Fairfield Eagle Athletes were celebrated for having the “most playoff wins in the 18 years I have been at Fairfield,” by Athletic Director John Bachtel during the Sports Banquet on Thursday, May 15, 2025. “Every team reached the playoffs this year” for the second year in a row!
The athletic teams and individuals enjoyed an amazing year. Their accomplishments include:
–14 District Championships
–13 Playoff Wins
–34 Area Qualifiers (Track)
–2nd Place finish at Area Track meet
–47 Regional Qualifiers (XC, PL, Track, Golf)
–3rd Place finish in Girls Powerlifting – Regional meet
–14 State Qualifiers: State Champs GBB, State Champ GPL, 2nd State BPL, 3rd State G Spring Relay, and 5th in State in the G 100
–6 Superlative Awards in District
–23 All-District Selections
–14 2nd Team All-District Selections
–9 Super Centex Selections
–8 All-State Selections
–68 Academic All-District Selections
–8 Academic All-State Selections
–1st ever Victory Cup for FCA – Athletic / FCA huddles
–5 kids selected to play in the FCA All-Star games
–4 student / athletes continuing education by playing sports:
NaKayla Connor – Jacksonville College
Justin Johnson – Dallas Christian
Jerry Draper – University of the Ozarks
Justus Savage – Hardin Simmons
Thank you to the Fairfield Booster club for hosting the annual Sports Banquet.
“Our Booster club is growing!” Board members include Cody Roller – President, Becca Thaler – Vice-President, Brian Whitaker – Treasurer, Marion Combs – Secretary, and Emily Beaver – Reporter.
This year, Fairfield Booster Club purchased $45,000 worth of equipment for the Athletic Program.
Thank you to Fairfield ISD School Board members, including Kim Whitaker, Ashey Daniel, Eric Chavers, John Fryer, Kevin Benedict, Senior Wright, and Penny Meredith.
Thanks also to Superintendent Joe Craig, High School Principal Sonya Gibson, and Assistant Principal Rick Frauenberger. “They are first class.”
And, thank you to the churches in Fairfield for all they do to help our kids. “It take a VILLAGE to raise them and ya’ll do a great job of loving on them!” (First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, River of Life Family Worship, Fairfield Church of Christ, Calvary Baptist, Fairfield #1 Church of God in Christ, and Round Prairie Baptist)
Here are this year’s individual award recipients:
–Most Outstanding Athlete (MVP) award was presented to Lady Eagle Blayke Brackens and Eagle Kohl Collins.
–Fighting Heart award was presented to Lady Eagles Madelyn Morrison & Addison Posey and Eagle Gustavo Aguilera.
–Most Improve Athlete award was presented to Lady Eagle Kaylee “KK” Williams and Eagles Landon Cockerell & KD Hicks.
(at top): Fairfield recognized the following high school athletes during their annual Sports Banquet held last week: Blayke Brackens – Most Outstanding Athlete, Addison Posey and Madelyn Morrison – Fighting Heart Award, Kaylee “KK” Williams – Most Improved Athlete, Kohl Collins – MVP, Landon Cockerell and KD Hicks – Most Improved Athlete, and Gustavo Aguilera – Heart Award. (Photo by Natalia V. Marsters)
Congratulations to all the Fairfield Eagle athletes for another great year!
Fairfield will be saying “goodbye” to 4 coaches this year: Kerry Hand – 28 years, Sally Whitaker – 19 years, Max McGeary – 6 years, and Kevin Childrers – 18 years.
Coach Kerry Hand has had 28 years in education, all at Fairfield. She taught PE and Health and served as a CPR Instructor. Coach Hand was the FHS Head Softball Coach for 23 years. She was also Assistant Coach for Volleyball, Basketball, and Head Tennis Coach for 5 years.
Coach Sally Whitaker had 20 years of experience at Fairfield. She is stepping down as the Girls Coordinator after getting 270 winds as a Head Coach.
Coach Whitaker has been to the State Tournament all 6 times that Fairfield Girls Basketball has made it to State, once as an assistant in 2011 and 5 times as the Head Basketball Coach. She has led the Lady Eagles to 3 State championships, beating Argyle, Wo, and Jim Ned in the last 6 years.
Coach Whitaker has also coached Cross Country, Volleyball, Track, Softball, and Tennis. “She has done whatever Fairfield has asked her to do and much, much more.”
Sally Whitaker will teach English next year and get to spend time with her family and be able to watch Brandt as he enters high school.
Coach Kevin Childers has had 41 years of coaching with 18 at Fairfield. He has been the Defensive Coordinator all those years, as well as coaching Track and serving as weight room coordinator.
Coach Childers has been the Powerlifting Coach his entire career at Fairfield, starting with the Girls Powerlifting team.
With the Girls and Boys Powerlifting teams combined, Childers has coached 5 Regional Championships, 30 State Qualifiers, 12 State Medalists, 4 State Championships, and 2 State Record Holders in Landon Salinas Bench Press of 580 lbs. and Treydon Johnson with an 850 lbs. Squat.
What a great job by these coaches, and our student athletes!
