By David Wolman
It was a banner season for the Sachse boys and girls soccer teams, with both teams winning the outright District 9-6A championship.
Sachse also had a historic season in the pool as incoming senior Augustus Friedel became the first Sachse swimmer to earn a medal at the state meet.
The Sachse News will now take a look at each program and highlight their team and individual accomplishments.
Boys soccer
After being promoted to head coach in the middle of the 2025 season, Shane Montgomery got in a full offseason as the leading voice in the Mustangs’ program.
All of that practice time paid off in a big way.
One season removed from a late-season slide that saw Sachse miss the playoffs, the Mustangs had a bounce-back season in 2026, which ended with Sachse hoisting the district championship trophy for the first time in five years.
Defense was a big reason why the Mustangs finished with a 15-4-4 overall record and a 12-1-3 record in District 9-6A competition.
Sachse surrendered just 15 goals all season.
Incoming senior Jovanni Vazquez, the Co-Defensive Player of the Year, anchored a stingy Mustang defense that posted 11 shutouts. Incoming junior Josiah Alvarez earned 9-6A Goalkeeper of the Year.
Sachse also scored timely goals, led by a team-high 14 from senior Julian Hinojosa, who was later tabbed the district’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
The Mustangs’ season ended abruptly in bi-district following a 2-1 overtime loss to Rockwall.
Following the conclusion of the season, Alvarez, junior defender Jovanni Vazquez and Hinojosa were all named to the all-region first team, while senior midfielder Daniel Dominguez earned all-region honorable-mention honors.
Girls soccer
One season removed from an appearance in a regional final, Sachse took things one step further this winter.
The Lady Mustangs made history by becoming the first girls soccer team from Garland ISD to reach the state semifinals. Sachse bested The Woodlands 2-0 in the regional semifinals to avenge a previous loss, then cruised to a 4-0 rout of Grand Oaks in the Region II-6A Division I final to reach its first-ever state semifinals.
Sachse forced overtime after incoming junior Emma Ramirez scored from 20 yards out in the 70th minute.
Unfortunately for Sachse, Ramirez’s tally proved to be the only goal for the Lady Mustangs in a 2-1 overtime loss.
Despite seeing their season end in heartbreak, the Lady Mustangs finished the 2026 season as the best in program history.
Sachse was an unstoppable force, going a perfect 16-0 in District 9-6A play. The Lady Mustangs outscored their district opponents 127-3 and posted 14 shutouts. Overall, Sachse outscored other teams 132-12 on the season and finished 25-3.
Senior midfielder Kate McCallister was named the district’s Most Valuable Player and was later recognized as the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association. She scored 45 goals and added 16 assists.
Senior defender Sierra Rush was named to the Class 6A all-state second team by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches. McCallister garnered first-team all-region honors. Junior midfielder Lia Lopez was selected to the all-region second team, and Ramirez received honorable-mention recognition.
Swimming
Augustus Friedel finished third in the 500 freestyle at the Class 6A state meet with a time of 4:28.59 and fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:38.47 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, with his third-place finish in the 500 securing his spot as the first Sachse swimmer to earn a state medal.
Friedel also teamed with sophomore Noah So, senior Boden Grubisich and sophomore Hudson Grubisich in the 400 freestyle relay. They placed 20th in the preliminaries with a time of 3:13.39. They are the first relay from Sachse to qualify for the state meet.
So also placed 21st at state in the 100 breaststroke with a 58.13.
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By David Wolman
Another school year is in the books for Sachse.
And it was another successful year for the Mustangs, who won district titles in boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, boys’ golf, while making extended playoff runs in girls soccer, boys basketball and baseball.
The Sachse News will take a more detailed look at each sport, beginning with cross country, football and volleyball.
Cross country
Sachse swept the team titles at the District 9-6A championships, marking the first time since 2016 that both programs have won district titles in the same year. The boys scored 31 points, while the girls tallied 35.
Sachse also produced the boys’ individual champion. Sophomore Dominic Richardson overtook Wylie East’s Kaleab Endale with a mile left and placed first in 15:55.
Samuel Ledbetter (third, 16:13), Sadiki Mburu (seventh, 16:29), Henry Lesley (eighth, 16:31), Roman Rabel (12th, 16:48), Ozzy Heredia (15th, 17:00) and Grayson Redden (26th, 17:52) also posted strong finishes.
Sachse’s girls showed impressive depth, placing six runners in the top 12. Abigail Leonard was the runner-up (18:40). Arora Dinh Ngo (fifth, 19:54), Alicia Payne (seventh, 20:12), Kaitlyn Herrera (10th, 20:25), Adeline Moss (11th, 20:33) and Maicen Keefer (12th, 20:34) placed in the top 15.
