CISD Athletics
TAKES A BIG JUMP TO 5A IN STRIDE In just its second year of 5A competition, athletics programs have become a regular playoff presence.
G
rowth has been good for the Crandall Pirate athletics program. Crandall High School began its second stint in UIL Class 5A-Division II as school kicked off in August. The district jumped into 5A just two years ago with the 2020 UIL realignment.
FOOTBALL
TENNIS
Football advanced to the playoffs for the
CROSS COUNTRY
finished 9-3 overall, claimed the bi-district
Tennis also advanced to the playoffs for the second-straight year. The team narrowly missed a third-place finish in the district after dropping its last regularseason match to Forney, ultimately finishing fourth. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Lovejoy. Nicole Giles won first place in the consolation bracket of Kaufman’s Invitational Tournament in November, which builds momentum heading into the team’s spring season.
Cross Country competed at seven varsity
meets, hosting the Pirate Invitational for the second-consecutive year. CISD also hosted the 14-5A district meet where six Pirates
finished in the top 15, including first- and
second-consecutive year after finishing
8-2 in the regular season, good enough for a third-place finish in District 7-5A. That regular-season record matches its best since 2000. The Pirates, who
championship after knocking off Marshall, 48-47, in a first-round playoff road win. A 37-45 loss to Midlothian Heritage in the
5A-Division II Region II Area round finished Crandall’s season.
second-place finishes by Caden Floyd and
Crandall’s offense totaled more yards
well at the district meet with two finishing
through the second round of playoffs. The
Vargas (12). Floyd and Reyna Vargas
per game (291), 12th in passing (224), and
Walker Cox. The Lady Pirates also fared
(5,666) than any other Dallas-area 5A team
in the top 15—Reyna Vargas (2) and Cassie
Pirates also ranked fourth in rushing yards
both went on to finish in the top 30 at the
third in scoring (47)
5A-Region 2 meet in Grand Prairie.
VOLLEYBALL Volleyball advanced to the playoffs for the first time since joining 5A. The Lady Pirates
finished fourth in District 14-5A with a 6-6 record before finishing their season against Lovejoy in a first-round bi-district exit. Arianna Gonzalez and Kennedi Holmes earned first-team all-district honors while Leah Gardner was named 14-5A Hitter of the Year.
Freshman Chika Abba also earned 14-5A Newcomer of the Year honors. Nine of the 12 varsity players earned academic all-district honors. 18
• Crusader • Winter 2022