Wichita Falls ISD Athletics

08/24/2026

🏟️ KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

As we get ready for another great night at Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium, we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Please take a few minutes to review the stadium guidelines before you arrive. A few important reminders:

🚫 No outside food or drinks, including Stanley-style cups
🎟️ No re-entry for students
👨‍👩‍👧 Students in 8th grade and under are required to be accompanied by a parent or adult and must sit with them. No drop-offs.
📣 High school students are asked to sit in the bleachers
📱 Students needing a ride home should call at the beginning of the 4th quarter
🚫 No fans or parents on the field before, during or after the game
🎒 No backpacks — all bags are subject to search
💳 We are cashless — tickets can be purchased at wfisdathletics.com/tickets

Please share this post and help us spread the word. Know the guidelines. Plan ahead. Enjoy the game!

08/21/2026

As part of our ongoing effort to ensure consistent branding across Wichita Falls ISD, we are taking steps to strengthen and standardize the use of our school and district logos, specifically the Memorial and Legacy High School brands.

Moving forward, we are asking that only district-approved logos and marks be used on printed, embroidered, promotional, or other branded materials associated with our schools.

Shown are some examples of approved logos and unapproved logos. These are not all, but they give you an idea. Our goal is simply to establish a consistent and recognizable brand identity for our schools and district while protecting the integrity of our official logos.

If you have any questions about the guidelines or which logos should be used, please feel free to contact Chad Johnson at [email protected] or Ashley Thomas at [email protected].

Thank you again for your partnership and support of WFISD!

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Tomorrow, Legacy Football welcomes Aubrey and Lubbock Estacado to Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium for a special scrimmage supporting the Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation (THSCEF) Benevolence Fund.

Organized through the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), Our Day to Shine gives coaches and communities across Texas an opportunity to come together and support student-athletes and coaches experiencing hardships.

The THSCEF Benevolence Fund was established by the THSCA Board of Directors to provide assistance to athletes and coaches in need. More than 1,441 schools have hosted an Our Day to Shine scrimmage, and coaches across Texas have raised more than $1 million for the fund. To date, the fund has provided more than $820,000 in assistance.

💙💛 Come out and support Legacy Football while helping us make a difference!

📍 Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium
🕔 Subvarsity Scrimmages — 5 p.m.
🕖 Varsity Scrimmage — 7 p.m.
🎟️ The public is invited
💰 All proceeds benefit the THSCEF Benevolence Fund

Let's make OUR DAY TO SHINE a great one! 🌟

08/19/2026

🏈🔥 THE PREGAME PARTY STARTS HERE! 🔥🏈

Football is back, and we're kicking off the season with TWO NIGHTS OF TAILGATE FUN before the games at Joe Golding Field!

📅 August 27 & 28
⏰ 5:30–6:45 p.m.
📍 Garnett Field — right behind Memorial Stadium

Bring your family. Bring your friends. Fire up the grill or come hungry and support the food trucks on site! 🌭🌮🍧

🏈 THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

Memorial vs. Fort Worth Paschal
🕖 Kickoff at 7 p.m.
📍 Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium

🏈 FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Legacy vs. Grapevine
🕖 Kickoff at 7 p.m.
📍 Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium

🌮 FOOD TRUCKS ON SITE:
• WFISD Food Truck
• Taqueria Los Alcarenes
• Razzle's Italian Ice

💧 ER Now will be on site providing water!

We're still looking for additional food trucks to join the party! If you're interested, reach out to Chad Johnson ASAP at [email protected]. Vendors must get all required permit and insurance information submitted and on file with WFISD.

🎉 Come early. Tailgate. Grab some food. Bring the energy. Then head into the stadium and cheer on your team!

Let's make these two nights the BIGGEST PREGAME PARTIES OF THE SEASON! 🏈🔥

💙💛 LEGACY | ❤️💙 MEMORIAL

08/12/2026

🏆 INVEST IN WFISD STUDENT-ATHLETES 🏆

Athletics are about more than the scoreboard. They’re about building character, creating opportunities, developing leaders and giving student-athletes experiences that last a lifetime.

