By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
When dreams are realized, it’s the result of a vision that discussed in detail, transitioned through trial and error and culminated because those invested were determined to succeed.
Welcome to The World Wide Ranch’s newest addition of bringing high school sports fans closer to their teams and the games through the NTX Varsity Sports Network.
Through the dedication of World Wide Ranch President Gerry Schlegel, Program Director Mark Phillips and New Media Director Parker Burross, this outlet will cover up to 30 teams in the WWR listening area on a weekly basis.
It will go as far north as Denton, as far west as Graham and as far south as Corsicana. A team of young and up-and-coming writers is dedicated to providing the best coverage possible. That comes in the form of establishing relationships with coaches, players and athletic administrators from each campus.
A concise approach augmented with video content can be accessed through the NTX-Varsity web site as well as all forms of social media including our Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube and X accounts.
Any way you look at it, you will find NTX Varsity at your fingertips and through your phone. You will always be connected.
Yours truly is here to offer a weekly column to discuss anything related to your teams. It could also examine an issue impacting the sport in season. Perhaps I could be looking at a particular playoff chase. Then I may focus on a coaching change where a legend has decided to call it a career.
Sometimes, it’s good to have a 10,000-foot perspective of what is taking place. It is WWR Radio’s mission to be a one-stop haven for all your high school sports coverage.
There should be several interesting stories to follow in 2025-26. For instance, Aledo football is putting the disappointment of the 2024 finish behind it and ready to make another run for a 13th state championship.
Then there are the Decatur volleyball and girls’ basketball teams pursuing consecutive state titles. Boyd, Cleburne, Burleson Centennial and Ennis each have new football coaches who hope to take their programs to new heights.
Finally, the University Interscholastic League’s biannual realignment occurs in the first week of February. Schools will officially know their classifications and districts for the following two years.
As we begin with our inaugural pieces of content, our reporters spent the summer driving all over the WWR listening area compiling these interviews with the head football coaches from 20 different programs. These interviews began in mid-July.
The cooperation and access we received from each coach was more than gracious. Hope you take the time to watch and listen to these leaders.
Also, the cross country and volleyball seasons have just begun.
And of course, another exciting Texas High School football season opens on Thursday, Aug. 28.
It should be a great journey. We hope you not only join us but stick with us.
Kevin Lonnquist is entering his 20th season calling the Aledo Bearcats on KTFW 92.1 Hank FM. He’s a veteran of covering sports at all levels in the DFW area for parts of four decades. He lives in Fort Worth.