With the 2024-25 sports season over, Wingspan takes a look back at some of the top athletic stories from the school year starting with #10.

TOP SPORTS MOMENT OF 2024-25) Memories made as Redhawks beat Memorial: Football team breaks 29 game losing streak with 28-7 win

29 games.

116 quarters.

1,392 minutes of game action.

1,075 days.

That’s how long it had been since the Redhawks last won a game in 2021, a first round playoff win over Forney. 

Now, after Thursday’s 28-7 win, the counter is reset and a thirst for a win is finally quenched. 

From the team, to the cheerleaders, to the fans in the stands, it’s a win that will likely be remembered for years to come.  

The players 

“Breaking the losing streak was great, we’re celebrating this weekend,” senior Brian Chandler said. “We weren’t finding a lot of success in the past couple years, but [last night] was great.”

Winless since 2021, nobody on this year’s varsity team had ever won a game playing for the Redhawks. 

“It feels amazing I’m not going to lie, because it’s been three years since we won a game,” senior Ke’mari Daniels said. “[This win] meant everything, it meant the world. This is senior year, my final year, this was our last chance, and it was the best feeling ever. I think [what was different] was the morale. There was more energy, I was fired up, everybody was just fired up. After the locker room talk, everybody came out after the second-half and just executed.” 

Leading the way for the Redhawks was senior Khaleb Cooper who finished with 186 yards rushing and the game’s opening score on the first play of the game.

“It was amazing,” Cooper said. “I had never seen any of the people so hyped. We made so many TikTok videos, we posted a lot of stuff, we got a bunch of pictures, and they were yelling the whole bus drive back. Some people lost their voices, and now some people are sick, which I don’t know how that happened; even coach Swinnea was crying.” 

The head coach

For players, coaches, and students, the win was a long time coming, especially for head coach Matt Swinnea.

“Somebody after this game asked where this ranked as far as wins go, and I have been a part of 383 football games as a coach, but I think this was the most emotionally charged and best win,” said Swinnea. “It’s been so long, and just to see the guys I was so happy for them and the coaches. It was epic.” 

Players and students were charged with energy after the final whistle blew, but Swinnea took the moment to reflect, bringing him to tears. 

“I cried,” Swinnea said. “Like I said, it was the most emotional game I have ever been a part of. I’m weeping right now. It was huge. I think this teaches us all to keep fighting the fight, good things happen eventually, and you don’t know when it is, but it will come when you least expect it.”

The student section

Tears shed and voices gone, the student section is still reminiscing about the one-of-a-kind moment.

“We broke a curse like all the football players said,” senior Lily Gibbons said. “In the stands, we were so hype. We might have gotten in trouble but everyone was just really excited to see our players win. Everybody was crying, it was something to remember.”

A core memory was made for junior Luke Bishop, as he witnessed his first ever football win. 

“From middle school on, I’ve never seen a football team win,” Bishop said. “It was the best day of my life. It was just a fun time for the whole student body and all the athletes, and it was a great game to watch.”

The cheerleaders

During the losing streak, there was one group tasked with keeping spirits up: the cheerleaders. But Thursday’s game wasn’t like the previous 29.

“The energy was through the roof,” senior Breanna Fields said. “We were so excited. Because especially being a cheerleader we’re supposed to have the energy, and people are supposed to feed off our energy, but the fact that they were feeding off the players energy; this time it was different.”

Every game, the cheerleaders bring a beatbox playing the football team’s hype song, “Bring Em Out,” by T.I. 

Post-game, a different song could be heard from the box, one sung by all.

“It’s supposed to be like a joke, and we play like our song before every game,” senior Mackenzie Nelson said. “So it was really really fun when we got to experience a win and play “We Are the Champions” [by Queen].”

The drill team

Usually on the field before the game and during halftime, the drill team performs, but this time, the dancers stormed the field after the win, celebrating with the cheer and football team.

“That was so special,” Red Rhythm President senior Tierany Scott said. “Because I feel like it’s a once in a while opportunity. I begged my director to [storm the field], and she finally gave in and said yes. It was very freeing and exciting.”

An exciting moment for herself, Scott knew the win meant more to the players.

