By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, August 3, 2008
The athletes of Decatur High School proved this year that even in a "down" year their program is the most successful in Wise County. Despite winning just two district championships this year, Decatur for the sixth year in a row won the Wise County Cup title.
Though the Eagles captured the fewest district titles in its run of winning six straight Cups, the difference was in postseason play. DHS advanced to the playoffs and regional competition in nine of the 10 major sports.
The Wise County Cup is a compilation of all sports. Each school is awarded points in district play on a scale of 6,5,4,3,2,1. Additional points are earned based on advancement in the playoffs or for qualifying for regional and state competition.
This was the first year that Decatur did not run away with the title. In fact, Alvord was on the toes of the Eagles and Paradise and Boyd were not too far behind.
Decatur, which has scored no less than 129 points in winning the last five Cups, managed 84 this year. Alvord, which had a banner year in track and powerlifting, came in second among Wise teams with 70 points.
Only three points separated the next three schools in the tight race. Paradise was third overall with 56 points, followed closely by Northwest at 55 and Boyd at 53. Bridgeport came in sixth with 39 points while Slidell had 23 and Chico tallied 22.
District 8-3A
Decatur came in second in the standings behind Argyle which ran away with the crown with 133 points. AHS had the most points for the second year in a row thanks to state championships in cross country and track. Winning seven team titles didn't hurt either.
Sanger, which finished second last year, settled for third this time around with 68 points and just one team district championship. Whitesboro was fourth with 42 points, just three ahead of Bridgeport at 39. Bowie came in sixth with 29 points while Pilot Point racked up 27 and Gainesville managed 13.
District 9-2A
The all-sports title went to Olney with 88 points. Alvord was second and 15 ahead of City View at 55.
The Lady Bulldogs helped propel AHS to near the top of the standings. With four powerlifters competing at the state level and track star Paige Klein finishing among the elite at the state championship it's no surprise that they challenged for the Wise County Cup.
The Alvord baseball and girls basketball teams also made the state playoffs this season to give the school a boost in the standings.
Holliday won the most district crowns with four but did not produce in the postseason and finished fourth with 49 points.
Nocona was one-point back with 48, while Jacksboro posted 33 and Chico followed.
Chico did not make the playoffs in a team sport but got some valuable points in track where Hayden Eubanks did well at regionals and state and golfer Blake Moss putted his way to the state championship tournament.
District 10-2A
There was no surprise as to the winner of District 10-2A race. Brock won three team titles and did well in girls track, boys and girls basketball and softball to win the crown with 82 points.
Cisco's only championship came in football and it was enough to hold on to second place with 61 points. Paradise dominated in boys cross country and boys track to finish third with 56 points. It's the highest finish for the Panthers since the Wise County Cup started six years ago.
Boyd was fourth in the tight race with 53 points, just four ahead of Peaster at 49. Godley was just two points back with 47 while Eastland and Millsap finished even at 29.
Boyd, which struggled in team sports this year, got some much needed points in football, girls basketball and track where 15 athletes qualified for regionals.
