GAMES
RANKINGS
KICK OFF: 5A Boys Soccer repping H-Town in Rd. 1 of UIL Playoffs
The UIL Postseason Soccer is finally upon us.
Throughout the Winter season, several teams have shined on the pitch and now is the time for them to prove they have what it takes to go the distance and reach the State Tournament in Georgetown, TX within the next month.
Fortunately for Houston, there are numerous teams that show tremendous potential to reach that point.
Here are the clubs that will be representing H-Town between this Thursday and Saturday, in the opening round (Bi-District) of the UIL Playoffs.
5A Boys Soccer
*Record Format: W-L-T (Tournament games not included)
*List is ordered alphabetically
A&M Consolidated Tigers
2022-23: 10-3-1/Finished 2nd in District 21-5A
Head Coach: Jarrod Southern
Bi-District Matchup: v. Belton
Angleton Wildcats
2022-23: 10-1-6/District 18-5A Champions (8-1-3)
Head Coach: Frank Echartea
Bi-District Matchup: v. Baytown Lee
Baytown Lee Ganders
2022-23: 6-4-4/Finished 4th in District 17-5A
Head Coach: Jay Langlois
Bi-District Matchup: v. Angleton
Baytown Sterling Rangers
2022-23: 8-4-3/Finished 3rd in District 17-5A
Head Coach: Bryan Hayman
Bi-District Matchup: v. La Porte
Crosby Cougars
2022-23: 9-3-2/Finished 2nd in District 17-5A
Head Coach: Nathan Helburg
Bi-District Matchup: v. Santa Fe
Dayton Broncos
2022-23: 7-7-2/Finished 4th in District 16-5A
Head Coach: Jed Garner
Bi-District Matchup: v. Whitehouse
Fort Bend Kempner Cougars
2022-23: 11-1-3/District 20-5A Champions (10-1-3)
Head Coach: Ezequiel Garcia
Bi-District Matchup: v. Milby
Friendswood Mustangs
2022-23: 7-7-4/Finished 4th in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Stephen Peter
Bi-District Matchup: v. Goose Creek Memorial
Fulshear Chargers
2022-23: 10-4-3/Finished 2nd in District 20-5A
Head Coach: Art Trevino
Bi-District Matchup: v. Galena Park
Galena Park Yellowjackets
2022-23: 12-5-3/Finished 2nd in District 19-5A
Head Coach: Shannon Summers
Bi-District Matchup: v. Fulshear
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
2022-23: 13-0-2/District 17-5A Champions (9-0-1)
Head Coach: William Freeman
Bi-District Matchup: v. Friendswood
Kingwood Park Panthers
2022-23: 8-4-1/Finished 3rd in District 16-5A
Head Coach: Christian Boehm
Bi-District Matchup: v. Longview
Lake Creek Lions
2022-23: 8-5-2/Finished 4th in District
Head Coach: George Hourahan
Bi-District Matchup: v. Waco
Lamar Consolidated Mustangs
2022-23: 8-8-1/Finished 4th in District 20-5A
Head Coach: George Fenske
Bi-District Matchup: v. Houston Wisdom
La Porte Bulldogs
2022-23: 9-4-2/Finished 2nd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Adam Meadows
Bi-District Matchup: v. Baytown Sterling
Madison Marlins
2022-23: 5-4-1/Finished 4th in District 19-5A
Head Coach: Jin-Hua Lu
Bi-District Matchup: v. Rosenberg Terry
Magnolia West Mustangs
2022-23: 10-1-5/Finished 2nd in District 21-5A
Head Coach: Jonathan Kauffman
Bi-District Matchup: v. Waco University
Milby Buffs
2022-23: 11-7/Finished 3rd in District 19-5A
Head Coach: Jose Chavez-Madrid
Bi-District Matchup: v. Fort Bend Kempner
Santa Fe Indians
2022-23: 7-4-7/Finished 3rd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Josh Kluka
Bi-District Matchup: v. Crosby
Terry Rangers
2022-23: 11-3-2/Finished 3rd in District 20-5A
Head Coach: Michael Bevins
Bi-District Matchup: v. Houston Madison
Wisdom Generals
2022-23: 18-0/District 19-5A Champions
Head Coach: Fidel Andrade
Bi-District Matchup: v. Lamar Consolidated
CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP WITH THE UIL 5A BOYS BRACKETS (Regions 1 & 2)
CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP WITH THE UIL 5A BOYS BRACKETS (Regions 3 & 4)
VYPE U: Kingwood & Kingwood Park Play for a Cause
Kingwood and Kingwood Park high schools have a special rivalry. They share a community, and many of the students know each other through extracurriculars including club sports. Their athletic programs, however, rarely get to compete, as Kingwood is a 6A school and K-Park a 5A school per UIL conference classifications. However, oftentimes the neighboring schools' teams will arrange to face each other in non-district games.
The men's soccer programs traditionally host a Charity Cup, benefitting the Shriners Hospital for Children Houston. Though the game has not taken place every year since its inception due to scheduling challenges and unfortunate weather, Kingwood's Coach Jennings says that the event is, "usually the first game [they] try to lock in on the schedule."
The Shriners Hospital for Children Houston is the chosen charity. The hospital provides life-changing pediatric care mainly for neuromusculoskeletal conditions and burn injuries among other healthcare needs. In the past, the athletes have been able to go tour the hospital and deliver the collected toy donations to the kids. This year, however, the boys will not be able to enter due to COVID-19 safety risks. They were also not able to do a toy drive, but they still had a collection box for donations that will go to families to use for needs such as food, transportation, and housing. Jennings wished to promote the Shriners Hospital for Children website at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org for those who would like to learn more about the organization.
K-Park's Coach Searle says that, "all the players look forward to playing this game." They get to play against guys they have known outside of school for years, generally in front of a larger community crowd than usual, and for a special cause.
The 2020 Charity Cup took place on the chilly evening of Friday, December 18th, with K-Park coming out victorious by a score of 4-1.
The first playing of the Kingwood versus K-Park Charity Cup was in the 2014-2015 season. Coach Jennings brought the idea from his former program. They hosted a similar charity game annually with their neighboring school, and Jennings wanted to carry on the tradition and introduce it to Kingwood. He sees it as a great opportunity to get the community involved for a good cause and, "a great opportunity to showcase more than just soccer" Searle said that he was "fully on board" when Jennings approached him with the idea.
Jennings said that, "the impact on the boys after learning about their effort humbles them a little and gives them something to be proud of." He emphasized that, "beyond the competitiveness and sportsmanship, the boys will be in service of others and will have an impact beyond the pitch." To Jennings, this, "give[s] meaning to the game beyond a win or loss." Searle was on the same page, saying that the event helps them, "show there is more to this world than playing a game", adding that, "giving back to the community shows that our programs care."