AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – After the Texas Tennis Coaches Association release of the latest state and regional rankings, five local teams from the Texas Panhandle have solidified their reputation as elite programs.
Leading the charge in Class 5A is Amarillo High, sitting comfortably at No. 6 in the state and No. 2 in Region I.
Meanwhile, in Class 4A, an unprecedented four district rivals have crashed the state’s top ten rankings simultaneously: Canyon (State No. 2), Canyon Randall (State No. 3), West Plains (State No. 8), and Hereford (State No. 9).
Coaches from these 4A powerhouses are calling District 4-4A the absolute toughest district in the state, but across both classes, Panhandle tennis is enjoying a historic golden era.
The Coaches’ Corner: Embracing the GauntletDarby Norman — Canyon Randall (State No. 3, Region I No. 2)
Randall head coach Darby Norman, who recently celebrated his 400th career victory, is thrilled but realistic about the high-stakes environment in their district. He also threw a nod to Amarillo High’s excellence.
“Cody Crouch over at Amarillo High gave me probably the best compliment you could give a coach. I think he told me one time, ‘your kids play so hard for you.’ Well, they do… We are ranked number three in the state in the rankings that just came out… The rankings came out, and there are four teams in the top ten in the state in our district. If that doesn’t sum up what Panhandle tennis is about, I don’t know what is. You’ve got Canyon, number two, we’re number three, West Plains is number eight and Hereford’s number nine. Crazy. Absolutely crazy.”
Norman noted that while his team’s 13-0 start is incredible, the postseason will be a brutal civil war.
“Two of the top ten teams in the state are going home in the second, third round… but you’ve got to be ready for it.”
Aaron Mendoza — Hereford (State No. 9, Region I No. 5)
For Hereford head coach Aaron Mendoza, the No. 9 state ranking is a testament to the growth of his young squad, which missed the postseason by just a single match last year and has had to fight tooth-and-nail against local giants.
“Big thing I talked about to my kids the other day was the belief and knowing that they can compete. To see someone else also believe in us and put us at a high ranking like that, it’s not just me saying, ‘Hey, I believe in you guys…’ but there’s other people out there saying, ‘Hey, this team is real.’ They’re putting us in the same category as those teams in the top of the state.”
David De Leon — Canyon (State No. 2, Region I No. 1)
Canyon head coach David De Leon has his team off to an 11-1 star, their only loss coming to Amarillo High.
He is fully leaning into the massive expectations that come with being ranked No. 2 in Texas.
“It’s the best start I’ve had since I’ve been in Canyon. This is the toughest district in the state, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The fact that we’re all four [district teams] back in the top ten this fall just talks about how hard our kids work up here in the Panhandle. It would be silly for us to ignore the expectations. I think we embraced them.”
Official Texas State & Regional Rankings
Below are the complete state and regional rankings highlighting our five local area powerhouses.
Class 5A Rankings
Local Team Featured: Amarillo High (State No. 6, Region I No. 2)
5A State Top 25
- Frisco Independence
- Highland Park
- Abilene Wylie
- Frisco High
- Frisco Centennial
- Amarillo High
- Lebanon Trail
- CC Flour Bluff
- Frisco Emerson
- Alamo Heights
- Frisco Reedy
- Frisco Heritage
- Prosper Richland
- LASA
- Argyle
- Frisco Liberty
- Lovejoy
- Georgetown
- A&M Consolidated
- Colleyville Heritage
- Boerne
- Wichita Falls Legacy
- Boerne Champion
- Abilene High
- Friendswood
5A Regional Top 10 (Region I Focus)
- Abilene Wylie
- Amarillo High
- Frisco Reedy
- Prosper Richland
- Argyle
- Wichita Falls Legacy
- Abilene High
- Lubbock High
- Lubbock Cooper
- Monterey
Class 4A Rankings
Local Teams Featured: Canyon (State No. 2), Canyon Randall (State No. 3), West Plains (State No. 8), Hereford (State No. 9)
4A State Top 25
- Tuloso Midway
- Canyon
- Canyon Randall
- Wimberley
- Liberty
- Lindale
- Fredericksburg
- West Plains
- Hereford
- China Spring
- Wills Point
- Davenport
- Vernon
- Kaufman
- Bullard
- Andrews
- Wall
- Burkburnett
- Groesbeck
- Franklin
- La Vernia
- Robinson
- Zapata
- Center
- Spring Hill
4A Regional Top 10 (Region I Focus)
- Canyon
- Canyon Randall
- Liberty
- West Plains
- Hereford
- Vernon
- Andrews
- Wall
- Burkburnett
- Shallowater
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