Cy Springs High School Senior Receives McDonald’s All-American Jersey
By Hershie Soriano, Cypress Springs HS (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)
Cypress Springs High School senior Ayla McDowell was selected as one of 24 McDonald’s All-Americans and will play on the girls’ west coast team on April 1 in Brooklyn, New York. Cypress Springs held a pep rally for McDowell on Feb. 19, when she officially received her All-American game jersey.
Since 1977 through the All-American games, McDonald’s has invested in showcasing young basketball talent throughout the nation. Each year, 24 high school senior girls and 24 high school senior boys are selected to compete on one of the biggest stages in high school basketball.
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Cypress Springs High School senior Ayla McDowell was selected as a 2025 All-American and will play on the girls’ west coast team on April 1 in Brooklyn, New York. Cypress Springs held a pep rally for McDowell on Feb. 19 when she officially received her All-American game jersey.
McDowell said she was overflowing with the emotions of the realization that she’s made it this far, accomplishing one of her childhood dreams. When McDowell puts on her new white-based jersey with McDonald’s yellow and red stitching to compete in New York, she said she’ll proudly carry her Cypress Springs Panther pride.
“I’m going to represent heavily,” McDowell said. “This is the first McDonald’s All-American selection at Cypress Springs and I want to be able to go all out in New York and show that you can accomplish big things coming out of this high school.”
With high standards and a tough selection process, the McDonald’s All-American selection clearly defines the elite, the best of the best. As a remarkable and honorable player, Cypress Springs Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Taneisha Rogers said McDowell perfectly fits the criteria.
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“She’s a phenomenal basketball player and an even better person,” Rogers said before listing all of McDowell’s basketball accolades, including her nomination for the Naismith Courage Award.
Dr. Cheryl Henry, Cypress Springs principal, said that McDowell is a great representation of Cypress Springs and expressed her pride for McDowell.
“Ayla has done such a great job of representing our campus, our community and our district,” Dr. Henry said. “She embodies everything that we say about what it means to be a Panther. I don’t know anyone more deserving.”
Editor's Note: This article was written by Promise Edwards, a student at Cypress Springs High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.
