Three West Campus programs plunge into 3A varsity competition
You may have been aware that West Campus was open and working toward a return to varsity competition, but not how soon the Cougars will re-emerge.
The Cougars teams will compete in District 27-3A in boys basketball, girls basketball and volleyball in 2021-22. The remaining West Campus programs, including football, will compete against a varsity schedule in 2022-23. Their district assignments will be disclosed when re-districting is revealed next January, but West Campus football coach Leandro Gonzales expects the Cougars to remain in Class 4A.
Gonzales said the decision was made in February to accelerate the timetable in those three sports to take effect after just one year of JV competition.
“We saw the need to let our kids compete at that level,” Gonzales said. “We have been able to play some (varsity) games against smaller schools and private schools. It’s a little tougher with football because you have to have a unanimous vote from the district you’re going into.”
West Campus also currently offers baseball, cross-country, softball, golf and track. Boys and girls soccer will be added in the new school year.
The Cougars last competed at the varsity level in the 2007-08 school year. The South San ISD school reopened with a 30-member freshman class in 2019-20. West Campus will have no seniors in 2021-22.
“(The community support) has been tremendous,” Gonzales said. “I’ve been shocked and amazed. I knew the pride that the community had, but I didn’t know the magnitude.”
During its initial run, West Campus accomplished great successes. Among them were winning the 1981 Class 4A state baseball championship, qualifying in 3A in 1979 and qualifying for the state boys basketball tournament in 1981 (4A) and 2008 (3A). The list of famous athletic alums includes former NBA player Devin Brown and fellow basketball standout Anthony McMorris, whose AAU team includes West Campus players.
“I’m tremendously excited to be around the old campus and see it re-invent itself,” said girls basketball coach Amado Luis, a former Kennedy coach and West Campus alum. “Everyone is working together to make it better.”
West Campus will join Cotulla, Dilley, Jourdanton, Karnes City, Lytle, Natalia, Poteet and Poth in District 27-3A.
The girls basketball team played varsity opponents Fox Tech, New Braunfels Davenport and Schertz John Paul II this year.
“We have kids playing in open gym, a few kids playing AAU and we’re in a summer league playing varsity teams,” Luis said. “They’re committed. They come to work. They’re doing great stuff on their own.”
West Campus didn’t play any varsity teams last year in its 16-game boys basketball schedule. They’ll move up to varsity with a new coach, Kevin Palacios, an assistant at Warren the last eight years.
After Memorial Day, Palacios began daily one-hour practices with his team, in accordance with UIL regulations. The Cougars also have varsity and junior varsity teams entered in a summer league.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Palacios said. “What I love about these kids is their heart. They’re raw, but their work ethic is established.”
The Cougars’ very first football game Oct. 29 was against Brooks Academy’s varsity. Because of a district ruling related to COVID-19, the only other game West Campus played last was against Kennedy’s JV.
Gonzales was defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Kennedy, before West Campus hired him last year.
“The biggest things I want to see are attitude, effort and enthusiasm,” Gonzales said. “We want to go out and execute to a ‘T.’ We’re really big on finishing everything we do.”
