CFISD Students Bring Home Three UIL Academic State Titles, Highlighting a Year of Excellence for Cypress Springs and Cypress Woods
For families across Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, the latest results from the UIL Academic State Meet offer another reminder that student achievement extends far beyond athletics and extracurricular activities. This year, students from Cypress Springs High School and Cypress Woods High School brought home three UIL Academic state championships, demonstrating the dedication, talent, and perseverance that continue to define academic excellence across CFISD.
The accomplishments, earned during the UIL Academic State Meet held May 18-19 at The University of Texas at Austin, represent not only individual success but also the strength of academic programs that have become a source of pride for students, educators, and the broader Cypress community.
Cypress Springs Earns Historic First Academic State Championship
For Cypress Springs High School, the 2026 UIL Academic State Meet marked a milestone years in the making.
The Panthers’ Spelling team—Louise Campo, Christian Jack, Toan Nguyen, and Ethan Rocha—captured the school's first-ever academic state championship, defeating El Paso Coronado by 12 points in the team competition.
The victory was especially meaningful considering the team's journey. Just one year earlier, the Panthers finished fourth at their district meet, a result that motivated them to pursue a different outcome.
“All four were disappointed with the results [last year] to the point they messaged me on June 27, 2025, on Schoology, to let me know the new word list had dropped,” said Jose Chapela, Cypress Springs’ UIL academic coordinator. “They had begun practicing some of the intimidating words then to get a headstart. August through October, Monday through Friday, each one found time to practice, staying up late for a number of days. November was our first in-person competition that validated they were on the right track, and every competition after that their goal was first through fourth.”
Their commitment paid off on the state's biggest academic stage, delivering a championship that will become part of Cypress Springs history.
Cypress Woods Captures Two State Titles
Cypress Woods High School continued its tradition of academic excellence by bringing home two first-place trophies from Austin.
After finishing second at the UIL Academic State Meet a year ago, the Cypress Woods Computer Science team of Alaqmar Trunkwala, Jade Chen, Ryder Sanchez, and Koa Asagami captured the state championship. The title marks the fourth UIL Academic team state championship in the school's history.
Trunkwala also secured an individual state championship in Computer Science, finishing two points ahead of his closest competitor. His achievement represents the ninth individual UIL Academic state title earned by a Cypress Woods student in the school's 20-year history.
The success didn't stop there. Cypress Woods' Mathematics team, consisting of Coral Khieu, Eric Liu, Prashad Wadhwa, and Aishik Das, earned a second-place finish in the state mathematics team competition, adding another podium finish to the school's impressive showing.
“Cy Woods has embraced UIL Academics and developed a culture of excellence in competitive academics,” said Stacey Armstrong, Cypress Woods’ UIL Academic coordinator. “All of the students that advanced to the UIL State Academic Meet and finished at the top demonstrated what 212 is all about all year. Getting to the state level and placing is very hard and requires hours of dedication. I am very proud of all Cy Woods UIL coaches and teams for accepting the challenge to be the best in the state.”
Academic Excellence Across CFISD
Beyond the state championships, several CFISD students placed among the top six competitors in their respective academic events, contributing valuable points toward their schools' overall sweepstakes standings.
Top state finishers included:
- Alaqmar Trunkwala, Cypress Woods – Computer Science, 1st Place
- Christian Jack, Cypress Springs – Spelling, 4th Place
- Sabrina Sanz, Langham Creek – Ready Writing, 4th Place
- Sushanth Muta, Cypress Creek – Ready Writing, 5th Place
- Arav Devaraj, Cypress Ranch – Persuasive Speaking, 5th Place
- Toan Nguyen, Cypress Springs – Spelling, 6th Place
- Coral Khieu, Cypress Woods – Mathematics, 6th Place
The broad representation from campuses across the district showcases the depth of academic talent throughout CFISD and highlights the opportunities available to students through UIL Academic competition.
Why This Matters for the Cypress Community
While athletic championships often attract headlines, UIL Academic competitions showcase another important dimension of student achievement. Success in events such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Spelling, Ready Writing, and Persuasive Speaking reflects skills that prepare students for future careers, college success, and leadership opportunities.
For Cypress-area families, these accomplishments reinforce CFISD's reputation as a district where academic excellence is celebrated and supported. They also demonstrate the impact of educators, coaches, parents, and students who invest countless hours preparing for competition.
As the school year concludes, the state titles earned by Cypress Springs and Cypress Woods serve as a powerful example of what determination, teamwork, and a commitment to learning can accomplish.
For many students across CFISD, the success witnessed in Austin may provide inspiration for the next generation of academic competitors aiming to bring home future state championships.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more updates on student achievements, schools, and community news from across the Cypress-Fairbanks area.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
