So, by now, everyone pretty knows where they stand in their region and how the odds look on them making it to state. The favorites know who they are and they know others are coming after them.
However, there are those teams who either have an outside shot at winning regionals and those that are hoping to just get one of the four qualifying spots.
Below are our sleeper teams on who you may or may not be factoring into everything this weekend but they are a couple of the programs we definitely think could surprise a few teams on Monday.
Kaufman (Girls)
Kaufman placed second last year at the UIL 4A state meet and they did it behind a strong group of seniors. The only team that was able to beat them was Bandera who won their third straight title. However, that talented Kaufman team is mostly gone as they graduated five of the top seven runners. Most of the other top 4A teams return several of their runners from last year's state competition. Bandera returns six key runners and third place Alvarado returns several runner.
Rebuilding the majority of a team isn't the easiest thing to do, but It looks like things are going pretty well at Kaufman. They are running very well and they are doing it with a bunch of freshmen. Three freshmen lead the team and there is even another one challenging for the top seven as they are looking to head back to state for more. Kaufman also has some upperclassman leadership to go along with that young talent. There are juniors and seniors that have the experience from the past to help lead and guide the freshmen into what is to come. Kaufman hopes another UIL state trophy is coming soon. First, they will have to ensure they get one of the qualifying spots at the Region II-4A race on Monday. You can consider Kaufman to be in a rebuilding process if you want, but I'm here to tell you don't sleep on these young ladies!
Decatur (Boys)
Another sleeper team to watch our for are the guys from Decatur. Last year, Decatur didn't even make it to the state meet as a team, but if you have seen them run this season, you wouldn't be able to tell. These guys are running like they are on a mission. They are led by seniors Alan Rangel and Charles Doubrava who both qualified individually for state last year, but they also have some serious fire power to go along with them this season. They have a couple of other seniors who are stepping up in a big way and some sophomores who are a year older and stronger.
Everyone in 4A is looking to knock off the west Texas powerhouse of San Elizario. San Elizario is going for their fourth consecutive title and if Decatur has hopes to knock them off they will have to get out of a very difficult region. They will have to get past Kaufman, Sanger, Melissa, and Center just to name a few. Those are some of the toughest 4A teams and they are all in Region II-4A. All four of those teams expect to make it back to state and improve on their standings, so, if Decatur is going to crack the top four qualifying spot, they'll have to be on their A game if they are going to knock one of those teams out. It is going to be a tough task on Monday, but definitely don't sleep on Decatur!
Cypress Bridgeland (Girls)
Wylie (Boys)
Perhaps the team with the most difficult route to state out of all of the sleeper teams are the boys from Wylie. There are three main reasons why. First, they are young. They have a freshman and a sophomore leading in the races. The rest of the group are other sophomores and juniors. The second reason is their inexperience. They have important pieces who have come over from their other primary sports and they aren't true cross country guys and the younger guys just haven't had many high school races to really know how much is at stake.
Finally, it will be hard for them because they are in Region I-6A AKA, the "Region of Doom." They have the best teams in the state ahead of them who are fighting for a state berth themselves. We are talking about Flo50 #1 ranked Southlake Carroll, #3 Flower Mound, #5 El Paso Eastwood, and #9 Lewisville Hebron just to name a few.
What Wylie has going against them is exactly what they have going for them. Their top runners are so young that they might not know enough to be scared or even gage what it's supposed to feel like. They are both 15:50 guys, so they definitely can run. The inexperience could help them if they just get right behind the top guys and run. The athletes coming from other sports could use their competitive nature in this do or die race and step up in a way their competitors could not expect them to do.
Wylie is ranked #22 themselves and that isn't without just cause. This team is definitely talented and they do run with heart. These guys have a bond and a sense of unity that can not be overlooked.
Considering what they do have and what they don't have, that could be a recipe for an upset and enough to get a top four finish out of the Region of Doom. Wylie is definitely a sleeper team.