2019 Winter and Spring Sports
Boys Basketball
El Paso area teams usually do very well in the UIL Basketball State Playoffs. This was not the case in 2019. Most of the area’s teams were eliminated by the Area Round in the annual state tournament. Americas was an exception as the Trail Blazers reached the Regional Quarter Finals. Clint also reached the Regional Quarter Finals before losing to Levelland .
6A
Bi District: Coronado beat Midland 69-64; Pebble Hills lost to Amarillo Tascosa 66-57; Socorro lost to Permian 55-37; and Americas beat Frenship 55-48
Area: North Crowley defeated Coronado 47-29 and Americas beat Bell 61-51.
Regional Quarter Finals: Permian defeated Americas 39-33.
5A
Bi District: Hanks beat Andress 78-73; Eastwood beat Chapin 56-42; Parkland defeated EPHS 91-65; and Eastlake beat Burges 57-50
Area: Rider defeated Hanks 61-52; Palo Duro defeated Eastwood 66-45; Caprock beat Parkland 72-47; and Monterey defeated Eastlake 51-49
4A
Bi District: San Elizario lost to Monahans 79-40; Fabens lost to Andrews 76-46; Seminole defeated Mountain View 81-36; Clint beat Pecos 88-45
Area: Clint beat Canyon 57-51
Regional Quarter Finals: Levelland beat Clint 46-44
3A
Bi District: Anthony lost to Wall 73-27
Girls Basketball
The story was the same in girls basketball. Most of the area teams were eliminated from the playoffs by the Area Round. Franklin reached the Regional Quarter Finals before being eliminated by Tascosa .
6A
Bi-District Franklin defeated Midland 52-47; Pebble Hills lost to Tascosa 60-36; Montwood lost to Frenship 63-32; and Americas lost to Odessa 48-34.
Area: Franklin defeated Arlington Bowie 40-36
Regional Quarter Finals: Franklin lost to Tascosa 63-50.
5A
Bi District: Burges beat Bel Air 52-42; Eastlake defeated Jefferson 63-58; Eastwood beat Chapin 58-51; and Andress defeated El Dorado 45-24
Area: Burges was defeated by Aledo 65-46; Amarillo beat Eastlake 87-37; Lubbock Cooper defeated Chapin 87-44; and Andress was defeated by Plain View 48-20
4A
Bi District: Mountain View defeated Fort Stockton 56-36; Andrews beat Fabens 65-26; Clint lost to Seminole 108-23; and San Elizario beat Pecos 50-33
Area: Mountain View lost to Estacado 53-46 and San Elizario lost to Hereford 60-46
3A
Bi District: Tornillo beat Brady 62-50
Area: Shallowater beat Tornillo 55-29
TAPPS Boys Basketball
6A
Bi District: Cathedral defeated Houston Village 57-50
Area: Cathedral lost to Tomball Concordia 108-74
5A
Lydia Patterson lost to Fort Worth Christian 45-38
Baseball
Baseball was much the same story as football and basketball. El Paso area teams were eliminated by the Regional Quarter Finals.
6A
Bi-District: Americas lost to Frenship 2 games to 1; Midland Lee beat Franklin 2 games to 1; Montwood swept Midland 2 games to none; and Odessa defeated Socorro 2 games to none
Area: Montwood defeated Hurst Bell 2 games to 1
Regional Quarter Finals: Odessa defeated Montwood 2 games to 1
5A
Bi-District: Bel Air defeated Canutillo 2-0; Clint Horizon defeated Andress 2-0; Eastlake defeated Jefferson 2-0; and Ysleta beat Bowie 2-0
Area: Bel Air beat Wylie 2-0 and Amarillo defeated Horizon 2-0; Lubbock Cooper defeated Eastlake 2-1 and Ysleta lost to Monahans 2-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Amarillo defeated Bel Air 2-0
4A
Bi District: Seminole defeated San Elizario 2-1; Andrews beat Mountain View 2-0; Pecos defeated Fabens ; and Clint defeated Monahans 2-0
Area: Clint lost to Estacado 2-0 and Hereford beat Pecos 2-0
Softball
El Paso area teams dominated the softball playoffs in the early 1990’s but haven’t done much since. Chapin had the best season of any team reaching the Regional Semi Finals before falling to Little Elm 4-2. Montwood made it to the 6A Area round.
