Which Teams Will Be Kings Of Houston XC This Year XC??

Camden Gibson (#2495) and Griffen Saacke (#2472) will lead their teams for Houston team supremacy

Historically The Woodlands, Humble Kingwood, Aldine MacArthur, and Friendswood have been dominant boys cross country programs in the Houston area, with unparalleled success in state history.

More recently, Katy, Houston Strake Jesuit, Klein Oak, and Katy Cinco Ranch have established themselves as consistent challengers in Region 3-6A.

Newer schools like The Woodlands College Park, Katy Tompkins, and Cypress Bridgeland have also emerged as strong, consistent teams.

The 2025 season will likely see continued competition from these established and newer powerhouses. However, are there any other teams who can have very good seasons? Can other squads challenge the usual Jimmys and Joes for state meet qualifications this fall? 

Here is an early list of teams in the Houston metro area who we think will be good teams out of the gate and possibly through November and December.

Cypress Bridgeland 

In 2024, the Bears achieved their first state meet podium finish, a significant accomplishment. Even with some historically strong programs in the area not performing at their peak, Bridgeland's success was undeniable, surpassing that of other Houston teams due to the exceptional quality and depth of their squad.

They ran a 15:41 team average at the state meet, which is nothing to sneeze at. An impressive 1:06 gap from 1-5 runners is what helped them take home a trophy in one of the fastest state meets overall.

Bridgeland had legitimate expectations of winning the state title last year; falling a little short with a third place finish, they'll be just as motivated this year. Led by Region 2-6A individual runner-up Griffen Saacke, they return five boys who ran under 16:00 last year. With a returning five man average time of 15:38 and a 39-second gap potential, they'll press again for the state title.

The Woodlands 

It is early, but returning numbers gives vibes that there could once again be red and green jerseys flooding the front of races. The Woodlands (TWHS) is the only team in the past decade to win a UIL 6A state title other than Southlake Carroll.

The Highlanders have three boys back from last year who ran sub 16:00 with two more just shades over that mark. That potentially sees them carrying over a 15:50 average from their top five returning guys and a potential gap of 45-seconds, which will have them in the hunt of any race this season.

Third place Region 2-6 individual finisher Elton Martin will help lead TWHS into the season. Their strong runner-up finish at the region followed up by a fifth place standing at state might have just been the prequel to a step back to TWHS dominance.

College Park

The Woodlands College Park Cavaliers (CP) forged their way through the championship season in 2024 by perhaps saving their best and most healthy running until the end of the year.

They were third at Region 2-6A and sixth at the state meet. Both meets they ran exceptionally with team averates of 16:00 and 16:16 with 0.47 and 0.31 second gaps.

Three runners return from that squad including Camden Gibson, Yannick Broos, and James Hadwin were sub 16:00 guys last year and are all back. The back end of their 4-7 top returners are within the 16:22 - 16:36 range.

CP at their best potentially returns a 15:50.40 average this season.

Katy

The Katy Tigers were strong in 2024 and definitively took the Region 3-6 championship to cruise into the state meet. Luck wasn't on their side as a sickness bug ran through the team keeping them from being full strength in Round Rock where they finished next to last.

Redemption could be in play this year as they bring back five of their top seven runners, including Ryder Darcey. The senior isn't just in his last year running in the Katy program, but having spent much of his youth years around his head coach and father's program he will surely move onto college following the year.

A potential average of 16:05 will see the Tigers in a good spot to get back to state and dispel doubts those outside the program might have.

Katy Tompkins

Tompkins has become a stable program in the Houston area thanks to the string of excellent coaching hires the administration has made. Now in the second season of Coach Julius Michaels at the helm, we should see his philosophy and style take effect.

The Falcons graduated four runners from their team that advanced to state last year. Carter Maloy, Jordan Wood, and Matthew Garib were contributors during their state meet run last year with Maloy and Wood both going under 16:00 throughout the season.

The bring back a potential team average of 16:18 heading into this season.

Don't Sleep On:

Humble Summer Creek - Da'Juan Allison and Ja'Juan Allison led team to first state meet appearance; improvements at the 5-7 spots will take them to the next level.

Humble Kingwood - Jed Mazingo and Spencer Steadman both return and had 16:13 PRs in 2024.

Friendswood - A healthy Aiden Fitzgerald, the individual state meet runner-up along with an even faster duo of Aiden Lowery and Alex Hillier could make a return trip to Round Rock.

Houston Strake Jesuit - Was just on the outside of state meet qualifying last year and could get back with improvement at the 4-5 spots.

Tomball Memorial - Dean Carman is back for his senior season and has a flock of teammates who if can all take a step forward could average low 16s and around a 60-second gap.