Celina High School is preparing for its first season in Class 5A, bringing a new level of competition for the Bobcats. The school will compete in 4-5A Division II for football and 9-5A for most other sports over the next two years. Celina is located approximately 9 miles south of Gunter.
The move to the second-largest classification introduces several established programs to the Bobcats' schedule. In football, Celina joins a district that includes Anna, Denison, Prosper Richland, and five schools from Frisco ISD. The Bobcats have a long history with Anna, often holding an advantage in district play. During the 2010s, Celina won six district games against the Coyotes by an average margin of 40.7 points. However, Anna has improved significantly under head coach Seth Parr. The Coyotes defeated Celina twice in 2022, including a regional semifinal win, and won a non-district game in quadruple overtime the following year with a 42-40 score. Anna has advanced to the playoffs in both of its 5A seasons and is considered a contender for the division title this fall.
In volleyball, the Lady Bobcats will join a district featuring Lovejoy, a ten-time state champion, and McKinney North. Celina qualified for the state tournament three times in the past five years while in 4A, reaching the state runner-up position in 2021. McKinney North has also seen success, recording seven consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins and reaching the state runner-up spot in 2024. Both teams are expected to return key players from their recent regional runs.
The girls soccer team, which won five consecutive state championships over the past five seasons with a record of 138 wins, 4 losses, and 4 ties, will now compete against Lovejoy. The Lady Leopards went 26-1 last season and reached the regional finals for the second straight year, allowing only four goals. Celina is expected to retain most of its starting lineup from its title-winning season. The two teams will meet twice in district play and could clash in the Region II title scene.
