Final Team Outlook: NXR South Girls

NXR South Regional Championships
William Grundy

Flower Mound, Carroll, Lovejoy, and that is it. No other team in the South has advanced in a long time. This is the year that could come to an end. Flower Mound, Carroll, and Lovejoy are firmly in the mix per usual, but it is possible one or none of them could be automatic qualifiers.

Bridgeland won the Texas 6A title a few weeks ago, and it feels like they will be one of the favorites on Monday. The Katy girls also figure to be in the mix with honest chances to reach Portland.

However, legitimate threats come from outside the confines of the Texas borders. Rogers showed us all back in September that they have the firepower. That was one of the last times they appeared to be in that level of a groove. If they can come in feeling like they did back then, they could win the region.

Then there are the Bentonville girls. They have returned to the level they used to be at for many years. They have realistic chances of a top-two finish.

Here is what you need to know about the teams with the most realistic chances of moving on to NXN.


FLOWER MOUND (TX) - "The NXR South Standard"

Avg Time: 17:48

1-5 Spread: 1:10

Identity: The most seasoned national-level girls team in the South.

Top Runners:

  • Adeline Bennett - 17:07 (7)

  • Liana Cluley-Garza - 17:39 (21)

  • Keira Primer - 17:52 (37)

  • McKayla Kohutek - 18:07 (62)

  • Eliana Rivera - 18:17 (84)

Narrative:

Flower Mound has been the queen of the South Region for half a decade, qualifying for NXN more consistently than any team in the region along with Carroll.

Their 2025 story is different, though:

  • They lost their first Texas state meet in five years.

  • They look vulnerable for the first time in a long time.

  • Yet their depth, experience, and proven November magic cannot be ignored.

Profile:

This is still a national-caliber lineup with a devastating front-runner in Bennett and elite scoring depth at 2-4. Experience matters, and Flower Mound has more of it than anyone.

Qualifying Outlook:

Still a favorite for one of the two NXN auto spots. Experience keeps them in.


BRIDGELAND (TX) - "The Champions With Momentum"

Avg Time: 17:52

1-5 Spread: 1:18

Identity: Rhythm, confidence, and a state title.

Top Runners:

  • Rowan Saacke - 17:04 (6)

  • Hope Smith - 17:44 (28)

  • Susana Rawls - 17:59 (52)

  • Alex Montgomery - 18:10 (70)

  • Brynlee Weston - 18:23 (99)

Narrative:

Bridgeland won its first-ever Texas state championship, and that changes everything. They enter NXR South hot, healthy, and confident. They also missed NXN last year by one point. Motivation? Off the charts.

Profile:

Rowan Saacke and Hope Smith are top-five individual threats, and their 1-3 group is sturdy enough to match Flower Mound and Carroll in the scoring war.

Qualifying Outlook:

Legitimate contender for an auto spot. They have the momentum.

CARROLL (TX) - "The Always-There Contender"

Avg Time: 17:59

1-5 Split: 1:05

Identity: The most consistently dangerous November team.

Top Runners:

  • Luna Gutierrez - 17:29 (12)

  • Megan Bergman - 17:51 (36)

  • Abigail Perez - 18:00 (55)

  • Grace McIlvain - 18:01 (56)

  • Kameron Dukes - 18:35 (138)

Narrative:

Carroll finished outside the top three at the Texas state meet, again, but that hasn't stopped them before. Last year, they came into NXR South overshadowed and still claimed the second NXN qualifying spot. It's who they are: they peak when the lights are brightest.

Profile:

A classic Carroll team, deep, balanced, and extremely dangerous in the last mile. Never count them out.

Qualifying Outlook:

Contender for auto-spot #2. Their championship DNA is real.


KATY (TX) - "Texas' Wildcard Program"

Avg Time: 18:22

1-5 Split: 27 seconds

Identity: The tightest top-five in Texas.

Top Runners:

  • Vienna Fish - 18:09 (66)

  • Lauren Acopa - 18:14 (78)

  • Kinley Skaggs - 18:23 (100)

  • Abby Lester - 18:29 (121)

  • Avery Torrey - 18:36 (140)

Narrative:

Third at the Texas 6A state meet again, Katy keeps inserting itself into the national conversation. Their 1-5 gap of 27 seconds is elite, the best of any Texas team, which makes them incredibly dangerous in big fields.

Profile:

An ultra-consistent, high-floor team. They won't bomb. They won't panic. They will move up steadily throughout the race.

Qualifying Outlook:

A legitimate upset threat for the top two. Auto spot is possible, especially ifFlower Mound or Bridgeland slips.


LUCAS LOVEJOY (TX) - "The Quiet Contender"

Avg Time: 18:32

1-5 Split: 45 seconds

Identity: The most balanced mid-pack Texas team.

Top Runners:

  • Emily Armstrong - 18:14 (77)

  • Camryn Benson - 18:15 (81)

  • Bridget Bernal - 18:28 (113)

  • Sofia Dominguez - 18:45 (171)

  • Talia Orshalick - 19:00 (221)

Narrative:

Lovejoy doesn't have the firepower of the top Texas squads, but they have the poise and consistency to land in the top 10, and possibly the top two at NXR.

Qualifying Outlook:

Top-10 candidate, but with a slim top-two threat.


THE WOODLANDS (TX) - "The Tradition Team"

Avg Time: 18:34

Identity: Historic program in a rebuilding year.

Top Runners:

  • Naomi Weller - 17:57 (48)

  • Stella Wilder - 18:29 (121)

  • Marta Linde - 18:36 (140)

  • Vanessa Vezga - 18:40 (158)

  • Mickey Cahill - 19:07 (253)

Narrative:

The Woodlands always shows up at NXR, even in rebuilding years. This team has heart and grit but lacks the up-front power of the Texas heavyweights.

Qualifying Outlook:

Top-10 mix; has a lot to do to be in NXN qualifying contention.


ROGERS (AR) - "The Arkansas Powerhouse"

Avg Time: 17:55

1-5 Split: 1:45

Identity: The best 1-2 punch in the region.

Top Runners:

  • Lilly Beshears - 16:47 (1)

  • Samantha Schmersahl - 17:46 (6)

  • Elizabeth Scudder - 18:14 (10)

  • Anna Scudder - 18:17 (12)

  • Kayla Eggers - 18:32 (15)

Narrative:

Rogers is the most dangerous non-Texas team in the field. They beat both Flower Mound and Carroll this season. Their top-end firepower is unmatched, Beshears is one of the best runners in the region.

Profile:

If any team can break up the Texas stronghold, it's Rogers. Firepower wins in big meets, and this team has it.

Qualifying Outlook:

Legitimate auto-qualifier threat. Texas teams should be nervous. IF they're clicking like they were earlier in the season, there isn't much that can really be done about it.


BENTONVILLE (AR) - "The Deep Northern Threat"

Avg Time: 18:11

1-5 Split: 1:03

Identity: The most complete Arkansas team.

Top Runners:

  • Flannery O'Daniel - 17:35 (5)

  • Claire Lorimer - 18:11 (8)

  • Madysen Hantuba - 18:13 (9)

  • Everly O'Daniel - 18:18 (13)

  • Mya Hurley - 18:38 (17)

Narrative:

Bentonville went 1-2 at the Arkansas 6A state meet alongside Rogers and are bringing both depth and experience into NXR South. They are another team fully capable of pushing Texas powerhouses.

Qualifying Outlook:

Top-5 contender with upset potential.