East Texas sports made history in 2025, with standout performances from high school teams to collegiate achievements, setting the stage for a promising 2026.

TYLER, Texas — Before we can enjoy the sporting spoils that 2026 is sure to bring lets first take a look back on the highs, the lows and everything in between from 2025.

Here’s a comprehensive recap of some of last year’s biggest sports stories in East Texas.

Things started off on a bit of a sour note in 2025. Just one month into the new year, and about eight months after leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals, Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers — a move that, with some help from the fans, indirectly led to Dallas firing general manager Nico Harrison. 

In the end, at least the club secured Cooper Flagg, so this somehow could’ve been worse.

At the high school level, Martin’s Mill’s Jak Kinder made history by sinking his 569th three pointer — the most of any player in Texas high school basketball history.

“In that moment, I was able to look up at my family, and I saw him up there, and I saw my dad. My dad’s been working with me since I was two years old, and to see him standing up and cheering, and my mom — it was one of the happiest moments I’ve had in my entire life.”

Kinder even took the time to teach me a thing or two about three-point shooting — or did I teach him? I guess we’ll never know. Anyway, he then parlayed that personal success into team glory, helping the Mustangs claim their first state championship in more than 75 years.

They weren’t the only East Texas boys to leave San Antonio with some hardware. Tatum came to the Alamo City and lit up the court to win its first-ever state title.

Enough talk about the boys, though, because the Martin’s Mill girls claimed their second straight state championship and eighth overall, cementing their status as a Texas basketball dynasty.

In the collegiate ranks, Kilgore College’s women made history, winning the Region 14 basketball title and playing in their first national tournament in more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, the Trinity Valley Community College men played their way to an NJCAA national championship — the first in program history.

As winter became spring, East Texas saw a familiar sight. You want to talk about East Texas dynasties? UT Tyler softball went back-to-back with its second straight Division II championship, becoming the first program to do so since the 1990s.

“To come together with such a diverse group of personalities and experiences — we have 18- to 24-year-olds on this team — so to see them come together at the perfect moment was really special,” Reed said.

Head coach Mike Reed received additional honors after winning the title, being inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Plus, the Patriots’ Sam Schott was named the NCAA Woman of the Year.

And while UT Tyler’s baseball team didn’t go all the way, the program won its most games ever with 49 and made its first trip to the College World Series as a Division II program.

And you never forget your first time — just ask Spring Hill. The Panthers baseball team claimed its first-ever state title in June.

“And the boys did it. They did it. They get all the credit,” head baseball coach Garrett Methvin.

Then, after a long summer waiting for football season, Dallas fans were hit with more devastating trade news. Stay strong, metroplex. The Cowboys sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay before the team played a single down of regular-season football.

Back at home, East Texas football fans were holding their breath when Longview head coach John King announced his mouth cancer diagnosis. But in true King fashion, less than two months later he completed his treatment and was officially on the mend.

As football season progressed, Mount Enterprise’s Kaegan Ash etched his name into the record books — twice. Ash surpassed the all-time Texas High School Football single-season rushing mark, and then took over Kenneth Hall’s career rushing record.

Then come December, Carthage put the cherry on top of everything. The Bulldogs steamrolled West Orange-Stark 49-21 to claim the program’s 11th state championship, all under current head coach Scott Surratt. With that victory, Surratt also picked up his 250th career win overall. 

Lots of things were different about East Texas sports in 2025, but when it comes to Carthage — some things never change.