Leonard qualified for the state meet for the second time after earning 23rd at the Region II-6A meet. Ledbetter advanced to state for the first time after running to 11th place in a time of 16:10. He placed 94th at state, while Leonard took 122nd in the girls’ race.
Football
Sachse was faced with the task of retooling a roster that graduated 37 seniors from the 2024 team that guided the Mustangs to a second consecutive undefeated district championship.
Although that inexperience created some growing pains, the Mustangs put together their best football when it mattered the most. Sachse overcame a 2-2 start to District 9-6A play to fuel a 3-1 finish to the regular season with wins over North Garland, South Garland and Naaman Forest.
Sachse (6-5) lost 42-7 to North Forney in bi-district. The Mustangs trailed just 14-7 at halftime but were outscored 28-0 in the second half.
The season started with a two-player rotation at quarterback, but junior Christian McCaffrey took the reins in Week 4 against Wylie.
McCaffrey’s big arm made a huge difference for the Mustangs’ passing attack. He threw for 1,404 yards with 11 passing touchdowns. His top target, senior wide receiver Marcus Rhoden, finished with 783 yards and eight touchdowns.
Meanwhile, senior Dirk Williams Jr. was moved to a dual role at wide receiver and tailback. He contributed 182 yards and one receiving touchdown to accompany 531 rushing yards and eight rushing scores. Senior Roderick Rainwater filled the shoes of the previous year’s district MVP, Brendon Haygood, finishing with 634 yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, Sachse got great production out of senior defensive tackle Trason Haley, who had a team-best five sacks. Senior linebacker Corbin Crane stuffed the stat sheet with 105 total tackles. Sophomore linebacker Willehado Palomo won 9-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year after logging 98 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Volleyball
Sachse has never missed the playoffs and didn’t again despite fears of a rebuilding effort.
Despite losing six seniors from the 2024 team to graduation, including the district’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Kaelynn Sims, and Defensive Player of the Year, Taber Torres, the Lady Mustangs rounded into form after a sluggish start.
After starting 3-8, the Lady Mustangs went 12-4 against district competition to earn second place and earned another playoff berth.
Although Sachse’s season ended with a 3-0 loss to a hard-hitting Rockwall offense in bi-district, the Lady Mustangs finished 19-18.
Several Lady Mustangs stepped into new roles and delivered, including senior outside hitter Raniya Temple-Robinson, who was tabbed the district’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year after she logged 325 kills and 143 digs.
Junior setter Laney George was named the 9-6A Server of the Year. She racked up a team-high 45 service aces and dished out 406 assists.
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By David Wolman
After helping lead the Sachse softball team to 11 District 9-6A wins and another playoff berth, junior pitcher/shortstop Maya McClarity was named the district’s Most Valuable Player as voted on by the head coaches of all nine teams in the district.
McClarity was a force at the plate, finishing with 14 home runs, 72 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 52 hits, eight walks, nine stolen bases and struck out three times in 96 plate appearances. She also led the efforts of the Lady Mustangs’ pitching staff, striking out 96 while allowing 51 earned runs in 89 innings.
McClarity was one of four Lady Mustangs who were selected to the all-district team. Junior catcher Kendyl Cruz and senior third baseman Xochitl Mendoza were honored on the first team. Senior second baseman Brooke Robinson landed on the second team. Sophomore pitcher Jaycie Watson was named to the honorable-mention team.
Cruz, McClarity, Robinson, Watson, sophomores Alicia Payne and Alyssa Allmon, and senior Samantha Moore were named the academic all-district team.
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By David Wolman
The Sachse baseball team extended its streak of playoff qualifications this season, with the Mustangs advancing to the area round for the second time in the last three years.
Coaches in District 9-6A took note of their success and rewarded Sachse with a total of 12 selections on the all-district team.
Sachse senior third baseman Colt Upchurch was tabbed the district’s Offensive Player of the Year after he collected 25 hits, 25 runs, 13 RBIs and five walks during 9-6A competition. In four playoff games, he finished with six hits, four RBIs, four runs and two walks.
Mustangs senior catcher William Martin captured Defensive Player of the Year. He also stepped up offensively, which included a two-hit, one-RBI performance in Sachse’s 14-4 victory against Rockwall-Heath in Game 1 of the Class 6A Division I bi-district round of the postseason.
Senior pitcher Alex Moreno, sophomore pitcher Cade Burkey, senior second baseman Julian Moreno, junior first baseman Jacob Ponce, sophomore shortstop Noah Siddall and senior left fielder Greyson Darden landed on the first team. Junior right fielder Luke Visser and junior pitcher Carson DaSilva were recognized on the second team. Senior outfielder Prince Marish and junior center fielder Nathan Sereseroz were placed on the honorable-mention team.
