It happened again.
The Woodlands won another UIL 6A state title. This title made it three in a row, but it also made it number 20 for the program.
From the time The school started conducting classes in 1976 to now, one of the many things the school has done well is run cross country.
Gavin Hoffpauir led five other seniors and sophomore Ethan Hammer as the green and red Highlander uniforms ran around the lake, up and down the hills, over the bridge, and through the finish line chute at Old Settler's Park. When the race was over, the guys had done it again. Senior Matt Jones said, "It feels great to continue the tradition, The Woodlands has a really long and rich tradition of coming out and sweeping the competition. This year we continued that tradition and it feels good being a part of that."
This season, the race for the title seemed to be anyone's race. There were no shortage of suitors in line to get the chance to make history of their own. However, that parody was not enough to enable someone to other than the Highlanders to take the title. Hoffpauir said, "We didn't get over confident, we didn't get over excited and try to be something that we are not I think we just took it as another race and I think that is what got us to where we are now."
"It feels great to continue the tradition, The Woodlands has a really long and rich tradition of coming out and sweeping the competition. This year we continued that tradition and it feels good being a part of that."
Matt Jones - senior
The 20th title adds to The Woodlands' winningest cross country program in Texas history. But, to put things in perspective, since it opened in 1976, 41 years ago, The Woodlands has won 48.78% of the boys largest division cross country championships since they opened.
Get this, If they were to win next year, that would be a 4-Peat, 21 of 42, and 50%. That is of course a discussion to be had then, for now The Woodlands can embrace and enjoy 3, 20, and 48.78.