Time sure flies when you're in high school. It seems like yesterday when I sat down to interview five freshman female athletes at Cypress Creek HS that were making headlines, and had earned roster spots on varsity teams in their respective sports. I referred to them as the "Fab Five" of the Cougars' Class of 21.
Ayden Bridges - Soccer - Univ. of Houston
Rori Harmon - Basketball - Univ. of Texas
Kyndall Hunter - Basketball - Univ. of Texas
Jordan Peno - Softball - Sam Houston State
J'Naiya Thomas - Softball - Univ. of Houston
Well, now they have all become seniors, and as their last seasons at the high school level are about to begin, all five have earned that next step in their student-athlete careers - an opportunity to play in college.
With Hunter's announcement on Sunday, October 4 that she was committing to the University of Texas, it completed the group's special place in Cy Creek athletic history - all five girls will remain in the State of Texas. Hunter will be joining her teammate Rori Harmon in Austin to play for the Longhorns.
"To have two kids that changed the face of the Cy Creek Girls Basketball program for the past three years both wanting to continue their journey as teammates at the next level is really special," said Cy Creek Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Jennifer Alexander. "What makes me most happy is both Kyndall and Rori know they made the right decision for themselves individually. Coach Schaefer and his staff at Texas will continue to develop them as great people and great players, and that is exciting. But that will be after we finish what we started here at Cy Creek - we have one more thing to go and get."
That one thing of course, is a State Championship. Harmon and Hunter have led the Lady Cougs to the State Final Four twice already, as freshmen in 2018 when they were defeated in the semifinals, and last year in 2020, when they lost the State Championship game.
Bridges has been a star on the soccer field since her freshman campaign, leading the Lady Cougs in scoring. Last season, she and her teammates were on the verge of a playoff berth, before the Coronavirus shut things down. But she is also looking forward to one final run for Cy Creek, before she heads downtown to UH.
Pino & Thomas both had their softball seasons cut short last year, but they had accomplished enough to earn their chances at the next level. Pino will head to Huntsville and play for the Bearkats, while Thomas will join Bridges downtown at Houston. Maybe those two friends can become roommates as Houston Cougar athletes, after they are finished being Cy Creek Cougar athletes.
One thing is certain. It all looks to be like another exceptional year for the Fab Five in the Class of '21 at Cy Creek. Watch for these ladies to make one last splash!