Now is your opportunity to be part of that mission.

WFISD Athletics is proud to offer sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations looking to support student-athletes across our community while connecting their brand with the incredible passion and pride of WFISD Athletics.

Your support helps us continue to provide outstanding opportunities, resources and experiences for the next generation of athletes and leaders. 💙🏆

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or looking for a new way to invest in our community, your partnership makes a difference.

👉 Explore sponsorship opportunities and get all the information you need: https://www.wfisdathletics.com/sports-marketing-&-sponsorship

📩 For more information, please contact Chad Johnson:
[email protected]

Support the athletes. Support the programs. Support WFISD.
Together, we’re building champions on and off the field. 🏆

08/10/2026

🏃‍♂️🏊 Making an impact beyond the field! 💙💛

Last week, the Legacy Cross Country and Swim teams spent time giving back at the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank.

Together, they volunteered 72 hours and 53 minutes and helped process an incredible 11,400 pounds of food! 👏

Proud of these student-athletes for showing that being a champion is about more than what happens in competition. They’re making a difference in our community! 💪

08/10/2026

🏈 FORMER RIDER QB J.T. BARRETT HEADLINES 2026 OHIO STATE HALL OF FAME CLASS

Before becoming one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Ohio State University history, J.T. Barrett was a three-year starter at Rider — two years at QB and one year as a sophomore utility player lining up all over the offense.

In Columbus, Barrett started 44 games, led the Buckeyes to Big Ten titles in 2014 and 2017, went 4-0 against Michigan and set 39 Ohio State records and five Big Ten records.

His 147 career touchdowns responsible for still rank fourth in NCAA history.

JT is currently the QB coach for the Chicago Bears.

👏 Congratulations to a Rider Raider legend on this incredible honor!

07/31/2026

🏆 Today, we conclude our week-long celebration of the inaugural WFISD Athletics Hall of Fame class!

Over the past four days, we've honored 12 incredible athletes, coaches, and pioneers whose achievements have shaped the rich tradition of Wichita Falls ISD athletics. Today, we recognize our final three Hall of Famers.

Today's featured Hall of Famers:

🔹 Daisy Sligar - A pioneering figure in Wichita Falls athletics, Daisy Sligar dedicated 30 years of service to the school system after first serving her country during World War II as a civilian employee for the U.S. Navy, where she supported the war effort at the naval shipyard in Orange, Texas. In 1961, she made history as the first tennis coach at Rider High School upon its opening, establishing a standard for excellence in physical education and mentorship that defined her three-decade career at both Barwise and Rider. Known affectionately across the community as "Coach Sligar," she took immense pride in that title, extending her impact beyond the classroom through her long-standing leadership on the local board of the Camp Fire Girls. Her commitment to her country, her students, and the development of local youth cements her legacy as a foundational pillar of the WFISD community.

🔹 Aaron Taylor - Despite not picking up the game until his freshman year, Aaron Taylor rapidly ascended to become one of the most dominant offensive linemen in history. A three-year starter for the Rider Raiders, Taylor earned First-Team All-State honors in the trenches—though local fans still debate if he was the city's greatest punter after he averaged over 40 yards per kick as a senior. His legendary status was cemented at the University of Nebraska, where he became the cornerstone of a dynasty, opening holes for three national championship teams under Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne. During his tenure in Lincoln, the Huskers amassed a staggering 49-2 record, and Taylor’s individual brilliance was recognized in 1997 when he was awarded the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football. One of the few players to have his jersey number (67) retired by the Cornhuskers, Taylor was immortalized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

