Farmersville senior running back Gordon Swartz (25) and junior quarterback Levi McAbee (5) look at the coaches on the sideline for a play call during a Sept. 13, 2024 home game against Commerce. Photo by Victor Tapia / C&S Media
By David Wolman
With the 2025-26 school year just around the corner, Farmersville High School athletes are putting in their final off-season reps. The countdown is on as cross country, football, tennis and volleyball prepare to kick off a new season.
The upcoming school year is shaping up to be another successful one as the Farmers seek to build on what was a strong performance across the board.
The Farmersville Times is proud to take a look at those varsity returners who are expected to make a big impact.
Amare Warren, Football/Track and Field
Warren, who played wide receiver, defensive back, kick returner and quarterback in the “Wildcat” formation for the Farmersville football team, was named to the All-District 13-4A first team during his sophomore season after he recorded 13 total touchdowns and 860 receiving yards.
At the District 13-4A track and field meet, Warren broke a school record. He won the triple jump with a leap of 48 feet, 11 inches – three feet further than the previous school record of 45 feet, 11 inches, which was set by Joe Lemberg in 1999. He won first place in the area meet with a leap of 47 feet, 7.5 inches, and the following week at the Region II-4A meet, captured sixth place in the triple jump with a distance of 44 feet, 5 inches and also took 15th in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 8 inches.
Breelynn Pollard, Cross Country/Softball/Track and Field/Volleyball
As a sophomore, Pollard notched 50 assists and 61 digs in volleyball, ran to 11th place in the District 13-4A cross country meet with a time of 15 minutes, 34.78 seconds, recorded a .342 batting average for the Lady Farmers softball team with 25 hits, six RBIs, 20 runs scored and 12 walks and, in track and field, was a regional qualifier in the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200-meter run.
Bryan Mujica, Cross Country
Last year saw a breakthrough for Farmersville as both its boys and girls cross country teams qualified for the regional meet in the same year for the first time since 2018, and Mujica played a pivotal role.
Mujica, now a senior, turned in the top time for the Farmers at the District 13-4A meet, running to third place with a time of 17 minutes, 12.61 seconds.
With all five runners from last year’s team expected to return this season, including Mujica, Farmersville is expected to be in contention for another berth in the Region II-4A meet.
Cade Ellis, Baseball/Football
The incoming senior linebacker is expected to be a major contributor this year for the Farmers after he racked up 135 tackles during his junior season.
Ellis also cracked the starting lineup for the Farmersville baseball team. Splitting playing time between third base and outfield, Ellis drove in two runs and scored 14 runs.
Daniel Mendoza, Boys Soccer
Mendoza helped lead the Farmers to their first-ever playoff appearance earlier this year, and with an experienced roster expected to return, Farmersville is expected to be a force in Region II-4A.
Named the District 13-4A utility player of the year as a junior, Mendoza scored nine goals with six assists and played half of the district minutes at goalkeeper.
Devin Swain Jr., Boys Basketball
Swain Jr. made quite the splash during his sophomore season, and he will look to build upon his success as Farmersville enters its first season with Kingsley Akinwole as head coach.
Named the 13-4A newcomer of the year, Swain Jr. averaged a team-best 14.8 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field with 64 assists, 58 deflections, 73 steals and 141 rebounds.
Gordon Swartz, Football
Swartz is back to lead a potent Farmersville rushing attack that finished with 2,757 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns during last season’s run to the area round.
The incoming senior seeks to build off an impressive junior season in which he racked up 1,343 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.
Katelynn McRay, Girls Basketball/Track and Field
McRay will lead Farmersville’s efforts in the paint. The Lady Farmers went 7-3 in District 13-4A play last season and McRay, a small forward, earned a nod on the All-District 13-4A first team for her efforts.
On the track, she seeks another berth in the regional meet in the pole vault.
Levi McAbee, Football
Handed the keys to Farmersville’s offense, McAbee, an incoming junior, impressed during his first season as the Farmers’ starting quarterback. He threw for 2,542 yards and 25 passing touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes.
Natalie Taylor, Girls Soccer
The focal point of Farmersville’s offense, Taylor, an incoming senior and midfielder, will look to lead the Lady Farmers into the playoffs for the first time after missing the cut by one game. Taylor, who was named the District 11-4A utility player of the year each of the last two seasons, scored 20 goals with seven assists during her junior season.
Rylie Cottongame, Track and Field/Volleyball
Cottongame enters her junior season in search of a second consecutive District 13-4A title in the girls pole vault after she cleared 9 feet at this year’s district meet. On the volleyball court, she is Farmersville’s most versatile player. As a sophomore, she recorded 214 kills, 53 service aces, 238 digs and 569 assists.
Syah Surles, Girls Soccer
Surles transferred to Farmersville last year after playing her freshman season at Allen, and she made an immediate impact. She provided experience and soccer IQ at the defender position. She was named the District 11-4A newcomer of the year and also earned a selection on the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-Region II-4A second team — the first player in program history to earn TASCO All-Region honors.
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