Success wasn’t hard to find for the three Denton ISD schools in the past UIL alignment.

In those two years, Denton, Ryan and Guyer dominated District 5-4A despite dealing with heavily completive schools in Sherman, Denison, Wichita Falls and Wichita Falls Rider.

In the 2007-08 school year, for example, Denton ISD won all but three of the eight district titles in team sports -- football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and baseball.

“I’ve been very pleased, mainly because we continue to split our talent here at Denton with the opening of Guyer,” said Denton ISD athletic director Ken Purcell. “That’s the pleasing thing about it. Even though we keep splitting our talent pool, we’re winning against very competitive schools like Sherman and Denison who are basically traditional one-horse-town schools.”

Even though Guyer completed just its third year of competition, it contributed considerably to Denton ISD’s success this year. The Wildcats brought home district crowns in volleyball and boys soccer.

Ryan had the most success, taking first in 5-4A in girls basketball, softball and baseball.

The only sports in which Denton ISD didn’t win the district title were football (Wichita Falls Rider), boys basketball (Wichita Falls) and girls soccer (Keller Fossil Ridge). The district had a playoff team in every sport except boys basketball, although Ryan lost in a postseason play-in game against Denison. Collectively, Denton, Ryan and Guyer didn’t make the playoffs in boys basketball in either of the two years in the alignment.

The highlight for Denton ISD this year was clinching all three playoff spots in volleyball. Purcell attributes the success to good athletes, good coaches and good parents.

“I think I’ve got some of the finest coaches in the state, to be honest with you,” Purcell said. “I get constant resumes in the summer from people wanting to come to Denton. I think we have good parents here in Denton.”

Denton had the least amount of success of the three schools, as it continues to rebuild its numbers after the opening of Guyer. The football team was down to 22 varsity players by the end of the 2007 season, and most of the teams at Denton are dealing with sagging numbers.

The Broncos didn’t muster a district crown in 2007-08, but made the playoffs in volleyball and baseball.

Denton ISD did well in 2006-07, as well. It won 5-4A titles in football (Ryan), girls basketball (Denton), boys soccer (Denton), baseball (Denton, Ryan) and softball (Ryan).

Heading into 2008-09, Denton ISD faces new opponents in a new alignment with new UIL rules. Gone are Sherman and Denison, schools that are always loaded with good athletes.

Incoming are Lake Dallas, Little Elm and The Colony, taking 5-4A from seven teams to eight. In Class 4A, the UIL now allows four teams to make the playoffs in each district instead of three, increasing each team’s chances.

“We got two one-horse-town schools with Lake Dallas and Little Elm, but I’m very confident,” Purcell said. “I think our programs are doing very well right now. Our sub-varsities all did well this year. I still think we got great things ahead of us.”

JEFF ANDREWS can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is jandrews@dentonrc.com.

District titles since 2006

Denton             3

Ryan                6

Guyer               2

Playoff appearances since 2006

Denton             7

Ryan                11

Guyer               5