By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
On Aug. 1, a new era begins for Aledo athletics. It formally makes the move from Class 5A to Class 6A.
A new period of competition. A new set of challenges. A chance to prove that it will handle the transition.
When the 2024 realignment was released, Aledo just missed moving up to 6A by a handful of students. However, school officials in the Eastern Parker County school district recognized when it was time for 2026, this school would move up. Behind the scenes, work in the athletic department to prepare for the future began.
It can be debated which classification move is more challenging. Some will contend moving from 4A to 5A is more difficult. Others believe it’s the one Aledo is about to make.
The key to competing is simply about numbers. Student enrollment is at the heart of it. The more to choose from, the better the chances to play at a higher level.
Of course, the athleticism is the differentiator. But that’s something that needed to be developed at an early age and then sharpened through the middle school years before these athletes arrive on the high school campus.
Aledo has the advantage of being a one-school single 6A district. It’s not dividing athletes between other schools like so many 6A districts have to do.
All that to say judging by what Aledo just accomplished during the 2025-26 athletic calendar in its final year in 5A, the chances are Bearcats athletics can handle this.
And because of what every team sport accomplished, it’s fair to pronounce that few in the Class 5A ranks will miss Aledo. A “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” kind of sendoff.
Football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, softball and baseball each won District 5-5A championships. Here’s the kicker. Every team won without a district loss. Boys soccer had one draw. Girls soccer had two. Those were the only “blemishes”.
Of course, all made the playoffs. Only girls soccer and boys basketball were the programs that did not advance past the opening round. Not a slight to either program. Girls soccer faced a strong opponent in Colleyville Heritage. Same thing for boys basketball. It played a Birdville team that eventually played in the 5A Division I state semifinals.
Now, maybe you could debate that the depth in 5-5A wasn’t where it needed to be to challenge Aledo. Football notwithstanding, there were a lot of games that had lopsided outcomes.
However, the counter point is that perhaps Aledo’s depth and talent was just at another level signaling that it was time to move up a classification level.
When you think of winning streaks – and for the most part district winning streaks – there are several connected to Aledo. Football does not own the sole rights.
Bearcat football has won 135 consecutive games going back to 2007. Softball has won 66 consecutive. Volleyball has won 35 consecutive. Unrelated but noteworthy, baseball has won 16 consecutive postseason games.
We’ve seen this kind of thing before with other high schools, which are well rounded in all sports, dominate and are always in the conversation for deep playoff runs.
Southlake Carroll, Highland Park, Allen and Argyle are the ones that have developed winning from August to May. Aledo has traditionally finished in the upper echelon in the 5A standings.
This is a mindset that has been advocated by the athletics department, supported by the school board and marshalled by those who coach and play the sports.
That’s why they win. A lot. Aledo’s growth finally touched all levels with boys basketball winning its first two district championships in the past two seasons.
Throughout 2025-26, all these teams did what they could to prepare for this coming year. They loaded up non-district schedules facing 6A programs and competing in tournaments featuring predominantly 6A teams.
Ironically, Bearcat football will be the favorite in its new 6A district, 3-6A with Arlington, Arlington Bowie, Arlington Lamar, Arlington Martin, Arlington Sam Houston, Granbury and Weatherford.
However, this team will learn immediately where it stands in 6A. Its non-district season consists of noteworthy state powers in this order: North Crowley, Waco Midway and Euless Trinity.
Volleyball earns the first chance when its season opens its season in the middle of August.
The transition to 6A likely will have some bumps and some reality will be featured. Aledo will open the 2026-27 school year with 2,404 students. That’s going to be one of the smaller enrollment numbers in 6A.
Nothing lasts forever. These streaks will end at some point. Still, they reflect the school’s vision and striving to competing in every sport. Football will dominate the conversation. After all, this is Texas.
What will be essential is that Aledo athletics mentality of embracing the grind of these seasons. More work. More attention to detail. That’s already been addressed over the years. The ante is just going to be upped.
One thing I learned in the years as a journalism student was the misuse of the word, anxious. It’s a word that incites fear.
Outsiders will wonder if Aledo is anxious about this new chapter. On the contrary, it’s eager for the next challenge.
That’s what competitors do.
