With three teams that claimed Texas Class 5A titles, and another handful in contention and postseason play in every University Interscholastic League team sport, The Woodlands (Texas) finished atop ESPN RISE's FAB 50 rankings for the 2008-09 school year.

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Reed Connor was the individual cross country champ and finished second in outdoor track's mile and two-mile runs.

The Highlanders also finished first in the 5A division of UIL's Lone Star Cup competition for the second time in three years. They swept the boys' and girls' cross country championships in the fall, and added the girls' swimming and diving title in the winter. Girls' soccer was the state runner-up, and girls' golf and outdoor track each placed third, while boys' outdoor track plus swimming and diving finished fourth.

Excellence is an expectation at the school of about 2,500 located about 30 miles north of downtown Houston in unincorporated southern Montgomery County. The Lone Star Cup standings are posted on the athletic department's Internet home page.

"All of the coaches do a great job and have a lot of pride within their own programs," said Mark Schmid, who just finished his fifth year as athletic director and football coach. "At the same time, we also have a lot of pride in being a well-rounded program. They support each other by sharing athletes and being flexible and understanding there's life outside of your program."

Of the many athletes who played roles in the Woodlands' achievements, three talented runners were particularly instrumental in four of the top UIL finishes. Senior Reed Connor was the individual cross country champ and finished second in outdoor track's mile and two-mile runs. Fellow senior Drew Butler won the outdoor half-mile and scored in the cross country meet. Junior Sarah Andrews swept the girls' individual cross country title, and the outdoor mile and two mile. Connor will run for Wisconsin, Butler for Arkansas.

Athletes at The Woodlands even swept the senior class' valedictorian and salutatorian slots: swimmer Brynnan Webster and football center Sean Finney, respectively.