Farmersville’s Janiyla Craft smiles as she poses for pictures with the first-place medal that she won at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Class 4A state meet in the 242-pound weight class division. Photo courtesy John Searson
By David Wolman
The Farmersville Fightin’ Farmers continued their tradition of athletic success during the 2025-26 school year.
The Farmersville Times is proud to introduce the third installment of a three-part series celebrating the best teams, athletes, moments and performances from this past school year. The categories and winners for the second annual C&S Media High School Sports Awards were chosen by sports editor David Wolman, with winners being published over three weeks.
Part 1 (July 16) included the Biggest Story, Breakthrough Moment, Newcomer of the Year and Best Team
Part 2 (July 23) highlighted the Best Game, Best Finish, Biggest Upset and Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.
Part 3 (July 30) wrapped up the series with Coach of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Male Athlete and Best Female Athlete.
These are the winners of the third installment of the series.
Coach of the Year: Sandra Hoge, cross country, girls’ basketball
Farmersville’s girls’ basketball team was a consistent winner during Hoge’s eight seasons at the helm.
The Lady Farmers made the postseason in six of the eight seasons that she roamed the sidelines, including four straight playoff appearances to close out her tenure. Her final season proved to be one of her best. Led by an experienced roster, including six seniors, Farmersville won 18 games for its most wins in a single season since it finished 19-8 in 2013-14 and captured third place in District 13-4A.
Hoge had her Lady Farmers playing solid defense, with Farmersville holding opponents to an average of 38.2 points per game. Only eight teams scored more than 30 points and only four scored more than 50 points.
Hoge, who will continue her role as assistant principal at Farmersville High School, finished with 94 wins coaching the Lady Farmers.
Farmersville’s girls’ cross country team has also experienced plenty of success under her watch. Ever since 2022, the Lady Farmers have qualified a female runner for the state meet three times. Last fall, Breelynn Pollard placed 14th at the Region II-4A meet to become Farmersville’s first state qualifier since Aubrey Varner made back-to-back appearances in 2022 and 2023.
Most Improved Athlete: Ethan Stone, boys’ basketball, football, track and field
Stone entered his senior year with the mindset that he was going to change his diet and also that he was going to give it all that he got and then some.
On the football field, Stone was one of the top wide receivers for the Farmers his senior year and also contributed at defensive back. Offensively, Stone finished with 510 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He was named to the All-District 5-4A Division II first team.
After helping lead the Farmers’ boys basketball team to a 23-8 record, for which he was named to the All-13-4A honorable mention team, Stone had a strong track season.
Stone broke the school record in the boys’ 400-meter run at a meet in Decatur, a record that had stood since 1998. A few weeks later, the Dallas Baptist University signee became the first boys’ track and field athlete from Farmersville to qualify for the state meet since 2013. At the 4A state meet, he placed sixth with a time of 48.67.
Best Male Athlete: Conner Bakken, powerlifting
After missing all of his junior season with a knee injury, Bakken returned with a vengeance as a senior.
Bakken made history as well.
Bakken won the Class 4A Texas High School Powerlifting Association state title in the 123-pound division, lifting a total weight of 1,275 pounds at the Division II state meet. Bakken recorded a squat of 470 pounds, bench press of 330 and deadlift of 475.
With the win, Bakken became the first boys’ state champion in powerlifting for Farmersville.
“It feels great,” he said. “I came into this season from a knee injury. I wasn’t for sure how the knee was going to act, but I knew in my head this is what I was meant to do.
Best Female Athlete: Janiyla Craft, powerlifting
After coming up short of qualifying for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Class 4A Division II state meet last year, Craft was determined to shake off that disappointment and finish her high school career with a spot on the medal stand.
Not only did Craft earn a spot on the medal stand, but she also became the first female state champion in powerlifting in school history.
Craft lifted a total weight of 1,065 pounds at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg between the meet’s three events: bench press (220 pounds), squat (455) and deadlift (390). Her total weight was 35 pounds more than the 1,030 pounds that state runner-up Emily Gonzalez of Shepherd lifted.
“It means everything,” Craft said. “Hopefully it will open the doors for me for college and get my education. Outside of high school, I just lift.”
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