Pleasant Grove currently is tied for No. 7 in the Class 4A state rankings for the prestigious UIL Lone Star Cup, which is based on a school district's combined academic and athletic achievements for a single school year.
"There are 197 schools in Class 4A and we're tied for seventh, so we're in the top 3 or 3.5 percent in the state," Pleasant Grove Athletic Director Josh Gibson said Saturday. "I think we're the lone Northeast Texas team in the top 10 in any classification, which says a lot about of district teachers, coaches and other individuals involved in the fine arts, band and other categories. It's a combined competition and Pleasant Grove has well represented our district and community."
The annual award goes to the top six high schools in each of the UIL classifications (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A). Lone Star Cup points are based on a team's performance in district and state championships. The winning schools in each classification will receive a Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship.
Team points are accrued in most team sports, marching band, military marching band, one-act play, Congress, spirit and robotics, to name a few.
"Robotics was a category they added this year and we won state in robotics last year, so we're hoping to get some points there," Gibson said. "And we hope to gain points in baseball, where we're enjoyed some tremendous success the past several years."
Pleasant Grove has 27 points, which places the Hawks 21 points behind leading Canyon Randall (48).
"But we're only three points out of third place," coach Gibson said. "And we've done well in several spring sports, so I hope we can move up in the standings."
Gibson has been at Pleasant Grove for nine years and the Texarkana school has placed in the top 10 three of those years.
"Our highest finishes in the Lone Star Cup have been fourth, sixth and ninth," Gibson said. "That means we've been in the top 3 or 4 percent in the state several years, which is a huge compliment to all the people who contribute to our overall success."
Gibson said Pleasant Grove' success start at the very top.
"Superintendent Chad Pirtle placed a lot of emphasis on the Lone Star Cup, because it gauges our success in so many different categories, both sports and academics. I know Mr. Pirtle would be thrilled if we could win it one year."
Lone Star Cup categories include: Academic State, Baseball (team sport), Basketball (team sport), Congress, Cross Country (individual sport), Film, Football (team sport), Golf (individual sport), Marching Band, Mariachi, Military Marching Band, One-Act Play, Robotics, Soccer (team sport), Softball (team sport), Spirit, Swimming and Diving (individual sport), Team Tennis, Tennis (individual sport), Theatrical Design, Track and Field (individual sport), Volleyball (team sport) and Wrestling (individual sport).
Classification leaders include: Austin Vandegrift in 6A, Lucas Lovejoy in 5A, Canyon Randall in 4A, Gunter in 3A, Hamilton and Hawley in 2A, and Benjamin in 1A.
Lone Star Cup
Class 4A
School, Points
1. Canyon Randall, 48
2. Celina, 43
3. China Spring, 30
4. (tie) Anna, 29
4. (tie) La Vernia, 29
6. Lago Vista, 28
7. (tie) Pleasant Grove, 27
7. (tie) Canyon, 27