ECISD at 100: Programs reach new heights to build foundation

EDITORS NOTE: This is the last in a series of stories highlighting some of the top athletic achievements throughout the first 100 years of ECISD. Please go to oaoa.com to read the previous stories in the series.

The modern era of the Ector County Independent School District continued to see impressive achievements on the field.

Programs such as the Odessa High baseball and softball programs as well as the Permian boys basketball program reaching heights of success that had either not been achieved in years or ever.

Here’s a look back at some of the accomplishments.

>> May 2010: Permian’s Jamia Graham and Odessa High’s Deja McKnight both qualified for the Class 5A Girls State Track and Field Meet in Austin. Graham earn a silver medal in the 800 meters while McKnight was competing in the shot put and was fourth, just missing out on a medal.

>> October 2010: The Odessa High volleyball team made it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 season. The Lady Bronchos were led by four seniors — including McKnight and current head volleyball coach Victoria Smith — during that season.

>> Fall 2010: Odessa High football made a third straight trip to the playoffs to thanks in large part to the efforts of Bradley Marquez. Marquez, who signed to continue his collegiate career at Texas Tech, finished his career with 4,407 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns, both of which are school records that remain to this day.

>> 2012: Gary Gaines concludes his second tenure as the head coach of the Permian football program. Gaines returned to took over the Panthers in 2009 after also serving as the athletic director at Lubbock Independent School District. Permian made the playoffs in three of his four seasons during his second stint. Blake Feldt was tabbed as his successor the following season.

>> 2014: Blake Feldt leads the Permian football team to a 9-4 record as the team made it three rounds deep in the playoffs. The Panthers defeated Arlington Sam Houston and Amarillo Tascosa before falling to Euless Trinity in the third round.

>> 2013: The Odessa High football team defeated El Paso Franklin 61-16 in the bi-district round of the playoffs for the program’s most recent playoff victory. The Bronchos finished 6-6 that season under head coach Ron King. The team was led by running back CJ Eddison.

>> 2015: Tim Thomas is hired as the boys basketball coach at Permian. During his six seasons as the head coach of the Panthers, Thomas led the team to three straight appearances in the Region I-6A Tournament (2018-2020).

>> 2016-2017: Permian quarterback Steve Steen had seven games in which he finished with 100 yards rushing and 100 yards passing leading the Permian offense.

>> July 2017: Tate Criswell is hired to be the head coach of the Permian baseball program. Criswell had spent time as the coach in Dumas and Tulia prior to his arrival in the Permian Basin. He got his tenure off to a strong start by helping the Panthers clinch a postseason spot during the 2018 season.

>> 2018: Both the Odessa High and Permian boys basketball teams both put together strong seasons and each advanced to the area round of the playoffs. The Bronchos fell to Arlington Bowie in the area round while the Panthers made it all the way to the Region I-6A Tournament in Fort Worth.

>> February 2019: The Odessa High girls basketball team won its second playoff game in program history and the first in nearly two decades with a victory in the Class 6A bi-district round against El Paso Americas. The Lady Bronchos were led by Skylar Herrera, who finished her basketball career with more than 1,000 career points.

>> March 2019: The West Texas Relays marked its 75th anniversary during competition at Ratliff Stadium.

>> March 2019: The Odessa High boys and girls soccer teams along with the Permian girls soccer team all won their respective Class 6A bi-district playoff games.

>> May 2019: The Odessa High softball team put together one of its best seasons in program history by making a run to the Class 6A regional semifinals for only the second time in program history. The only other time the Lady Bronchos had made it that was in 2008 when the team made a run to the state semifinals. Odessa High defeated El Paso Franklin, Abilene High and Midland Lee in three-game series before falling to Haslet Eaton in a one-game playoff.

>> May 2019: That same month was also a showcase for the Odessa High baseball team. The Bronchos also made it to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2009 and got to face off against the eventual Class 6A state champions in Southlake Carroll. The game was played at Globe Life Park in Arlington, the former home of the Texas Rangers.

Six seniors — Nick Arenivas, Jordan Munoz, Michael Gonzalez, Charles McClure, Cristian Baeza and Bobby Salinas — made up a core group of leaders that helped the Bronchos go from a fourth-place finisher in district play to regional semifinalist.