6A
Bi-District: Midland defeated Americas 2-1; Odessa beat Franklin; Montwood beat Permian 2-0; and Frenship defeated Socorro 2-0
Area: Montwood lost to Trinity 5-4 in a one game playoff
5A
Bi-District: Eastwood beat Burges 6-3; Hanks defeated Andress 11-6; Eastlake defeated Jefferson 2 games to none; and Chapin beat Del Valle 15-2
Area: Wylie defeated Eastwood 2-0; Hanks lost to Lubbock Coronado 2-0; Eastlake lost to Aledo 2 to 1; and Chapin defeated Monterey 9-4
Regional Quarter Finals: Chapin defeated Aledo 8-0
Regional Semi Finals: Little Elm defeated Chapin 4-2
4A
Bi District: Fort Stockton defeated San Elizario 14-4; Clint lost to Monahans 11-0; Andrews defeated Mountain View 21-0; and Fabens lost to Seminole 16-2
Soccer
San Elizario boys repeat as 4A State Champions and Bel Air wins first 5A State Championship
El Paso area teams have routinely dominated the UIL Soccer playoffs with several teams winning state championships in the past. Coronado, Del Valle, San Elizario , and Bel Air have all won state titles. San Elizario under the leadership of coach Max Sappenfield has won 3 state titles and back to back in 2018 and 2019.
San Elizario’s Playoff Run
San Elizario compiled an 18-4-4 record this year and won six straight playoff matches after having a bye in the Bi-District round. The Eagles captured their second straight title and third in the last five years. San Elizario defeated Palestine 1-0 in the Semi Finals and beat Midlothian 1-0 in two overtimes to capture the state title. San Elizario is the only team that has beaten Palestine in the last two years and the Eagles have accomplished that twice. The winning goal in the state championship match was scored by Victor Unzueta with about 7 minutes left to play in a final 10 minute period after regulation and two overtime periods. Unzueta was named the Most Valuable Player for his winning goal.
San Elzario’s playoff run to capture the state titled included the following 6 victories and one bye:
Bi-District Bye
Area: defeated Pampa 6-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Defeated Dumas 8-0
Regional Semi Finals: Defeated Argyle 2-1
Regional Final: Defeated Stephenville 4- 2
State Semi Final: Defeated Palestine 1-0
State Final: Defeated Midlothian 1 -0 in 2 OT
Bel Air’s Playoff Run
The Bel Air Highlanders made their first appearance in the 5A state playoffs a memorable one. The Highlanders had been a 6A team previously. Bel Air compiled a 28-1 record under the leadership of coach Sergio Delgado. The Highlanders only loss came on January 22 nd to Del Valle. Bel Air was 7-0 in the playoffs and defeated two-time state champion Frisco Wakeland 2-1 to capture the 5A title. The winning goal was kicked by Ivan Arroyo with 17 minutes left in the match. Highlander goal keeper, Kevin Pena had 5 saves during the match. Arroyo was named Most Valuable Player. Bel Air’s playoff run included wins over:
Bi District: Defeated Canutillo 4-0
Area: Defeated Amarillo 3-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Defeated Eastlake 5-0
Regional Semi Finals: Defeated Burleson 3-1
Regional Finals: Defeated Lake Dallas 4 -1 in 2 overtimes
State Semi Finals: Defeated Pharr Valley View in a shootout 4-2 after finishing regulation tied 3-3
State Final: Defeated Frisco Wakeland 2-1
Boys Soccer
6A
Bi-District: Montwood was defeated by Midland 1-0; Coronado lost to Frenship 6-3; Odessa defeated Americas 2-1; and Midland Lee defeated Socorro 3-0.
