By Glenn Sattell
Chronicle correspondent

The Woodlands has officially supplanted neighboring Kingwood as Class 5A rulers of the Lone Star Cup.

The annual award is given by the University Interscholastic League to the Texas high school in each classification scoring the most accumulative points in athletics and academics over a school year. In addition to the trophy, the winning school receives a $1,000 scholarship.

The Woodlands, by winning the 2009-10 award, has equaled Kingwood’s three-year reign from 2002-03 to 2004-05. It is the fourth Lone Star Cup trophy in the last five years for The Woodlands, which is one win away from tying Kingwood’s five trophies for most by any Class 5A school since the award was first handed out in 1997-98.

The Woodlands and Kingwood have combined to win nine of the 13 Lone Star Cup trophies. But lately, it’s been all The Woodlands.

“We’re really proud of that accomplishment,” said Mark Schmid, head football coach and campus athletics director at The Woodlands High School.
Points are scored in athletics for team performance in UIL-sanctioned individual and team sports.

“Our coaches do a great job of putting together quality programs,” Schmid said. “We’ve got great kids to work with, a very supportive administration, great support from the parents. The community takes a great deal of pride in the fact that we are the Lone Star Cup champions. So it’s a pretty big deal for us.”

Points are also scored for UIL-sanctioned non-athletic competitions including marching band, one-act play and the state academic meet.

The Woodlands won the 2009-10 Lone Star Cup by scoring 100 points. Austin Westlake, who won the trophy in 2001-02, finished second with 94 points and Kingwood was third with 80 points. Southlake Carroll, who won two Class 4A trophies, finished fourth with 64 points while Lewisville Marcus totaled 60 points and finished fifth.

Bellaire and Cinco Ranch tied for sixth with 56 points each followed by Klein (54) and Clements (51). Austin Bowie, Pearland and Plano West all tied with 50 points to round out the top 10.
The Woodlands scored big with state championships in girls soccer, boys cross country and boys swimming.

“That’s pretty impressive in itself, being able to have three state champions in the course of a year,” Schmid noted. “We really had a great year.”
Boys soccer scored 14 points and the softball team scored 10 points. Also adding to the totals were boys basketball, which scored eight points, while football, volleyball and girls golf scored six points apiece.

Girls cross country and academics added four points each, while baseball and girls basketball added two points for each sport.