Wylie East alumnus Daniel Marquez, left, won the District 6-6A wrestling title at 285 pounds. Photo by Maddie Smith / C&S Media
By David Wolman
The senior class at Wylie East delivered clutch performances throughout the duration of the 2024-25 school year, helping to lead the Raiders to tremendous individual and team success in athletics.
The Wylie News will take a closer examination at some of the top seniors from the Class of 2025.
Caleb Vaclavik, Baseball
Wylie East came into this season having to fill key spots from the previous season’s team that won 20 games and finished as an area-round finalist, but one player that head coach Heath Andrews knew that he could count on for experience and productivity was Vaclavik.
Vaclavik, the team’s starting catcher and a Grayson Junior College signee, took up a leadership role and led by example with his play on the field. Named one of the top 5 seniors in District 9-6A as voted on by the district’s head coaches, Vaclavik finished the season with a .354 batting average, 28 hits, one home run, 22 RBI and 15 walks while leading the Raiders to 17 wins and a bi-district playoff appearance.
Daniel Marquez, Football/Wrestling
During the District 6-6A Tournament, Marquez showed why he was one of the best wrestlers in the Dallas area at his weight class.
Marquez won all three matches to capture first place at 285 pounds. He capped off a dominant individual effort with a second-period pin of Plano East’s Cesar Arguello in the first-place match. Marquez was unable to compete in the Region II-6A Tournament but finished the season with a 13-3 record. He also played defensive tackle for Wylie East. Marquez recorded 48 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks during his senior season.
Erika Hernandez, Volleyball
Hernandez has been a force for the Lady Raiders volleyball team.
Hernandez, an outside hitter, helped to guide a balanced offensive attack that powered Wylie East to 34 wins, a co-district championship and an appearance in the third round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs. Named the most valuable player of District 9-6A, Hernandez, an Arkansas Tech signee, where she will play with her twin sister, Amy, totaled 377 kills, 78 blocks and 77 service aces in her final season with the Lady Raiders.
Howard Fisher IV, Football/ Track and Field
Opposing defenses struggled to contain Fisher IV, an Air Force signee. Named the District 9-6A co-offensive player of the year, he threw for 2,520 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns to go along with 676 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns during his senior season. His efforts helped to guide Wylie East to a second straight season of 10 wins and a second playoff berth in as many seasons.
On the track, Fisher IV was one leg of Wylie East’s 4×100-meter relay that finished in second place in the district meet and with the 4×200 that captured fourth place.
Isabella Flores, Softball
The Lamar University signee led the Lady Raiders back to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus and also led Wylie East to its first district title.
Flores, a Lamar University signee, anchored a deep pitching rotation that posted a 2.64 earned run average. She went 5-4 with a 2.61 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 24 walks and 54 runs surrendered (28 earned) in 75 innings. She also excelled as Wylie East’s leadoff hitter, recording a .440 batting average with 40 RBI and 13 home runs.
Jayden Janshego, Football
Janshego led the way in the trenches for a Wylie East defense that recorded 72 tackles for loss, 31 sacks and 25 quarterback hurries.
Named the District 9-6A defensive player of the year, Janshego, a defensive tackle, racked up 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during his senior season.
Jayden Young, Track and Field
Young had a standout season on the track, one in which he won the district and area titles in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, with his performance in the District 9-6A meet earning him District 9-6A MVP honors. He posted a winning time of 14.35 seconds in the 110 hurdles and first-place finish of 38.29 in the 300 hurdles at the district meet. He is a two-time district champion in both events. He finished his high school career in the regional meet.
Madelyn Jones, Girls Soccer
The Lady Raiders allowed just 12 goals all season and it was particularly difficult for opposing defenses to penetrate through Wylie East’s last line of defense.
Named to the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-State Class 6A first team, Jones went 14-2-1 at goalkeeper during her senior season, and all 14 of her wins were of the shutout variety.
Michael Henderson III, Football
Henderson III, a Texas Tech signee, was the ultimate Swiss Army knife for the Raiders.
Named the District 9-6A two-way skills player of the year, Henderson III was a force coming out of the backfield. He had 1,126 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns as a senior while catching 15 passes for 255 yards and also had four receiving touchdowns. At defensive back, he recorded two interceptions, 24 tackles, including three tackles for a loss.
Parker Overstreet, Boys Basketball
Overstreet provided a sense of calm and playmaking for a Raider squad that made it to the third round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The Wylie East alumnus point guard was named the most valuable player of District 6-6A. He helped to lead the Raiders to a 52-33 win over Royse City in bi-district and scored 17 points in a 66-64 victory over Killeen Shoemaker in the area round.
Ryleigh Wood, Girls Soccer
Wood, an Illinois signee, was among the best goal scorers in District 9-6A.
Named the district’s offensive player of the year, she provided 23 goals and 18 assists during 9-6A play, helping to lead the Lady Raiders to a third consecutive appearance in the regional final.
Saliz Ward, Girls Basketball
Ward was honored with offensive player of the year after she averaged 14.1 points per game, including a 32-point outing in a 58-50 win for the Lady Raiders over Garland on Jan. 31.
The Wylie East alumna guard helped to lead the Lady Raiders to their first playoff win in four years.
0 Comments