5A
Bi- District: Jefferson beat Parkland 2-1; Del Valle defeated Chapin 3-2; Bel Air defeated Canutillo 4-0; and Eastlake defeated Andress 2-1
Area: Wichita Falls defeated Jefferson 1-0; Del Valle defeated Lubbock Cooper 6-1; Bel Air defeated Amarillo 3-0; and Eastlake defeated Rider 1-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Del Valle lost to Wichita Falls 2-1; Bel Air defeated Eastlake 5-0
Regional Semi Finals: Bel Air defeated Burleson 3-1
Regional Finals: Bel Air defeated Lake Dallas 4-1 in 2 ot
State Semi Finals: Bel Air defeated Pharr Valley View 4-2 in a shootout
State Championship: Bel Air defeated Frisco Wakeland 2-1
4A
Bi District: Mountain View, Clint, and San Elizario all had byes
Area: Lake View defeated Mountain View 1-0; Clint beat Canyon 5-0; and San Elizario defeated Pampa 6-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Clint beat Lake View 5-0 and San Elizario defeated Dumas 8-0
Regional Semi Finals: Stephenville beat Clint 3-1 and San Elizario defeated Argyle 2-1
Regional Finals: San Elizario defeated Stepheville 4-2
State Semi Finals: San Elizario defeated Palestine 1-0
State Championship: San Elizario defeated Midlothian 1-0 in two overtimes.
Girls Soccer
6A
Bi District: Socorro lost to Odessa 3-0; Pebble Hills lost to Permian 2-1; Americas lost to Frenship 8-0; and Franklin beat Midland 1-0
Area: Franklin defeated Bell 3-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Franklin lost to Frenship 2-1
5A
Bi District: EPHS defeated Del Valle 2-0; Eastwood beat Canutillo 3-2; El Dorado defeated Andress 5-1; and Chapin beat Bel Air 1-0
Area: El Dorado beat Wylie in double overtime 5-4; Aledo beat Chapin 5-1; Rider defeated EPHS 2-1; and Lubbock Coronado defeated Eastwood 4-0
Regional Quarter Finals: Aledo defeated El Dorado 3-2
4A
Bi District: Mountain View, Clint, and San Elizario had byes
Area: Lake View defeated Mountain View 1-0; Canyon beat Clint 5-0; and San Elizario defeated Pampa 4-1
Regional Quarter Finals: San Elizario defeated Dumas 5-0
Regional Semi Finals: Stephenville defeated San Elizario 8-1
Track and Field
Grant Levesque, Etiwe Omajuwa , Jenelle Jaeger Darkjy , Edwin Gomez, Leo Gerardo, and Brandon Seagraves Win Gold Medals
El Paso area public schools have never won a state championship in Track and Field and unfortunately that trend continued in 2019. Several area athletes did have outstanding performances at the recent UIL and TAPPS state track meets.
6A Track and Field
Grant Levesque of Coronado High School won a gold medal in the Pole Vault with a winning jump of 16 feet and 6 inches. He later finished 9th in the 110 meter hurdles. Franklin High School’s Etiwe Omajuwa won the gold medal in the 400 meter dash with a winning time of 46.51 seconds. Coronado’s Jenelle Jaeger Darakjy won the gold medal in the Girl’s 800 meter run with a winning time of 2:07.40.
Other outstanding finishes in 6A were Liam Walsh of Coronado who finished 4 th in the 800 meter run and 6 th in the 1600 meter run.
The Coronado boy’s team finished the state meet in 15 th place while Franklin took 19 th place. The Coronado girls took 16 th place.
5A Track and Field
There were no gold medals won by 5A athletes but there were still some outstanding performances. Christian Matamoros of Burges took 7 th place in the High Jump. Donta Hayes of Parkland finished 7 th in the Triple Jump. Michael Abeyta of Hanks finished 4 th in the 800 meter run and 3 rd in the 1600 meter run. Joshua White of Burges took 3 rd place in the 400 meter dash. Makeia Ray of Eastlake finished third in the High Jump. Meghan Tualamalii to the silver medal (2 nd place) in the Shot Put. Ang Maruffo Lujan of Parkland finished 5 th in the 800 meter run and Aerial Garcia of Eastlake finished 9 th in the 1600 meter run.
Hanks High School finished in 20 th place in the boy’s state rankings and Chapin and Eastlake finished 22 nd and 29 th respectively in the girl’s state rankings.