“I was just really proud of our football players for pulling in and pulling through,” Scott said. “Our senior year, and proving that like with hard work and with the right mindset you can push through and win.”

 The band 

At every football game, the band can be found cheering on the team. The band creates the noise, intimidates the other team, and sets the energy in the stadium. After showing up game after game during the losing streak, the school’s musicians were hyped up after every touchdown that brought them closer to victory.

For percussionist senior Claire Graham, the feeling inside the stadium was on a different level. 

“For the first time in three years, we have won a freaking game,” Graham said. “It was actually really great because everyone was just more hyped. We got to play the fight song way more so it was just a different energy. Everybody was screaming and when we went down to go do head-choppers [our team] was ahead.”

Clarinet player, senior Matthew Hung, felt sentimental after the team’s win, feeling like senior year can conclude with a bang. 

“We got more and more excited and started screaming more, out voices started getting hoarse,” Hung said. “It’s really exciting as we haven’t won since my freshman year. There’s been lots of ups and downs.”

The athletic trainers

The team behind the team, the athletic trainers put in the work every game to support the health of the football team. Seeing their hard work also pay off meant a lot to senior Ailie Plaks.

“It meant a lot to us knowing that our dedication to helping people out and helping especially the football players out especially after three years,” Plaks said. 

While still doing their job, the trainers were a part of the game getting just as excited as the crowd.

“[The energy] was very high, I feel like for us especially,” Plaks said. “Especially for us, it’s different because we’re like running around a lot, and like doing everything, and especially last night it was a lot because all the coaches were like all over the place.”

Administration

Principal Stacey Whaling got to check something off her bucket list: her first Redhawks win as school principal.

“I’m just so excited for the athletes who deserve a win because they work so hard every single day,” Whaling said. “The coaches who work so hard for the kids, the most meaningful thing is watching them enjoy the fruits of their labors. Getting to feel that pride and their biggest fans, their families, and their peers just celebrating.”

Long time teacher and now Assistant Principal Richard Sabatier also enjoyed the win from the sideline.

“It’s been a while since we got a win and so it was really cool to see the students, the band, the players, Red Rhythm, cheer, and color guard, everyone to celebrate that win,” Sabatier said. “The student section went crazy at the end, it was really exciting. I was jumping up and down, also. I like to see my team win.”

#2) Up from the bottom: Winless four years ago, softball bows out with second playoff appearance in school history

The softball team was eliminated in the first round of playoffs Friday at Independence after dropping the first two games (4-3, 7-5) in a best of three series against Lone Star Thursday and Friday.

Although the Redhawks’ season is now over, they have been steadily improving for the last several years. It shows in the team’s annual records – they went from being winless in district play in 2021 to now making their second postseason appearance in three years and being one loss away from becoming district champions.

“I am very proud of these amazing young ladies,” head coach Tiffany Thayer said. “Throughout the season they defied the odds and did things that no one expected them to do, exceeding expectations and working hard on and off the field. We may not have gotten the result we wanted, but we went farther than many people expected us to.” 

Perhaps something else of note about this year’s team is that they achieved an overall record of 14-9, including four consecutive shutouts, with a smaller-than-average lineup. While in the past the team has had as many as seventeen players on their roster, this year the Redhawks only fielded eleven. A number that low has only been seen once before in school history, during the 2019-2020 school year, when the team went winless both overall and in district play.

The reduced number of players has impacted team culture both on and off the field, according to junior Anna Reeves.

“The biggest thing for me throughout the season was the vibe,” Reeves said. “The energy during warmups and how unified we felt as a team really stuck with us through the season. We were relaxed, connected, and confident—that’s when we’re at our best. We kept creating that atmosphere, game after game, and that’s how we got success.” 

With the season over and another playoff appearance in the history books, the team’s five seniors will head off to college in the fall, with at least three – Madison Terry, Adeline Glatch, and Ainslee Palmer – playing collegiately, the former two at Clark Atlanta University and the latter at Weatherford College, respectively. For the remaining six players, though, preparation for next season is already underway.

“We’re going to really hit the weight room, do some drills, and watch film from the year to make sure we improve what was good from this season and fix what wasn’t so good,” junior Amrutha Kondreddy said.

