Life School Athletics has concluded one of its most accomplished seasons in district history, with student-athletes and coaches across Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) and Life School Oak Cliff (LSOC) earning district championships, state-level qualifications, and individual honors that reflect the character and excellence at the heart of Life School's athletic programs.
Combined, the two high school campuses produced more than 10 district championships, sent multiple programs to the state level, and earned numerous coaching honors from their respective districts and state associations — a testament to the culture of leadership, discipline, and teamwork Life School Athletics has built across its campuses.
Beyond team success, more than 15 student-athletes have signed to compete at the collegiate level next year. This achievement is a testament not only to the dedication and hard work of these athletes, but also to the support of their parents, teachers, counselors, coaches, and campus administration who have played a vital role in their development on and off the field.
Life High School Waxahachie: A Season of Milestones
Life High School Waxahachie saw 11 high school teams qualify for the state playoffs or postseason, with six district championships and six programs advancing to the state level, including Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Track, Swimming, and Boys and Girls Powerlifting.
Girls Soccer, led by Head Coach Chase Bishop, captured District 12-4A, Area, and Regional Championships before advancing to the State Tournament — with four players, Grace Gomez, Paige Hubbard, Zanae Nylund, and Kailee Armstrong, named 1st Team All-State. Coach Bishop also earned District 12-4A Coach of the Year honors for the boys and girls programs and earned win number 300 as a Life School Soccer Coach. The Boys Soccer team captured the district and area titles as well.
Head Coach Dustin Robinson's baseball program captured the District 12-4A District Championship before the Mustangs added the Bi-District title, sweeping the Kimball Knights in a best-of-three series. The team now advances to the UIL Area Round, continuing what has already been a landmark postseason run — with the program's first State Championship well within sight.
Track and Field, under Head Coach Lyle Linscomb, claimed Boys and Girls District and Area Championships and sent 33 athletes to the Regional Meet — capping an already historic regular season with a 3rd-place finish at the Region 2-4A Championships. Coach Linscomb also reached the TTGCA 1,000-Point Club milestone this season, recognizing 14 years of sustained coaching excellence at Life School.
Twelve Mustang student-athletes punched their tickets to the UIL State Meet, competing in seven events. The Boys qualified two relay teams, headlined by the 4x200M Relay, which claimed the Regional Championship while setting both a school record and a 25-year regional meet record. The Lady Mustangs finished as Regional Runner-Up, led by Regional Championships in the 4x200M and 4x400M relays — with the 4x400M team setting both a regional meet record and a new Life School record.
Individual standouts included Bailey Murray, who earned two state berths with a 2nd-place finish in Shot Put and a Regional Championship in Girls Discus, and Ramyha Torres, who secured a Wildcard spot to the State Championships with a 3rd-place finish in the 400M.
State-Qualifying Relay Teams:
- Boys 4x100M & 4x200M: Jeremiah Walker, Micah Walker, Tyler Lott, Tre'shaun Smith, Kendall Smith
- Girls 4x200M: Kendall Murray, Brooke Vinson, Ma'Caylen Barnes, Laila Tolbert, Taylor Desouze, Ramyha Torres
- Girls 4x400M: Kendall Murray, Ramyha Torres, Taylor Desouze, Laila Tolbert, Ma'Caylen Barnes, Brooke Vinson
Cross Country, led by Head Coach Daniel Dagen, saw the boys team claim a district title and had an athlete advance to the State Meet. Boys Basketball Head Coach Eddie Berumen surpassed 450 career wins at LHSW, leading the team to a District 12-4A Runner-Up finish and playoff berth. Head Coach Taylor Pope and the Lady Mustangs Volleyball team also qualified for the playoffs and had a very successful year.
The season also featured a significant retirement: Eric Bishop — TASCO Girls Assistant Soccer Coach of the Year and the recipient of this year's Double Goal Coach of the Year award — is retiring after 12 years of teaching and coaching at Life School, having made a lasting impact on hundreds of student-athletes.
Life School Oak Cliff: Championships Across the Board
Life School Oak Cliff produced five high school team district championships, with state qualifications earned and additional appearances pending in Track and Field.
Boys Soccer Head Coach Kirk Redding earned District 9-4A Coach of the Year honors and surpassed 150 career wins, leading the Lions to a district championship and playoff berth. Softball Head Coach Nicholas Perkins was named District 9-3A Coach of the Year after guiding the program to its second-consecutive district championship.
Boys and Girls Golf, led by Head Coach Jeremy LaRue — District 9-3A Coach of the Year for both programs — won the boys and girls district titles and advanced to regional competition.
Track and Field Head Coach Marquis Stimpson led the Girls team to a district championship, with the Boys finishing as district runner-up. Both squads advanced to the area and regional championships, and are sending Regional Shot Put Champion, Kylan Gardner, to the UIL State Meet.
Powerlifting enjoyed an outstanding season under the leadership of Michael Boyefio, with both the boys and girls teams qualifying for the Regional Meet and the girls advancing to compete at the State Meet.
"This has been a truly special year for Life School Athletics," said Scott Thrush, Director of Athletics. "The coaches and athletes at both campuses have demonstrated exactly what Life School stands for — Leadership, Integrity, Family and Excellence — representing their schools and community with pride. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of every coach and student-athlete who contributed to this season."
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Life School is a tuition-free, public charter school with campuses in Cedar Hill, Dallas (Oak Cliff, Mountain Creek), Lancaster, Red Oak and Waxahachie, TX. Life School develops leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. Its mission is accomplished in part through the financial support of donors who provide scholarships to help make students ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.
Parents who are interested in enrollment can visit lifeschool.net/learn-about-life. Partners who would like to support Life School financially can give online at lifeschool.net/give.