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By David Wolman
The playmaking ability of Sachse senior midfielder Kate McCallister helped lead the Lady Mustangs to their best season in program history.
McCallister, a University of Oklahoma signee, scored 45 goals and added 16 assists, guiding Sachse to its first-ever appearance in the state semifinals. The Lady Mustangs became the first girls soccer team from Garland ISD to reach the penultimate round of the postseason.
For McCallister’s efforts, she was named the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association for girls soccer on Tuesday. She was also chosen to the THSCA’s Super Elite Team.
McCallister was particularly on point during District 9-6A play, scoring 38 goals and adding nine assists in district competition, as Sachse captured an undefeated district championship. She was named the district’s Most Valuable Player of the Year following the conclusion of the season.
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By David Wolman
Sachse senior Cameryn Fair concluded her high school career by earning eighth place at last Saturday’s Class 6A state track and field meet in the girls long jump with a leap of 18-4.75. That mark came on her third attempt. She cleared 18-3.25 on her fifth jump.
Fair qualified for state by earning a wild card for having the best third-place finish among the four regions in Class 6A. At the area meet, Fair earned first place with a 19-7.25 – a mark that earned her the top distance in the long jump in school history.
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By David Wolman
With the final seconds ticking off the game clock, Sachse senior quarterback Christian McCaffrey wanted to throw another deep ball.
McCaffrey took two small steps backwards after receiving the snap and threw a long pass up the left sideline. Junior wide receiver Julian Madison, who was two yards past a defender, hauled in a pass that was in the air for 42 yards and ran into the end zone to complete the catch and run for a touchdown.
McCaffrey had success with the deep ball. He threw for three touchdowns of at least 30 yards in last Friday’s spring game, two to Madison. Senior wide receiver Chase Barstow caught the other touchdown pass thrown by McCaffrey, a 55-yard reception up the right side.
“Christian is doing fine, and Julian can run,” head coach Mark “Red” Behrens said. “Julian was the 100-meter dash champion in the eighth grade in our district. So, he can run.”
McCaffrey played the entirety of the varsity portion of the scrimmage. Two 15-minute quarters were played, preceded by a junior varsity scrimmage that was also 30 minutes long. During the JV scrimmage, there were two simulated games, one on each side of the 50-yard line.
Sophomore quarterbacks Kayden Wilkerson and Kingston Williams each led multiple scoring drives that ended with touchdowns. Wilkerson also caught a touchdown pass. Williams looked up the field and threw to a wide-open Wilkerson in the end zone.
Wilkerson built a strong connection in the passing game with sophomore wide receiver Brady Anderson. Anderson caught an inside pass on a run-pass option play, cut inside the middle and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. On Anderson’s first touchdown catch, a good one-on-one block by sophomore running back Emilio Moya gave Wilkerson extra time to throw the ball.
For as well as Sachse’s running backs blocked, they also were elusive when given the chance to run the ball. Sophomore running back Cayden Cheyne, junior Nathaniel McCoy and senior wide receiver Kington Bennett shed defenders on at least two carries to churn out additional yardage. On one run, Bennett took the handoff, shed a defender near the line of scrimmage and finished the play with a touchdown.
The Mustangs’ defense also stepped up. Sophomore Sebastian Petrovski recovered a fumble just as the opposing offense was driving inside the 20-yard line.
Sachse’s defense continued to make big plays during the varsity scrimmage.
The Mustangs’ offense got the better of its defense to begin the scrimmage, with McCaffrey uncorking a long touchdown pass to Madison, followed by a big run up the right sideline by junior running back Ladainian Jones that resulted in a touchdown.
But Sachse’s defense proceeded to swing the momentum in its favor. Moments following Jones’ touchdown run, senior defensive end Z’havien Ramsey sacked McCaffrey and junior defensive end Trindon Bennett got his hands on the ball for a batted pass on the ensuing play.
Zamir Dalwkin, a junior safety, recorded two tackles for loss.
Sachse’s defensive front blew up several plays before the Mustangs’ offense had a chance to get away from the pressure, including a tackle in the backfield by junior Tay’Shawn Baltimore with less than three minutes remaining.
“We’re not as deep as where we want to be on the offensive line,” Behrens said. “We had some pressure on our quarterback. Our ends and tackles and middle linebackers are doing well. We’ve just got to gain more experience elsewhere, get a little more physical.”
The Mustangs will begin summer camp June 1. Behrens is hopeful that Sachse’s new indoor multi-purpose facility will be completed before the conclusion of the three-week long camp. Another three-week-long camp is set for July.
“It’ll be closer to the end than the beginning to when we can practice in there,” he said. “You don’t know how excited we are to have that possibility. There is never going to have to be a day where we have to stay off the field because of wet weather or storms.”
