Allie Arnold
Staff Writer
Coppell is known for it’s excellence in athletics across the state of Texas. However, many are wondering how the biannual realignment of the district is going to affect Coppell sports as a whole.
The other teams in Coppell’s new district, 7-6A, include Colleyville Heritage, Euless Trinity, Haltom, Hurst L.D. Bell, Richland and Southlake Carroll.
“I feel like we stack up pretty well to these new teams in our district,” athletic director John Crawford said. “From a football standpoint, we consider ourselves to be a top 10 type team here in Coppell year in and year out. It’s a tough district, so it’s not going to be easy, but it won’t be easy for them either when they play us.”
One note standing out to many when seeing the new district was the fact that Coppell got it’s old rival, Southlake Carroll, back after a couple years of separation.
Coppell volleyball coach Julie Green is anxious for the return of the rivalry and is excited for the intense match where the two teams will face off.
“I like a good rivalry,” Green said. “We play to be the best and want things to be competitive. It will be a challenge for us, but it’s a good challenge.”
As for traveling, some of the commutes are longer than what Coppell athletics is used to.
“The traveling is definitely a negative,” Crawford said. “When you start trying to travel to Richland and Haltom it’s a long drive, but that’s just part of it and we are going to make the best of it.”
Most Coppell athletes are excited for the new challenging district and are anxious to play new teams but also to play old rivals. On the football field, it pits the Cowboys two of the most successful state programs in recent history, with Trinity winning state titles in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and Southlake Carroll winning in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011.
Colleyville Heritage is coached by Mike Fuller, who coached at Coppell from 2000-2006.
“We have a tough district this year but we’re definitely ready for it,” junior running back Charles West said, “I’m excited to experience playing teams I’ve never played before but I’m also excited to face off against Southlake again. I know it’s going to be a great season.”