Thayer has some specific goals for both the offseason and next season to ensure the continued success of the softball program.

“I want to see us get back to the playoffs again next season and go farther than the first round,” Thayer said. “I know and the girls know that we’re capable of that, but we need to make sure that we start connecting more consistently technique-wise in order for it to happen.”

#3)  “So our dad and mom are like, they’re pretty big in Africa, and Kenya”: Redhawks basketball players journey to their parents home

“Sideline coaching,” often a stigma in sports, is defined as a parent putting too much input into their kids’ game while watching.  

But what if your sideline coach had national team experience in that sport?

Growing up in Kenya, Onogro and Jackline Aluga came to America on basketball scholarships. Alex attended Abilene Chrisitan University, while Jackline went to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. Both parents even got the opportunity to represent their country playing for the Kenya National Team.


 “So our dad and mom are like, they’re pretty big in Africa, and Kenya,” freshman Alex Aluga said. “They played for the Kenya National Team, both of them. We are not really superstars, but at least our parents are.”

On campus, their three children might be known for their two-time state-winning daughter Judy Aluga class of 2024, three-year varsity player, junior Gilbert Aluga, or the latest addition to the Redhawks varsity basketball team, freshman Alex Aluga. 

But when the family journeyed to their parents’ birthplace of Kenya, none of that mattered.  

“There were a lot of childhood memories,” mother Jackline Aluga said. “You know it was you know spending time with my mom and my sister who I don’t get to see them quite often that was just amazing,” 

The trip was not just a time to visit family, it was also an opportunity for the Aluga brothers to learn.

 “I took my kids with me and they got to do a little bit of skills with some of the coaches that taught me basketball,” Jackline said. “To me, that was just an experience that I was so happy for my kids.”

The learning continued away from the court when a local sports station stopped the two sons for a surprise interview.

“We were in the capital city, Nairobi, and we drove, 15 minutes out and went to some lodge,” Gilbert said. “We went to some room in the back, and our parents were sitting on a couch behind us, and we got interviewed by, this small company who’s trying to bring sports media to Kenya because they don’t really have a broad sports media presence over there.”

That small company is Wima Sports, a local organization in Kenya that aims to break what founder Germaine Odhiambo calls a stigma of sports journalism in Kenya. 

Battles against fair pay and unfair treatment are common in the journalism community in Africa, with Odhiambo wanting to change the narrative. As of 2025, there are currently only 1,600 students enrolled in journalism at the University of Nairobi.

“Our goal is to highlight the stories of athletes, organizations, and clubs, building their brands while inspiring and empowering communities through sports,” Odhimabo said. “We do sports documentaries and interviews under production, draft sports programs for athletes and teams under sports management, construction and maintenance of sports facilities, and sports recovery and wellness.”

Alex and Jackline attend every single Redhawks basketball game. The close knit family’s sense of compassion was something that drew Wima Sports to invite the special guests. 

“We were drawn to their story as a father, mother – son duo passionate about basketball and the values they uphold in the sport,” Odhiambo said. “Their journey reflects resilience, mentorship, and the impact of family support in sports development, making it an inspiring narrative for our audience.”

Living with former national team players, Gilbert and Alex have coaches in their own home impacting their success on the court. 

“We always talk to them after the game because we’ve played the game ourselves and we understand it more so we try to instill a little bit of knowledge in them as well,” Jackline said. “[When] we started basketball it wasn’t for them to become professional athletes, I just wanted them to be healthy so I’m so proud of them that they were able to embrace this journey and so far so good.”

Gilbert feels his parents’ support in his basketball journey even though he has big shoes to fill.

“It’s just normal [their success]. I know I have big footsteps to follow in, but I think I can get there if I keep working hard,” Gilbert said. “And, my dad and my mom, both, they’re not pressuring me super hard or anything. They pressure me a lot, but it’s positive, because they know I can get there. They know I can do it.”

Although the basketball gene might run in the family, Jackline believes her children’s school should come first. 

