ARLINGTON, Texas- Thursday’s high school football state championship game was more than just another state championship game for the Muenster Hornets – Thursday’s game would mark the third consecutive state championship title for the school’s athletic program this year.
If you look closely, though, you’ll see that the number three is extremely special to the Hornets’ squad. The number three has been with them all season on the side of their helmet pushing them forward and it wasn’t referencing a title run.
Barely two months after winning the basketball state title and amid a baseball title run, Muenster lost one of their own. Friend and teammate, John Calvin “Cal” York, succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Muenster celebrates their first state title with the number 3 placed right on the side of the helmets. (Sherry Milliken/TexasHSFootball)
As a basketball and baseball star, the junior donned the number three jersey with pride and was part of the basketball team when they won their state title in March.
The Hornets went on to tally their second state title of the year courtesy of Muenster baseball in memory of York despite obvious challenges that came with losing a teammate.
Though York wasn’t a football player, he was a teammate in other sports and a great friend to many of the athletes who stepped on the field at AT&T Stadium during the football program’s first state championship appearance.
Muenster running back Clay Stevens (1) was teammates with Cal Gray in both baseball and basketball. (Sherry Milliken/TexasHSFootball)
“We do it for him everyday,” Clay Stevens said after the 27-20 win. “We try to live for him and I know he’s there for us – above us – watching over us.”
Stevens is the only Hornets athlete to hold all three state titles to his name playing alongside York in both basketball and baseball.
The Muenster football team suited up every game this season with the spirit of York continuing to drive them further. The football team followed the basketball and baseball teams’ trend and didn’t lose a single game since York’s passing. With their third championship under their belt, the football team capped off a perfect 16-0 season.
Hornets Head Coach Brady Carney let senior Carson Trubenbach answer in his place when speaking on York’s impact to the team.
“Cal is always with us,” said Trubenbach. “We have the three to remember him by. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him. Every practice, every game… he’s always with us.”
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