In exactly two weeks, on Oct. 14, Wylie East High School and Wylie High School will meet on the football field for the first time in six years. This may surprise many of you, but the Crosstown Showdown isn’t exactly my favorite event. You can imagine that as superintendent, you want both your teams to win and see all kids succeed, but that isn’t possible in this game. Celebrating our students is one of my favorite things to do, and seeing them down is one of the worst feelings. So I’ll be honest, these past few years have been kind of nice (except for when my dear friends like to “reminisce” on a couple of lopsided games I’d personally love to forget).
As you probably know, Wylie East moved up to the University Interscholastic League’s 6A classification, which led to the revival of the classic matchup. And you know what? I’m excited. The two high schools and their principals consistently emphasize the importance of unity amongst our campuses. Mrs. Tiffany Doolan, Mr. Brian Alexander, and their teams did a fantastic job developing the Crosstown Showdown into more than just a football game. The Pirates and the Raiders have already gone head-to-head a couple of times this school year, and it’s been a lot of fun.
For those with students in high school, you’re likely familiar with the inaugural Crosstown Showdown Games, Battle for the Cup. It’s a series of events between Wylie East and Wylie High, spanning academics, athletics, fine arts, and #commUNITY participation that will determine which school will be named the Crosstown Showdown champion.
Over the school year, points will be distributed based on district/area standing or ranking, head-to-head finishes, and attendance percentage by the student, staff, and/or parent population (a percentage tie means both campuses receive points). The champ will receive a student-designed trophy at a pep rally next August.
With these Crosstown Showdown games in mind, Director of Counseling Services/the Wylie Way Amanda Martin and I recently sat down with Jimmy Carter and Marcus Gold to discuss the “modern athlete.” Coach Carter and Coach Gold are the head football coaches and campus athletic coordinators for the Pirates and Raiders.
Kids today face different challenges and circumstances that we didn’t necessarily deal with at their age, like social media. We talked with the coaches about how they leverage the relationships they’ve built with their student-athletes to help guide students in the right direction despite the obstacles that may come their way.
Take a listen to the podcast: Leveraging Relationships & the Modern Athlete with Coach Carter and Coach Gold
Don’t worry! I wasn’t going to end this post without sharing important information about the upcoming football game on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at Wylie ISD Stadium. So how do you score tickets to the biggest game in town?
Tickets
High school students had first dibs on tickets this past week but there are still plenty left for our community. Pre-sale general admission tickets will go on sale Monday, Oct. 10. All tickets must be purchased online via our Athletics website.
I’m going to share some REALLY important details here that we will communicate a few times between now and the game: there will be one event listed when tickets go live Oct. 10, but tickets will be separated by team/side. Wylie East is the ‘home’ team this year, and Wylie High is the ‘visiting’ team. Whichever ticket you purchase is ONLY good for that side of the stadium, so please be very aware when buying tickets.
Pre-Sale Tickets
- Student: $5 (students in grades 8 and below must be accompanied by an adult)
- Adult: $7
- Reserved (home side only): $8
Gate Tickets
- General admission: $10
- Reserved (home side only): $10
**Wylie ISD employees will receive a separate email with specific information and instructions for staff members.**
Parking & Shuttle Service
We are working with the Wylie police and fire departments on traffic and parking. Big thanks to them for their assistance! Our district will also offer a shuttle service from the Draper and Cooper parking lots to the stadium.
Once those details are finalized, more information will be communicated through our website and social media, so please be on the lookout.
Thanks in advance for cheering the Wylie Way and for wanting to be part of our programs and traditions. Our fans are the best around, and we always hold ourselves to the highest standards, regardless of the outcome.
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