4A Track and Field-Edwin Gomez of San Elizario had an outstanding state meet. He finished 3 rd in the 3200 meter run and 3 rd in the 1600 meter run. He finished 1 st in the 800 meter run. San Elizario placed 22 nd in the team standings.
6A TAPPS Track and Field
Brandon Seagraves won two gold medals at the TAPP’s state meet. Seagraves took first place in the 1600 meter run in 4:29.48 and also in the 3200 meter run in 9:16.25. Leo Gerardo of Cathedral finished first in the 800 meter run and 6 th in the 400 meter dash. He was also part of Cathedral’s 4×400 meter Relay team that finished in 5 th place. Other relay members were Daniel Sanchez, Brandon Seagraves , Johnny Githin Amprayril , and Juan Pablo Lopez. Cathedral finished the 6A State Meet in 9 th place.
Loretto Academy took 19 th place in the 6A Girl’s meet. Marisa Garcia finished in 8 th place in the Discus Throw and Emma Presley finished in 8 th place in the Triple Jump.
El Paso area teams won 7 gold medals, 1 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals.
Golf
2019 was not a kind year for El Paso area high school golfers. No team from the area qualified for the state tournament. Only three teams from each region can compete for the state title. Eastwood had the best finish of any area team. The Troopers sent their Blue and Gold teams to the Regional meet but neither qualified for the state meet. Eastwood’s long-time coach, Kim Smith retired at the end of the school year so a new era will begin for the Troopers next school year. El Paso High and Andress also competed at the Regional meet. First day scores for the El Paso teams were Eastwood Gold 308, Eastwood Blue 375, EPHS 380, and Andress 403. The Eastwood Gold team was only 10 shots out of a playoff spot in the state tournament at the end of the first day of competition but the second day wasn’t kind.
I didn’t find any information on the internet for the 6A teams but I know that none qualified for the state tournament.
Tennis
5A Tennis
The story of El Paso area tennis is much the same as golf. I could only find one area player that qualified for the state tournament. El Paso High’s Isaac Cordova made the final 8 in boy’s singles but lost his opening match to Nederland’s Brandon Do 6-1, 6-2. Brandon Do won the state title for 5A Boy’s Singles. Still an impressive for the Tiger netter.
6A Tennis
Coronado and Franklin were the top two teams in 6A Tennis. Coronado won the district championship and Franklin finished second. Each team qualified multiple players for the Regional Tournament. Competing for Coronado were:
Mixed Doubles: Jordan Katz and Naomi Katz; Mixed Doubles: Kike Andujo and Skyler Stogner ; Boys Doubles- Alex Spurbeck and Santi Sotelo ; Girls Doubles-Ariana Lowenberg and Isabel Cardenas; and Girls Singles-Kate Gilcrease
Competing for Franklin were: Boy’s Singles-Dylan Parsley; Girl’s Singles-Isabella Sambrano ; Boy’s Doubles-Antonio Borunda and Carlos De Leon; Girl’s Doubles- Alissa Ortiz and Madeline Snell
Swimming
Cathedral Consecutive TAPPS State Swimming Championships Comes to an End
Probably the biggest story in El Paso area swimming is for something that didn’t happen. Cathedral had won the TAPPS Division I Swimming Championship every year since 1990. The Irish had won 30 straight titles and 32 over-all. That streak was stopped in 2019. Cathedral finished in 2 nd place with 283 points and placed runner up to St. Thomas High School with 292 points. Cathedral swimmers still had an outstanding meet. Xavier Navarro took 1 st place in the 100 yard freestyle and 3 rd place in the 50 yard freestyle. Manuel Armante took home a pair of bronze medals in the 100 yard butterfly and 100 yard backstroke. Adrian Prieto finished 2 nd in the 500 yard freestyle.
Loretto Academy finished the state meet in 4 th place with 142 points. Mary Furlong took a bronze medal in 200 yard Individual Medley. She also took a silver medal in the 100 yard butterfly. She finished her meet as part of Loretto’s 400 yard freestyle relay team that finished 4 th .