“Education is a big one for me,” Jackline said. “I want them to graduate and be professionals and you know be able to earn a living. Basketball always comes second to me. So my goal for my kids, school takes priority more than anything else. School and health, those are more important to me and basketball comes in second. My goal is for them to finish high school, go to college, graduate, and be able to earn a living.”

#4) They came from a land down under

For one afternoon, the Redhawks girls’ basketball team left behind the land of Knights, Mavericks, and Titans to welcome a team from the land of kangaroos as the Aussie Travellers visited The Nest Thursday afternoon. 

Escaping with a 41-37 win, the game was about more than the final result for head coach Ross Reedy. 

“We’re just excited,” Reedy said. “I think every time we get an opportunity to play, different kinds of folks, whether we’re traveling within the state, within the continental U.S., which we did last year, And then any time we get to play an international opponent, which I believe this is the second or third time. It’s just exciting because one, you get to play people from a different place and have a different brand of basketball, but it also opens you up culturally.”

The Aussie Travellers is a summer program for basketball players looking for exposure in the United States and consists of players of all different ages and places in Australia. 

“So I did this tour last year, and just, like, loved every second of it, like the just like the experience of coming here,” Aussie Traveller Liv Johnston said. “It’s a whole different country, obviously, and whole new experiences. Everyone’s so nice. Like you going to a place we would just open the door for you, which I love. Just great people and a great country, and sports culture is really big here in America.”

Some Travellers hope the exposure to basketball outside of Australia will help them prepare for their future goals as players. For junior Lily Exton, that means going D1 in the United States. 

“I really want to go to a D1 college,” Exton said. “Playing a different type of community and the different girls and meeting different people and then see where that takes me hopefully far.”

In the U.S. basketball is considered a major sport with NBA, WNBA, and NCAA basketball bringing millions upon millions of viewers, but in Australia it is outshined by more culturally prominent sports like rugby or swimming. 

“Rugby is huge in Australia and we call it the AFL,” Johnston said. “So that’s kind of our main emphasis. It’s still big on basketball, but yeah, it’s definitely like the college scene right here is just amazing compared to home.”

For Travellers parent Alek Horenko, this trip and tour was about providing more serious basketball experiences. 

“So she’s always wanted to take her basketball a little bit more seriously,” Horenko said. “So in Australia, basketball is not one of the main sports, so we don’t train that much as some of the other ones. So we just saw at the end of high school to give her a chance to take it a little bit more seriously.”

With the game going down to the final minutes, the Redhawks felt there was no noticeable difference in their playing-style, but during their visit with the team from down under, some of the cultural differences stand out. 

“We’re talking about school, how different it is,” senior Anaiah Warrior said. “And like we had said that, our summer is three months and theirs is like two, and they were, like, freaking out whenever we said, it was three months. So you can tell that it’s a lot different for what they do in Australia, definitely culture shock.”

#5) Passing of the torch, Chip Gregory announced as head football coach

As soon as the news broke on Nov. 14th that Matt Swinnea would be retiring, the hunt began to find a new head football coach. On Tuesday, it was announced that one of the Redhawks’ own, assistant football coach Chip Gregory, would be promoted to head coach.

“Being appointed as the head coach is truly a momentous occasion,” Gregory said. “My first reaction was brimming with enthusiasm. It marks a major milestone, and I am fully prepared to take on the responsibilities.”

Once former coach Swinnea put in his resignation, the application opened up through a job portal. It was then up to Principal Stacy Whaling and the district to work together to find the perfect match for The Nest.

“Athletics at the district level basically vets, what are the qualifications needed to be a head coach in Frisco,” Whaling said. “At that point, they bring me in to go ahead and begin the interview process, and we determine what the best fit is for the campus. That is a group decision with district personnel, with HR, with myself, in order to figure out what the needs of the campus are.”

Gregory has been a part of the Redhawks family for 10 years. While the position was open to all, Whaling saw an advantage to an internal hire.

“You don’t have to build those relationships,” Whaling said. “You can kind of get started on the work because, usually having to build relationships takes time. So you don’t have to take the time to create new relationships.”

Swinea believes his former subordinate has what it takes to succeed at the role.

