Cornerstone Athletics has some amazing records, which are held by great athletes. But records aren’t meant to be held; they're meant to be broken. The varsity girls basketball team, running back Jaylen McKane of the football team, and the boys 4x400m relay track team have all done just that.  

CCS Athletic Director Darryl Hemphill is excited and proud of what these students-athletes have accomplished. 

“Records are meant to be broken,” Hemphill said. “It is a school record and is a very prideful thing (that) I do believe our coaches and kids take very seriously.” 

Hemphill said giving student athletes the best experience of their high school career is important but so is giving them a Christ-centered education.  

“You cannot play sports forever,” Hemphill said, “but loving Jesus is something you can do the rest of your life.” 

Girls Basketball 

This school year has been a special one, especially for the varsity girls basketball team. Led by captain Yasmeen Schmidt, the team achieved a record-breaking 30 wins, finishing the season 30-7. Closing the season strong with a four-game win streak, the team achieved a ranking of seventh in San Antonio. 

“I think it was pretty interesting this year because we went through a lot, and we faced a lot of adversity. Like we had a bunch of games we were down by like 20, and then we came back,” Yasmeen said.  

The coaches were a big reason for the team’s success, she said.  

“They know how to coach us well, and they know like each person has their own strengths on the team, and they know how to coach each individual person,” Yasmeen said.  

Head coach Terry Barton has been a coach for over 30 years, and this is only the third time he has won 30 or more games.  

Barton said he has what he calls “Chaos Defense” in which guard Hannagrace Lopez excels in. Not only do they have a prolific scorer in Yasmeen, but they also have guard Regina Mendoza who Barton describes as a “sniper” who “could go off for 20 plus in a game and hit five or six threes.” Another piece of this team was guard McKenzie Bailey, who ran point and brought the ball up the court and broke the single game record for assist. 

“What makes me proud is that our strength of schedule is very difficult. We played really tough teams and had a really good schedule,” Barton said. This is a “special group of players. Winning 30 games is very difficult.” 

After being in that threshold of about 26-27 wins, the team was able to pull out those extra three to four wins.   

Assistant Coach Jay Guerra has been coaching some of these girls for five years, and he has been excited to see them grow and become better each day. A combination of talent, trust and chemistry make them a winning team. 

“This team is special. They’ve been together for a while,” Guerra said. “She (Yasmeen) really stepped up and was able to be a real leader on the team and help us overcome that threshold we were sitting at.” 

Running Back Jaylen McKane 

Jaylen McKane didn’t set out to make history this season. But by the end of it, Cornerstone’s running back found himself with 1,216 rushing yards, setting a new single-season school record.  

“Honestly, I wasn’t even trying to break the record,” McKane said. “I was just blessed and happy that it happened.” 

McKane’s breakout season was the result of both natural ability and months of preparation. He credited his success to the work he put in long before the first game kicked off.  

“I think from the God-given talent and the work I put in the summer before really paid off, and just my focus,” he said. 

The record didn’t come without adversity. One of the toughest moments of the season came during a close matchup against Fort Bend, when the team faced unexpected challenges.  

“I would say Fort Bend was a hard game because our starting quarterback got hurt at the end of the first half, and we were only up 7 points,” McKane said. “It was hard to overcome because it was a close game, and I was cramping, and we had to rely on our teammates to step up.”  

Through those challenges, McKane leaned on the guidance of his coaches, who he says played a major role in his development both on and off the field.  

“All my coaches helped me really big. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have broke the school record,” he said. “They installed grit into me and helped me stay focused and not get content.”  

Even with the milestone achievement, McKane isn’t satisfied. He sees the record as just the beginning of a bigger journey.  

“I feel honored, and I think it is a good achievement, but I also want to strive for more and to do better,” he said. “I have a goal to go to college on a full-ride scholarship, and I think this is definitely a booster or stepping stone.”  

With his record-setting season and determined mindset, McKane has already made a lasting mark at Cornerstone, and he’s just getting started.  

Boys 4x1 Relay Team 

With precision, speed and trust, the Cornerstone track team 4x100-meter relay team delivered a record-breaking performance, finishing in 42.3 seconds and setting a new standard for the program. 

The relay squad, Elijah Fayall, Deshaun Horn, Jaylen McKane and Josiah McNeil, combined strong individual legs with seamless handoffs to secure the historic mark. 

Fayall, who ran the anchor leg, understood the weight of finishing the race. 

“My specific role was to finish the race and keep the lead my teammates gave me,” Fayall said. “I just focused on staying relaxed and running smooth.” 

Despite receiving the baton with a significant lead, the pressure to maintain it remained. 

“I knew I had to get out quick and make sure I kept that lead,” he said. 

Horn emphasized the importance of execution and mental focus throughout his leg of the race. 

“What’s going through my mind when I get the baton is to get it to the next person as fast as possible,” Horn said. “I picture myself running fast and efficiently and try to stay calm.” 

He also credited the team’s chemistry and shared goal for their success. 

“Before the relay even started, we all felt good and had one goal — to beat the record,” Horn said. 

McNeil, who helped build a decisive lead during the race, reflected on the team’s mindset and preparation. 

“We knew what we were capable of, and once we got a lead, it was about executing every exchange perfectly,” McNeil said. “Everyone trusted each other to do their job.” 

He added that the team’s bond played a key role in their performance. 

“Our chemistry is what separates us. We run for each other, not just ourselves,” McNeil said. 

McKane highlighted the team’s determination and competitive edge. 

“We don’t like losing, and that shows every time we step on the track,” McKane said. “We push each other to be better every day.” 

He also pointed to the significance of their achievement. 

“Breaking the record was big for us, but we’re not done yet,” McKane said. “We want to keep lowering that time.” 

The record-breaking run was the result of consistent preparation, trust and a shared drive to succeed. While the accomplishment marks a milestone for CCS, the team made it clear they are already focused on what comes next. 

Photos courtesy Kimberly Herrera