasons starting,” Principal Jeremy Chilek said. “I love to watch our students compete and am excited about the success of our teams, starting with volleyball and football.”

The football team begins preparation for the season in December during offseason. They practice every  day and condition by lifting weights and running which extends to the summer with the Performance Course workouts.

“We prepare with a lot of hard work,” head football coach Chris Cochran said. “Our coaches put a great plan together to push our guys harder than they’ve ever been pushed.”

Many of the standout players for this year include Clint Thurman (QB), Marcus Field (Rec), Wyatt Parker (RB), Jake Curbow (DL), Carson Plunkett (DL), and Casey Poe (OL). These players have excelled based on their performance and dedication.

“Up to this point, we love how our guys have worked and are coming together,” Cochran said. “We haven’t played anyone yet so it’s hard to tell, but we are expecting some great things from this group.”

The volleyball team played a dual match where they beat Kaufman in 3 and Greenville in 4. They also played in a tournament where they qualified for the championships.

“I’m very excited about the year,” head volleyball coach Jessica Camp said. “The girls have started off strong and are very mature in their game.”

In the tournament, they beat Bullard, Troup, and Pittsburgh on the first day. On the second day, they beat Gilmer, Bryan, and Rudder, but lost to China Springs, and on the third day, they placed second and lost to Texas High in the championship.

“I feel great about the past few games,” junior Reagan Hope said. “Our team always gives 100% no matter what. It’s going to be a good season.”

The team prepares for the season throughout the summer at Fusion. They complete one to two days of skills each week.

“The girls have worked hard on and off the clear to build team unity and confidence in the team,” Camp said. “We have a lot of team players and they genuinely play as a team. It takes everyone to make it work.”

The volleyball team will play their next game against Corsicana Tuesday at home. Their goal is to reach the district championship and pass round two of playoffs.

“We are excited about representing this school and community and ask that you all come support us throughout the season,” Cochran said. “We need you there.”