It was a wildly productive summer for Killeen ISD’s athletes, who demonstrated high levels of consistency, resolve and tenacity, and showed up by the dozens over the last several weeks to voluntary strength and conditioning sessions.
The valuable training hours –– which included purpose-driven workouts –– were led by committed coaches, who want KISD’s athletes to be prepared, in top shape and ready for the quickly approaching 2025-2026 season.
“We had very good turnout throughout the summer. Our strength and conditioning program has really ramped everything up,” Ellison assistant campus coordinator for girls athletics and volleyball head coach Shirelle Givens said. “We have a number of new coaches and the kids bought into the new coaching staff, which is amazing on both the boys and the girls side. It was just really, really good.”
The optional-yet-well-attended summer workouts concluded this week and attention fully shifted to the fall sports season, which includes cross country, team tennis, volleyball and football.
“It’s becoming an expectation, and when you raise the expectation kids are going to show up if they are available. We understand that they will go on vacation, and we advise those kids to go have fun and have their time,” Killeen High athletic coordinator and football head coach Josh Sadler said. “But, when they are here, they are working. I’m so proud of the progress that we made over the summer. It’s been a great summer for us.”
The work certainly appeared to pay off, no matter the sport, and the athletes are on course to excel, be at their best and shine this year.
“All of our coaches worked really well together this summer, and our numbers were very consistent throughout,” Chaparral athletic coordinator and football head coach Tyrell McCrea said.
With competitions right around the corner, official practices already are underway for cross country and tennis, and volleyball tryouts and practices begin Aug. 1.
Chaparral football opens fall camp Aug. 4 and one week later on Aug. 11, Ellison, Harker Heights, Killeen and Shoemaker follow suit.
Tennis matches are scheduled to start Aug. 4, volleyball season openers are the week of Aug. 11, the first cross country meets are Aug. 11-12 and the football regular season kicks off the week of Aug. 28.
Middle school falls sports –– cross country, volleyball and football –– schedules can be found at www.killeenisd.org/athletics, which is where the high school schedules also are located.
Here’s looking forward to a grand and golden 2025-2026.
