Sports

RANGERS, SCOTS ARE RIVALS IN NEW DISTRICT 7-6A

WTW, Hillcrest also will be part of large districts in new UIL alignment

By Todd Jorgenson

People Newspapers

Separated by just a few miles on the Dallas North Tollway, Jesuit and Highland Park are now neighbors in the new District 7-6A, too.

The idea became possible when the Scots learned they would be moving to Class 6A for the next two years. And in February, the UIL made it official with its biennial realignment announcement.

Jesuit and HP will be part of a nine-team district that includes schools from Irving ISD and Richardson ISD: Irving, Irving MacArthur, Irving Nimitz, Richardson, Richardson Berkner, Richardson Pearce, and Lake Highlands.

The district will cover only football, volleyball, and basketball, meaning it will be an eight-team league for volleyball and girls basketball, minus Jesuit. It will take effect for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.

Although an alignment has not been finalized yet for baseball, track and field, tennis, and golf, the lineup should remain consistent. New district assignments for sports such as swimming, wrestling, and soccer will be unveiled later.

Of the nine football teams, only three posted winning records last Jesuit’s new football district looks a lot like its old football district, except for one new rival. (PHOTO: ROB GRAHAM)

season — Jesuit, HP, and Lake Highlands. The Rangers and Scots will meet for the first time on the football field on Sept. 30 at Highlander Stadium.

With eight district games, the schedule will only have room for two nondistrict contests for each school. District play will begin on the weekend of Sept. 9.

From Jesuit’s perspective, the district remains unchanged from the 7-6A alignment of the past two seasons, except for the addition of HP. During that stretch, the Rangers have gone 13-1 in league play, including an undefeated run to the district title in 2021.

In Dallas ISD, W.T. White will look to extend its two-year postseason streak in a challenging nineteam football grouping in District 5-5A Div. I. The Longhorns will be matched against Bryan Adams, Molina, Sunset, Carrollton Creekview, Carrollton R.L. Turner, Mansfield Timberview, Birdville, and Richland.

Meanwhile, Hillcrest is situated in a 10-team football scrum in District 6-5A Div. II with nine other Dallas ISD rivals — Thomas Jefferson, Adamson, Conrad, Kimball, Seagoville, Spruce, Woodrow Wilson, and defending state champion South Oak Cliff. That district will be split for scheduling purposes but consolidated for standings and playoff seeding.

For basketball and volleyball, WTW and Hillcrest will be situated together in District 11-5A alongside Thomas Jefferson, Adamson, Kimball, Molina, South Oak Cliff, Sunset, and Woodrow Wilson. NEW FOOTBALL DISTRICTS

DISTRICT 7-6A Jesuit Highland Park Irving Irving MacArthur Irving Nimitz Lake Highlands Richardson Richardson Berkner Richardson Pearce

DISTRICT 5-5A (Div. I) W.T. White Bryan Adams Molina Sunset Birdville Carr. Newman Smith Carrollton R.L. Turner Mansfield Timberview Richland

DISTRICT 6-5A (Div. II) Hillcrest Thomas Jefferson Adamson Conrad Kimball Samuell Seagoville South Oak Cliff Spruce Woodrow Wilson

Covenant Seeking Sustained Success in Boys and Girls Soccer

PCP_Mar2022-Banner-1DRAFT.pdf 1 2/2/2022 2:47:04 PM Covenant is looking for another double celebration during the TAPPS state championships in early

March. (PHOTOS: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

By Todd Jorgenson

People Newspapers

Constructing a perennial soccer powerhouse at a private school of about 700 students requires adaptability and versatility.

One year after making history by winning both the boys and girls state championships in the TAPPS Division III classification — when each team beat Schertz John Paul on the same March afternoon in Round Rock — Covenant faced a daunting challenge in trying to repeat.

“We had to shift our mindset to being the defending champions,” said Covenant boys coach Jerry Clark. “That was last year. Now we have the bullseye on our back.”

Clark arrived last year to take over a program that had advanced to the state title game in four straight years, with one victory in 2018.

“When I took over, the expectations were already high,” he said. “Our approach wasn’t to change the model. We wanted to embrace the winning culture and traditions that were already established.”

It hasn’t been easy. Roster turnover, scheduling conflicts for multisport athletes, and instilling championship expectations all have been potential hurdles. However, the Knights have used an assortment of playing styles and formations while the players have been willing to learn.

Perhaps more importantly, Covenant has stayed relatively healthy, which enabled the Knights to navigate a rugged nondistrict schedule designed to pay off during postseason play.

“We always want to challenge ourselves. That keeps us ready,” Clark said. “With every run to the finals, things have to line up in your favor.”

The girls likewise appear in solid position to duplicate their success from a year ago, especially given the return of scoring sensation Kaitlin Swann, who shattered a school record with 51 goals last season as a sophomore.

Still, a year removed from the program’s first-ever title, girls coach Kirk Redding knows that consistent success is about building depth and garnering buyin from the entire roster.

“We don’t want to be just about one player,” Redding said. “We want our best players to help our other players get better too.”

The Knights lost six seniors after last year, and a younger roster struggled while playing against larger schools earlier this season. They tried to remain upbeat through some lopsided losses.

“Starting off, we didn’t look great. We had to figure things out,” he said. “It took a few games to get going. Things started to come together.”

Indeed, Covenant started rolling in the second half of the season, despite playing in a district that Redding considers the toughest in the state at the Division III level.

“The expectation is to get back,” he said. “We have a pretty good chance.”

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