Athletics
Athletic competition is a powerful teacher. Canterbury’s athletics programs strive to teach honor, integrity, respect, sportsmanship, compassion, hard work, and fair play. The program features twenty-four interscholastic teams for students in grades six through twelve. Varsity teams compete for district, region, and state championships awarded by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).
Most sports operate at both varsity and middle school levels of competition. Because of the variety of options and the school’s small size, over the course of a year almost every Canterbury student receives dedicated training and coaching, wears a Canterbury uniform, and represents the school in interscholastic competition. Participation in athletics offers athletes opportunities to develop self-confidence, leadership skills, and a commitment to teamwork that inspires students to lead productive and healthy lives.
In almost every case, the school employs a teacher-coach model: Canterbury teachers—who have themselves competed with distinction in their sports—coach Canterbury athletics teams. Coaches strive to develop individual athletes and teams that are constantly improving, working hard, disciplined, and schooled in the fundamental aspects of their sport.
All of the coaches currently employed by Canterbury have either coached or played at the collegiate level.
The school’s 36 acres and proximity to Thorntree Country Club mean that Canterbury offers outstanding sports facilities, including a large multi-purpose playing field, fully enclosed baseball field, and two gymnasiums including a competition gym with seating for five hundred.
To learn more about each team, follow links from the list above to access each team’s schedule, which includes directions to away games and, in most cases, game summaries. For cancellations, updates and changes to the athletics schedule, please call the Main School Office: 972-572-7200 or the athletic hotline at 972-890-7280.
Baseball
The Canterbury Cougar baseball teams have found themselves in the playoffs for six straight years, but have not been to the state finals since the 2006 season. The 2010 young Cougars team won their playoff opening by run rule but lost in the Area round 12-5. The Cougars were led by 2nd team all-state selection Tyler Mathis (Jr), freshman pitcher Brandon Frank and offensive leader Alex Powers (So.). Expect great things from the 2011 team which returns all three of these players.
Josh Harper will be in his second season as the head varsity coach with the Cougars expecting to make this the year they return back to the finals. Coach Harper is familiar with the program as he was the varsity assistant coach during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Coach Harper played baseball in high school for powerhouse Midland Lee and accepted a collegiate scholarship to play four more years prior to coming to Canterbury.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Boys Basketball
The varsity boys’ basketball team has a record of 165 wins and 33 losses (and two state titles) in the past six years under the leadership of Coach Scott Vaughan. Canterbury has also had ten players named to the 1st team all-state list (TAPPS) in those five years, including senior Jabari Coner and junior Tyler Mathis in 2010. The 2010-2011 team returns two key players in juniors Tyler Mathis and Corey Durant from last years’ state semi-finalist team which posted a 28-5 record, winning two regular season tournaments (FW Trinity Valley and Canterbury Classic) for the second consecutive year.
Coach Vaughan, who has led three different high school teams to the state championship game, is in his seventh years as the head coach of the Cougars and compiles an overall high school record of 309 wins and 62 losses (an 84% winning percentage). Vaughan has coached for nine years on the collegiate level and currently is in his fourth year as an NBA advance scout.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Girls Basketball
The 2010 varsity girls’ basketball team will be a little more experienced and very talented. Canterbury returns three junior starters from last year’s playoff squad and probably the most talented freshman in class 2A in district MVP and 1st Team All State Selection Claire Metoyer. Even with the youth of the 2009 season, the Lady Cougars posted a 26-7 record, claiming the district championship and making it to the regional finals.
Coach Jeff Ellis will be in his second year as the Lady Cougars head basketball coach. Coach Ellis was a standout point guard during his high school years in Indiana before going to Southwestern University where he played point guard for the Lions. Coach Ellis also has six years of collegiate coaching experience. Ellis did a great job in 2009-2010 with the young team and will make a push to reach the final four this season with the Lady Cougars.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Soccer
The 2008 Cougars Soccer Team ran an identical course to the 2007 team, making it all the way to the state finals. Both seasons saw the Cougars make it to the state finals, and both also ended the regulation period in a tie. Although the state title has eluded CES, the future looks bright for the young Cougars!
The 2009 Cougars were led by 1st team all-state junior forward Tyler Mathis and sophomore all-state selections Alex Powers, Adam Williams and Shane Holley. The young Cougars went undefeated in district but lost in a shoot-out in the area round of the playoffs. The future is very bright as the four all-state players mentioned above will be returning for the 2010 season.
Coach Haley Feuerbacher will be in her second year as the Cougars head coach of the varsity team. Coach Feuerbacher graduated from Baylor University where she was a member of the talented club soccer team.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Softball
The 2008-2009 Lady Cougars Softball Team had a great season getting to the regional finals for the first time in school history. The Lady Cougars lost to the eventual state champions. First team All-state senior Stephanie Anderson again led the 2009-2010 team back to the playoffs, losing in the area round of the playoffs.
The 2010-2011 Lady Cougars will have more experience on the mound as Freshman Brittani Young is expected to lead the Cougars from the mound. The Lady Cougars also expect to get some good offense from the top of the order where Morgan Williams is expected to help out. Junior Mary Vaughan and Sophomore Emily Painter are again going to be called on to lead the defense.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Swimming
The Cougar boys have placed fourth twice and third once at the State Meet. In 2007, the first state medals for Canterbury, a gold medal in the 100 fly and a silver medal in the 100 breast were captured by a Canterbury swimmer.
The 2009 swim team was comprised of four girls and two boys. The girls qualified for several state events.
Varsity Schedule
Tennis
The 2008-2009 Tennis team qualified 10 of 12 possible players in the state meet. The varsity boys’ team won district while the girls took third place. Three time state qualifier and doubles state runner-up Erin Mathis led the 2010 varsity lady’s team as she and teammate Emily Painter qualified for state once again. Tyler Mathis and Dylan Vu won the boys district championship in doubles and led the team to a second straight district title.
Amy Painter and James Mathis took over for Scott Vaughan in 2010. They are expected to lead the team back to the state tournament again in 2011 as three of the top players will return for CES.
Varsity Schedule
Track/Field
Canterbury has had some outstanding track athletes over the past few years. The girls 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays were dominant in 2006 winning gold at the state championships and brought home a team state championship. Lauren Attiah followed up her senior year with four gold medals of her own and a state record. She is currently running track for Emory University.
The 2009-2010 team was very young and had great potential. The boys 4 x 100 which consisted of three sophomores and one junior qualified for the state meet. They are expected to return in 2011 as a strong competitor.
Coach Haley Feuerbacher completed her first season as the head coach of the varsity track team. Coach Feuerbacher is a distance runner and competes in Marathons on a regular basis. She also coaches the MS team.
MS Schedule | Varsity Schedule
Volleyball
The 2009 team consisted of three seniors, four juniors and three underclassmen. They completed the season undefeated in district and reached the final four for the first time since their state title in 2005-2006. First team all-state juniors Kaitlyn Lucy and Katie Fitzgerald are expected to lead the Cougars back to the final four again in 2010. Coach Vaughan is also looking for help from sophomore transfers Blasé Saucedo and Vallery Mitchell as well as seniors Mary Vaughan and Vanessa Dismore.
Coach Vaughan completed his fifth year as head coach for the Lady Cougars, leading them to the state title in 2005-2006. Coach Jeff Ellis will again assist the Lady Cougars in 2010 and lead the JV program as well.
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