6A Swimming
Two Franklin High School swimmers, Marcelo Chauvet Gonzalez and Danielle Gonzales, were the El Paso area’s lone representatives in the 6A Swimming and Diving Championships. Marcelo Gonzalez competed in the 50 yard freestyle and finished in 22 nd place. Danielle Gonzalez competed in the 100 yard breaststroke where she finished in 22 nd place.
5A Swimming
The local 5A swimmers from El Paso High and Eastwood had a better day at the UIL 5A Swimming and Diving Championships but no medals were won by either school. The El Paso High girls finished 17 th at the state meet with 54 points while the Tiger boys finished in 40 th place with 13 points. The Eastwood girls finished in 26th place with 25 points while the Trooper boys finished in 23 rd place with 26 points.
5A Girls Swimming Recap:
200 yard medley relay: EPHS 5 th place (Noemi Melendez, Isabella Valles , Francesca Baca, and Mackenzie Tovar ) Eastwood 13 th place (Yesenia Calvillo , Estrella Martinez, Lauren Melendez, and Ava Fraga )
200 yard Individual Medley Eastwood Lauren Melendez 11 th place
100 yard Butterfly Noemi Melendez EPHS 6 th place and Lauren Melendez Eastwood 14 th place
200 yard Freestyle Relay Eastwood 1th place (Lauren Salas, Amirani Hernandez, Ava Fraga , Cerise Saucedo )
100 yard Backstroke El Paso High Noemi Melendez 14 th place
100 yard Breaststroke Isabella Valles EPHS 13 th place
400 yard Freestyle Relay EPHS 14 th place (Emily Lugo, Francesca Baca Noemi Melendez, Mackenzie Tovar ) and Eastwood 15 th place (Ava Fraga , Lauren Salas, Lauren Melendez, Amirani Hernandez)
5A Boys Swimming
200 yard Freestyle Eastwood Giancarlo Saint Lo 12 th place
200 yard Individual Medley Eastwood Eduardo Saint Lo 19 th place
50 yard Freestyle Eastwood Jon Michael Hollister 16 th place and EPHS Adrian Aguirre 20 th place
100 yard Butterfly EPHS Roberto Griffith 21 st place
100 yard Freestyle Eastwood Evan Vicencio 24 th place
500 yard Freestyle EPHS Roberto Griffith 16 th place and Eastwood Giancarlo Saint Lo 18 th place
200 yard Freestyle Relay EPHS 11 th place (Adrian Aguirre, Vincent Pedregon , Kevin Bohls , Roberto Griffith) and Eastwood 14 th place (Hollister, Vicencio , E. Saint lo, and G. Saint Lo)
100 yard Backstroke EPHS Adrian Aguirre 17 th place
100 yard Breaststroke Eastwood Eduardo Saint Lo 18 th place
400 yard Freestyle Relay Eastwood 10 th place ( Vicencio , Hollister, Saint lo, and Saint Lo)
Several El Paso area swimmers were named to All State teams in at least one event and most in multiple events.
Loretto Academy Mary Furlong and Celeste Hirschi ; Cathedral High Xavier Navarro, Adrian Prieto , Javier Terrazas , Manuel Armente , Elijah Villalva
EPHS Mackenzie Tovar , Noemi Melendez, Isabella Valles , Roberto Griffith, Adrian Aguirre
Eastwood Lauren Melendez, Giancarlo Saint Lo, Eduardo Saint Lo
Franklin Danielle Gonzales
Several boys and girls relay teams from each school were named to All State teams.
Wrestling
Hanks Girls win 6 th Straight 5A State Championship
The Hanks High School girls continued their 5A dynasty in Girl’s Wrestling winning their 6 th straight state title. No area school had ever won a state team title in wrestling prior to 2014. Now Hanks has done it six times in a row. Leading the way for the Lady Knights were: Isabella Gonzalez (Gold Medal 128 pounds), , Victoria Nunez (Silver Medal 110 pounds), Annette Enciso (5 th place 119 pounds), Abigail Anaya (6 th place 138 pounds), Victoria Hinojo (3 rd 148 pounds) Hanks won the state title accumulating 96.5 points.
