Princeton alum Daniel Tyutyunnik earned first place in the Texas High School Powerlifting Association Class 6A state meet in the 242-pound weight class division. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Princeton held its own against the rugged competition in District 6-6A, earning several memorable victories along the way.
The Princeton Herald is proud to introduce the third installment of a three-part series celebrating the best teams, athletes, moments and performances from this past school year. The categories and winners for the second annual C&S Media High School Sports Awards were chosen by sports editor David Wolman, with winners being published over three weeks.
Part 1 (July 16) included the Biggest Story, Breakthrough Moment, Newcomer of the Year and Best Team
Part 2 (July 23) highlighted the Best Game, Best Finish, Biggest Upset and Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.
Part 3 (July 30) wrapped up the series with Coach of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Male Athlete and Best Female Athlete.
These are the winners of the third installment of the series.
Coach of the Year: Ervin Chandler, football
Princeton recently underwent major changes within its athletic administration, which included Chandler being promoted to assistant athletic director.
Although Chandler will no longer be head coach of the Panthers after serving in that role since December 2020, he oversaw a Princeton program that made the jump from Class 5A to 6A two years ago.
Chandler’s final season coaching the Panthers proved to be one of the best in recent memory for the program. Princeton finished 6-4 for its first season with a winning record since 2014 and the Panthers came up just short of qualifying for the postseason.
Although injuries to key players dashed Princeton’s playoff hopes, Chandler made sure that his team maintained its focus. That focus helped the Panthers to rally for a 28-24 road win against McKinney Boyd in the final game of the regular season and ensured Princeton would finish the 2025 season with a winning record.
Most Improved Athlete: Jonathan Sanchez, boys’ soccer
Princeton head boys soccer coach Kent Ackmann said that Sanchez deserved consideration for District 6-6A Goalkeeper of the Year in 2025, but Sanchez was finally rewarded for his efforts backstopping the Panthers’ defense this year.
Not only did Sanchez get selected as the district’s Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, but he became the first Princeton player to be named to the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-Region Team since 2018. He was placed on the second team.
Named the program’s first three-time Team MVP and first-ever Panther Award winner, Sanchez was a force in net, posting three clean sheets and allowing one goal or fewer in six matches.
“Accolades and awards were never Johnny’s focus,” Ackmann said. “Johnny was just so intentional about being the best version of himself every day, and that is what separated himself from others.
“Johnny hated mediocrity. He approached every training session, every lift, every meeting, every scrimmage, every match with an intensity and focus that was simply unmatched.”
Best Male Athlete: Daniel Tyutyunnik, powerlifting
Having only competed in powerlifting since he was a freshman, Tyutyunnik worked hard and he saw massive improvement each season.
Tyutyunnik’s commitment to powerlifting paid off in a big way earlier this year. He earned first place in the 242-pound weight class in the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s Class 6A state meet in Abilene after he lifted a total of 1,900 pounds between the meet’s three events: squat, bench press and deadlift.
Tyutyunnik broke the state record for bench press after a lift of 560 pounds and also won the “Outstanding Bench Presser” award for the heavyweight classes.
Tyutyunnik’s total was 135 pounds more than runner-up Dickinson’s Adolfo Cruz, who lifted 1,765 pounds.
“Daniel has worked for three years battling and getting stronger each year and last year coming in second made him just work harder,” Princeton head coach David Pasternak said.
Best Female Athlete: Addy Smith, wrestling
Last year, Addy Smith was forced to watch the Class 6A state tournament from the stands. She was an alternate in her weight class, missing the state cut by one win.
Fast forward to this season, and Smith not only wrestled at state for the first time, but she also stood on the medal stand after earning fifth place at 190 pounds at the Berry Center in Cypress.
“To go from being an alternate to a state placer is a big jump,” head coach Ryan DeLaVergne said. “To finish in fifth place at state is huge. It speaks a lot to the preparation that she put in this year. We were thrilled for her.”
In the semifinals, Smith, the No. 4 seed at 190 pounds, lost to top seed and eventual state runner-up Asaiya Golphin of Cibolo Steele by third-period pin.
The loss relegated Smith to the consolation semifinals, where she lost by pin to Richmond Foster’s Jaida Kuntz in the third period. But Smith emerged victorious in her final high school match, notching a third-period pin of No. 2 seed Tristyn Alo-Suliafu of Katy Jordan in the fifth-place bout.
Read the full story in the July 30th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Princeton Herald.
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