“Coach Gregory will bring his own unique insight and application of leadership style to the campus and staff and that’s what needs to happen,” Swinnea said. “Loyal to self, to his calling, and to the campus; that’s all that’s required. Oh, that and be good to Wingspan.”

Gregory will not only be the head football coach but also the campus athletic coordinator. With this, Gregory will be in charge of all things sports on campus. He will oversee the budgeting, hiring, and support of 38 coaches and around 500 athletes at The Nest.

“I am fully prepared to take on any challenges that may come with this promotion,” Gregory said. “I have complete trust in our capable administration and am excited to carry on the legacy of past coordinators by leading our athletic programs to success.” 

#6) Junior outside hitter is “killer queen” in Dallas-Fort Worth high school volleyball

She has one goal in mind: getting the kill.

It’s a play that can leave any opponent shaken.

When done right, it’s a violent action that results in the ball rocketing across the net to either find a vacant spot on the volleyball court or ricochet out of bounds. 

Either way, a kill is good. A kill gives the Redhawks another point.

And it’s a skill junior, outside hitter Jaiden Harris is well versed at as she is among the leaders in DFW with 543 kills on the year and averaging 5.1 kills a set. It is a position she cherishes despite its stressful nature.

“The most challenging part about getting as many kills as I do is that the team we are playing will be focused on me, making it harder to score,” Jaiden said. “It takes court awareness, and a high IQ to get a kill. You have to see the block in front of you as well as where the defenders are standing to see where the holes are in the court.”

It paid off in District 11-5A play. 

The Redhawks have clinched their third straight district championship with a 12-1 record heading into Tuesday’s finale against Emerson, a team they beat 3-0 earlier in the season. 

“We are so lucky to have Jaiden, she is one of the best all-around volleyball players in Texas,” head coach Eighmy Dobbins said. “She excels at all skills on the court, but there is nothing like watching her hit the ball; she is so strong and very exciting to watch. It’s rare to have a player as dynamic and well-rounded as Jaiden, we do not take her for granted.”

Her ability on the court is something developed over the course of years through countless practices. For her dad, Assistant Principal Jason Harris, it’s all about her work ethic. 

“Before she was a freshman in high school, she was spending quite a bit of time in the gym working out and going to volleyball clinics to get better,” Jason said. “She wanted to be the best that she could be and she always devoted that time. I’m very proud of the hard work she’s put in to become the player that she is today.”

It’s the type of player that allows Dobbins a variety of options.

“She is super aggressive and has a lot of power behind her swing, but she also has such a wide range of shots that give her the ability to mix it up and catch the other team off guard,” Dobbins said. “We know we can count on Jaiden offensively, so in tight games our team looks to Jaiden to create points for us. Jaiden is our main offensive weapon, and because of that she gets our opponent’s biggest blockers and best defenders lined up with her when she is swinging.”

Whether or not she gets the kill in these situations, for her dad, it’s not about the statistics. 

“The biggest growth I’ve seen in her is really embracing and encouraging and helping her teammates to become the best they can because she knows that it’s not just about her,” Jason said. “It’s about the team. For them to really reach their full success, the team has to be playing at their best, all of the players. If each player is playing at their best, they’re going to have a better chance at winning games.”

#7) Redhawks swim qualifiers transform into Longhorns at state meet

They may still be in high school, but twelve members of the Redhawks swim and dive team have their sights set firmly on the University of Texas as they travel to Austin Friday and Saturday, competing in the state meet.

“This is one of the largest groups we’ve had going to state in recent years, so we have the potential to do very well across many events,” head coach Zachariah Gnoza said. “All but one of those going this year will be returning next year, which will allow them to apply their experience from state to next season.”

For sophomore Zoe Schneider, the meet is about more than just the competition.

“As a team we are excited,” Schneider said. “We have been preparing for months in hopes to make it to state so we are very excited and ready to go. This is the biggest group we have had going in years so it will be a lot of fun. We are hoping to make the top 16 coming out of prelims to swim in finals on Saturday.”

#8) Girls track team wins Area Championship

After the Redhawks track and field teams advanced to the Area meet on Monday, the athletes continuing proving their capabilities on Thursday in Carrollton with girls team winning the Area championship and both girls and boys athletes advancing to the 5A Regional II meet April 18-19 at UT-Arlington.