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By David Wolman
The high school career for Sachse senior left fielder Greyson Darden isn’t over.
One week after Darden helped lead the Mustangs baseball team to an appearance in the area round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs, he was selected to represent the East Team in the North Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 5A-6A All-Star Game, which is set for 7 p.m., Monday, June 8 at Riders Field in Frisco.
Darden was a force at the plate for Sachse during its two-game sweep of Rockwall-Heath in bi-district, collecting seven hits and six RBIs to accompany two runs scored. In the area round against Waxahachie, he drew three walks.
Darden is one of two players from Garland ISD to be selected to the NTHSBCA All-Star Game. Joining him in Frisco will be Rowlett pitcher River Kirkhuff.
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By Mark Saldana
The Sachse Mustangs baseball team saw its playoff run come to an end Friday night after falling to the Waxahachie Indians 1-0 in Game 2 of the UIL Class 6A Division I area round.
In a game dominated by pitching and defense, both teams struggled to generate offense early as the first inning moved quickly with both sides recording three outs in order.
Sachse pitcher Cade Burkey delivered a strong performance on the mound throughout the evening, helping keep the Mustangs within striking distance.
The game’s lone run finally came in the top of the sixth inning when Waxahachie connected on a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead. The Indians later threatened to extend the lead after a double and stolen base put another runner in scoring position, but Sachse managed to limit the damage and keep the deficit at one.
Facing their final three outs in the seventh inning, the Mustangs mounted one last rally attempt. Aaron Silva drew a walk to begin the inning before Sachse placed another runner on base with no outs. However, Waxahachie responded defensively with a force out at third base before recording back-to-back fly ball outs to secure the victory.
Despite the loss, Sachse head coach Chris Burrow praised his team’s defensive effort and Burkey’s performance on the mound.
“Burkey did an amazing job all night long, gave us a chance, throwing strikes and competing,” Burrow said. “I couldn’t ask for more from our defense and pitching. They did a fantastic job.”
Burrow also reflected on the growth his team showed throughout the season and the adversity players overcame along the way.
“Just because it ends here, a lot of them are starting a whole new phase of life,” Burrow said. “Hopefully they take a few things with them as they go forward and learn how to handle the hard and just keep going.”
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By David Wolman
WAXAHACHIE — Defensive miscues and missed offensive opportunities proved too much for Sachse to overcome in a 5-1 loss to Waxahachie in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I area-round playoff series Thursday night.
Despite the loss, Sachse’s defense looked sharp early.
Waxahachie struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when Hayden Zandt lined an RBI single into left field for a 1-0 Indians lead. However, the Mustangs quickly limited the damage thanks to a key defensive play from second baseman Julian Moreno, who fielded a sharp two-hopper up the middle, stepped on second base and fired to first baseman Jacob Ponce to complete an inning-ending double play.
Sachse continued to flash strong defense in the second inning. Shortstop Noah Siddall sprinted deep into shallow left field to haul in a fly ball and keep the deficit at one run.
But things unraveled for the Mustangs in the third inning.
A fly ball near the wall in right field dropped despite a Sachse defender being in position to make the catch. Moments later, Waxahachie extended its lead to 2-0 on an RBI sacrifice fly.
The Indians continued to capitalize on Sachse mistakes later in the inning. Devin Duarte reached base, advanced to second and third on consecutive wild pitches and eventually scored on another wild pitch to push the lead to 3-0.
Sachse answered in the top of the fourth.
Moreno laid down a perfectly placed bunt up the first-base line, and a bobble by Waxahachie pitcher Grimm Davis allowed him to beat the throw to first as the Mustangs scored to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Sachse threatened to pull even closer moments later. Aaron Silva singled through the right side, and pinch-runner Landon Parks attempted to score from second base. But Waxahachie right fielder Luke Ballard delivered a strong throw home, and catcher Jax Robinson applied the tag for the inning’s first out.
The Indians then shut the door on the rally. Robinson later threw out another Sachse baserunner, and a strikeout ended the inning with the Mustangs still trailing by two runs.
Waxahachie seized firm control in the bottom of the fourth.
Weston Davis delivered an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-1 before the Indians manufactured another run on a heads-up baserunning play. After Kayson Weyrauch drew a walk and casually advanced to second while Sachse’s infield was unaware, Davis sprinted home from third to make it 5-1.
Sachse managed to put at least one runner on base in each of the final three innings but could not generate another run.
The Mustangs’ best opportunity came in the seventh inning when Aiden Sabolski and Siddall drew consecutive walks to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Robinson, however, came on in relief and struck out three straight batters to end the game and secure the win for Waxahachie.
Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Sachse. If necessary, Game 3 would be played at 11 a.m. Saturday at Forney High School.
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