🔹 Lawrence Williams - A historic trailblazer and legendary athlete, Lawrence Williams forever changed Wichita Falls sports as the first Black quarterback at "Old High," serving as a vital figure in the integration while leading the Coyotes to back-to-back state title games in 1969 and 1970. A versatile two-way star who earned All-State honors at both QB and DB, he formed the "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside" duo alongside Joey Aboussie, highlighted by a dominant 147-yard rushing performance in the 1969 Class 4A State Championship victory. Williams continued his career at Texas Tech, where he led the NCAA in kickoff return average in 1972 and earned First-Team All-SWC honors as one of the most prolific receivers and returners in program history. A 1975 NFL Draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, he went on to lead the NFL in kickoff return average in 1976. Williams finished his career in Cleveland, leaving an enduring legacy as both a courageous pioneer and one of the most dynamic athletes to ever represent Wichita Falls.

🏅 Join us as we officially induct all 12 members of the inaugural WFISD Athletics Hall of Fame class during a special pregame ceremony before the Memorial vs. Legacy Crosstown Showdown on Friday, November 6.

This historic event will celebrate the outstanding individuals who helped build the proud tradition of WFISD Athletics before one of the biggest games of the year. Make plans now to arrive early, honor these legends, and then stay for the Crosstown Showdown as the Mavericks and Leopards renew their city rivalry under the lights.

Congratulations once again to all 12 members of the inaugural WFISD Athletics Hall of Fame class!

07/30/2026

🏆 We continue honoring the inaugural WFISD Athletics Hall of Fame class!

Each day this week, we're recognizing the remarkable athletes, coaches, and contributors whose achievements helped build the proud tradition of Wichita Falls ISD athletics.

Today's featured Hall of Famers:

🔹 Don King - A true pioneer of Hirschi athletics, Don King made history in 1964 as the school's first All-American, a distinction he held exclusively for half a century. He carried that elite pedigree to Texas Tech, where he became a three-year starter and the cornerstone of an offensive line that propelled the Red Raiders to a #3 national rushing ranking in 1967. King’s senior campaign in 1968 was one of the most decorated in program history; as team co-captain, he earned All-SWC honors and swept nearly every major award, including the Pete Cawthon Award for the best all-around player and the Golden Helmet Award for Outstanding Lineman. His legacy as a gridiron legend was immortalized in 2008 with his induction into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame, cementing his status as one of the most dominant linemen to ever represent Wichita Falls.

🔹 Ronnie Littleton - A graduate of the class of 1972, Ronnie Littleton is remembered as one of the most gifted and impactful athletes in the history of Wichita Falls HS. As a sophomore, he played a vital role on the legendary 1969 State Championship team as one of only five Black players on the roster, a landmark moment that signaled the first time Black and white athletes competed together at Old High. By his senior season in 1971, Littleton had become the centerpiece of the program, leading the Coyotes back to the State Title game by playing nearly every down on both sides of the ball. His extraordinary high school career made him one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, leading him to sign with TCU. Despite the injuries in college that likely cost him a professional career, Littleton remains a pioneer and a titan of the Coyote gridiron.

🔹 Bingo Merriex - A towering figure in Wichita Falls basketball history, Bingo Merriex left an indelible mark on the court as the 1999 UIL Class 4A Player of the Year. During a historic senior season at "Old High," Merriex scored a staggering 1,001 points—averaging 33 points per game—to finish his Coyote career with a school-record 2,315 points, the second-highest total in WFISD history. He carried that scoring touch to TCU, where he played 119 games under coach Billy Tubbs and amassed 1,318 career points, a mark that still ranks 14th all-time for the Horned Frogs. Following his collegiate success, Merriex embarked on an extraordinary 18-year professional journey that spanned the globe, competing in elite leagues across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. By the time he retired, he had played nearly 500 professional games worldwide, recording over 4,000 points and 2,000 rebounds to cement his legacy as a true international ambassador of Wichita Falls athletics.

Congratulations to these three outstanding Hall of Famers! Tomorrow, we'll conclude our spotlight series by recognizing the final three members of the inaugural WFISD Athletics Hall of Fame class.