5A Girls
Isabella Gonzalez and Danielle Saldivar win Gold Medals
Hanks 96.5 points (Team State Champion), Eastwood 35 points 13 th place, Parkland 13 th place 35 points, Jefferson 23 rd place 22 points, and Burges 25 th place 21 points.
Other 5A girls and their finishes:
Danielle Saldivar Eastwood Gold Medal 165 pounds
Zoe Hankins Parkland Silver Medal (2 nd place) 185 pounds
Skyeler Marius Chapin 4 th place 102 pounds
Eileen Macias Del Valle 5 th place 102 pounds
Stephanie Morales Parkland 6 th place 119 pounds
Kayani Ayala Burges 4 th place 148 pounds
Emily Arreola Jefferson 3 rd place 215 pounds
5A Boys
Mason Purvis wins Gold Medal
Hanks 19 th place 30 points, Chapin 24 th place 25.5 points, EPHS 31 st place 18 points, Del Valle 31 st place 18 points, Parkland 35 th place 16 points
Mason Purvis Chapin Gold Medal (1 st place) 120 pounds
Marcos Abraham Hinojosa Hanks 2 nd place 182 pounds
Javier Duchene Del Valle 3 rd place 113 pounds
Brandon Camacho EPHS 3 rd place 138 pounds
Dimitri Villanueva Parkland 4 th place 126 pounds
Corbin Phelps Hanks 6 th place 195 pounds
6A Girls
Esther Walker wins Gold Medal
Montwood 12 th place 40 points, Franklin 40 th place 8 points, Pebble Hills 40 th place 8 points
Esther Walker Montwood 1 st Place (gold medal) 95 pounds
Cassy Favela Montowood 6 th place 138 pounds
6A Boys
Franklin 5 th place 59 points, Coronado 6 th place 55 points, Montwood 21 st place 24 points
Kobe Nelms Franklin 3 rd place 126 pounds
Domenic Melendez Pebble Hills 6 th place 132 pounds
Joshua Jimenez Coronado 2 nd place 145 pounds
Kaleb Jewett Franklin 6 th place 145 pounds
Tereus Henry Montwood 2 nd place 182 pounds
David Powers Franklin 2 nd place 195 pounds
Prasad Dalvi Coronado 4 th 220 pounds
Dom Varela Coronado 4 th place 285 pounds
Final Medal Count Wrestling
1 Team State Championship
4 Individual Gold Medals
6 Individual Silver Medals
5 Individual Bronze Medals
2018-2019 Final Count
4 Team State Championships
Eastwood 5A Cross-Country
Bel Air 5A Soccer
San Elizario 4A Soccer
Hanks 5A Girls Wrestling
2 nd Place
Cathedral High Swimming Team
3 rd Place
San Elizario Cross-Country
13 Individual Gold Medals
Brandon Seagraves 1 Cross Country
Brandon Seagraves 2 Track and Field
Grant Levesque Track and Field
Jenelle Jaegar Darakjy Track and Field
Etiwe Omajuwa Track and Field
Edwin Gomez Track and Field
Leo Gerardo Track and Field
Isabella Gonzalez Wrestling
Danielle Saldivar Wrestling
Mason Purvis Wrestling
Esther Walker Wrestling
Xavier Navarro Swimming
10 Individual Silver Medals
Victoria Nunez Wrestling
Zoe Hankins Wrestling
Marcos Hinojosa Wrestling
Joshua Jimenez Wrestling
Tereus Henry Wrestling
David Powers Wrestling
Meaghan Tualamalii Track and Field
Adrian Prieto Swimming
Mary Furlong Swimming
Edwin Gomez Cross-Country
14 Individual Bronze Medals
Victoria Hinojo Wrestling
Emily Arreola Wrestling
Javier Duchene Wrestling
Brandon Camacho Wrestling
Kobe Nelms Wrestling
Michael Abeyta Track and Field
Joshua White Track and Field
Makeia Ray Track and Field
Edwin Gomez 2 Track and Field
Xavier Navarro Swimming
Mary Furlong Swimming
Manuel Armenta (2) Swimming
