Princeton rising junior guard Rayleigh Williams averaged 13 points per game during her sophomore season and earned a selection on the All-District 6-6A second team. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Princeton is about to begin its third season in Class 6A and the Panthers are ready to build on the success they’ve had since joining the state’s top public school classification in 2024.
The Princeton Herald will now take a closer look at Princeton’s top returners.
Felix Martinez, baseball
Martinez is as durable as they come.
The incoming senior shortstop didn’t miss a game in his junior season, and his availability made a big difference.
Named to the District 6-6A first team, Martinez had 19 games with at least one hit, including a two-for-four, three-RBI performance in a 6-5 loss to Prosper Rock Hill March 13. He finished the season with a .347 batting average with 15 RBIs, seven walks and 13 runs scored while batting in either the second or third positions in Princeton’s lineup.
Issobella Cook, wrestling
Cook came oh-so close to qualifying for the Class 6A state tournament this year.
After serving as a state alternate at 145 pounds following a fifth-place finish at regionals, she is hopeful to take things one step further and finish the 2026-27 season with her first appearance in the state tournament.
Cook is closing in on her 100th career victory, having amassed a 91-52 record, including a 32-15 mark this past season.
Kinlee Ratliff, softball/volleyball
Whether it is in on the softball field or volleyball court, Ratliff has been counted on to be one of the last lines of defense.
Last year, Ratliff was named to the All-District 6-6A first team at libero after finishing as one of the team’s leaders in digs and the incoming junior was named to the All-6-6A honorable mention team in softball for her play in left field.
Offensively, Ratliff provided a huge spark for the Lady Panthers softball team. She hit .385 with three doubles and four RBIs.
Oluwafisayomi Falowo, boys’ basketball
Princeton’s boys’ basketball team received a big boost at the forward position after the Panthers landed Falowo last summer following his transfer from Richardson.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Falowo provided Princeton with a big body near the rim and used his long arms to battle for loose balls near the rim.
Named to the District 6-6A first team, Falowo finished the 2025-26 season as the team leader in blocked shots and rebounds.
Falowo will look to help Princeton build on an 8-8 district record and reach the playoffs after the Panthers just missed out on the postseason this year.
Rayleigh Williams, girls’ basketball
Williams is about to play for her third different head coach, but she has improved every season regardless of who’s in charge and has become an elite three-level scorer.
Playing in an experienced backcourt alongside rising junior point guard Jada Childress, Williams is ready to build off an impressive sophomore season in which she averaged 13 points per game, including 21 in games against Allen and McKinney Boyd.
At the TABC Showcase earlier this summer in Bryan, Williams poured in 29 points in a contest against Keller Central and 23 in Princeton’s last game of the Showcase against Schertz Clemens.
Sydney Smith, track and field
Smith seeks a return trip to state in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles after just missing out this year.
During her first season at Princeton, Smith broke the school record in both the long jump and 100 hurdles.
Smith entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in Region I-6A in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles. She won her third straight district title after posting a time of 13.7 and broke the school record the following week at the area meet, clocking a 13.67. However, she was unable to qualify for the state meet.
In the long jump, Smith won the district title after posting a leap of 19-10.25 and qualified for regionals after placing fourth in the area meet.
Zoie Rainey, softball
Rainey has emerged as a team leader and standout catcher for a young Princeton softball team that is on the rise.
Named to the District 6-6A second team, Rainey finished her sophomore season with a .369 batting average, 11 RBIs and five stolen bases. She had six multi-hit games, including three during Princeton’s 13-3 win over Dallas Skyline on Feb. 20.
Through her first two seasons playing for the Lady Panthers, she has a .376 batting average with 47 hits, 14 doubles, five triples, one home run and 30 RBIs.
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