Stratford Cross Country Wins School's Fourth Consecutive State Title

Following the award ceremony, the band played the Stratford Alma Mater bringing the runners and students together. This is not the first time the students have celebrated a state win at SHS. In the last four years, a team has received a trophy with Swimming and diving in 2011 and 2012, and Cross country in 2013 and 2014. (Photo: Rebecca Williamson)

The Stratford Boys Varsity Cross Country team won the State Championship for the second year in a row, capping off four straight years of State Championship years for Stratford, as Swimming won two consecutive state titles in 2012 and 2013. 

The school held a celebration assembly during school on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in which a variety of speakers commended the champions. 

“Winning a state championship is an unbelievable feat,” said Stratford Athletic Director Eliot Allen said. “We have sort of gotten used to having these celebrations on an annual basis, but it’s important to understand how very difficult it is to be the very best, the number one school, out of about 240 schools. That’s a real challenge.”

Other speakers included interim building principal Danny Gex, SBISD superintendent Dr. Duncan Klussmann, Stratford athletic director Eliot Allen, and SBISD Executive Director of Athletics Paige Hershey, all of whom also commemorated the school’s seniors, who are part of the first class in Spring Branch ISD history to win a State Championship each year.

“I don’t think that there are that many high schools in the state of Texas that can actually say that their school has won a state championship ever year over the last four years,” Interim Building Principal Danny Gex said. “But anyone who can certainly has the right to brag about it.”

SBISD Superintendent Dr. Duncan Klussmann stopped by the celebration before heading to a meeting, to offer his congratulations. “In my 28 year career in public education, I don’t know of any other high school that’s had the accomplishments that this high school has had in swimming and in cross country over the last four years,” he said. “There are roughly 250 5A schools across the state of Texas, but there’s something about a team like this that rises to the top, that has an edge and that commits a little more.”

The victory was special not only for the athletes, but for the coaches as well. “As a coach, this trophy represents not just victory, but it represents discipline, commitment, and the hard work put in by these men, and it means a lot for this community and school,” Head Cross Country Coach Tony Brillon said.

The team suffered a heartbreaking loss and regionals and lost a few teammates to injuries at different points throughout the season. But, as SBISD Executive Director of Athletics Paige Hershey said, in the end “they believed, they did their part, they gutted it out, and brought home another state crown.”