“Being Area champs is definitely a great achievement for the girls,” girls head coack Khera Vay said. “They are pushing themselves hard to make it to state and I hope we place high in regionals especially after how the area meet went.”

In addition to the team title, the girls won individual area championships in the long jump, 4×200, high jump, and triple jump with junior Jade Burrowes claiming both the triple jump championship and running on the 4×200 relay champions. 

“I’m excited to be able to run in regionals especially as the area champ,” Burrowes said. “I’m doing a few field events and two relays which I think I have a pretty good chance at advancing so i’m pretty excited to compete.”

#9)  State meet brings wrestling season to a close

The wrestling season for the Redhawks came to an end Friday and Saturday with wrestlers competing in the UIL 5A State Championships at the Berry Center of Northwest Houston.

“I’m very proud of everyone for having a great season and putting a lot into this team,” head coach Justin Koons said. “The ones that made it to state performed very well and I’m extremely proud of them and excited to see what they can do next season.”

Although none of the three Redhawks who advanced earned a state title, it’s still a great achievement according to senior William Randolph.

“It was good to make it to state again but at the same time it was sad since it was my last wrestling match ever,” Randolph said. “It was a great season and I’m very proud of my teammates.”

#10) Former Redhawk among 2025 Athletic Hall of Honor inductees

Scholastic recognition is nothing new to The Nest, but a former Redhawk brought a new honor to campus on Friday when 2011 graduate Jay Ajayi took the field at the Ford Center as part of the 2025 class being inducted into the FISD Athletic Hall of Honor.

“I had got the call from my old head coach, Coach Z, he had called me out of the blue and just basically gave me the great news,” Ayaji said. “I was excited, obviously, to come get honored here in front of my family and friends. Exciting day for me. I don’t know when I was acting up and just running around [in high school] if it was gonna go this far. But yeah, I’m just grateful for the journey, and obviously, again, to be a Hall of Honor [and] for everything I did is really incredible.”

The Hall of Honor was introduced in 2023, in which a panel every year elects past athletic greats to be recognized by the district with Ajayi chosen for his notable statistics and contribution to the Redhawks football team, his district wins in track, and his career after high school including a Super Bowl championship with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“It is a tremendous honor for the campus,” athletic coordinator Matt Swinnea said. “This is only the second class in the Hall of Honor, and to be nominated so early, with such a storied FISD athletic legacy, speaks volumes of Jay’s significant impact. During his time here, Redhawk football was simultaneously in its infancy and its heyday.” 

During his time at The Nest, Redhawks football had two consecutive playoff appearances with overall records of 7-6 and 12-1, with Ajayi setting records yet to be broken. 

“He was one of the top five rushers in the state of Texas,” former coach Brandon Gonzalez said. “He had over 2000 yards, however, he played very few full football games. Most of the time he would play the first half, and then we would go to a backup running back, because we would be up 35 or 40 points. So he only had that many yards rushing, only basically playing half the games. But he was on pace to tie the state record for touchdowns too.”

Walking out of high school, Ajayi was a three star recruit who ended up at Boise State for three years before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Ajayi spent three years with the Dolphins before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles where he would help the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2018.

Gonzalez can’t say he saw Ajayi winning a Super Bowl, but he does know the London born son of Nigerian parents had some the talent to play beyond high school. 

“Man, it’s hard to say that you can see somebody going to the NFL when they’re in high school,” Gonzalez said. “But you know, as he went through his recruitment process, a lot of schools came on him late and I just wondered why it took so long. You could definitely tell he was special. I mean, whenever we played other teams there, there was nobody that was on his level.”

It’s something the Frisco ISD Hall of Honor recognizes, and in January Ajayi will be inducted, along with the other members of the Class of 2025, at a luncheon along with a celebration on campus. 

And even though it’s been more than a dozen years since Ajayi wore the red and black of the Redhawks, he hasn’t forgotten his former team. 

“I know they haven’t been winning a lot, man,” Ajayi said. “So hey, guys, look we need at least one win, stack the wins, win the day first. Win the day first, and then go win the game after that, but good luck to the Redhawks always.”