MacArthur's Destiny McFarland
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The departure of those stars leaves a competitive void in one of the area’s most demanding districts— and an opportunity for McFarland and her fellow seniors to carry the mantle forward.
The stars of 2025-25 MacArthur VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I feel that I’ll need to be more confident and speak up for my team,” McFarland said. “We’ve lost a lot of players compared to some other teams in the district, and those will definitely be some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, it doesn’t just fall on me to take on that position. It’ll be a combined effort, so we just need to practice harder and prepare ourselves."
Last season, MacArthur finished 24-17 before falling to The Woodlands in the opening round of the postseason. McFarland earned an all-district honorable mention, showcasing her ability as both a physical presence on the court and an emerging leader off of it. But her growth has gone beyond stats.
“My attitude has really improved over the years,” she admitted. “Starting off in my freshman year it was pretty bad, but Coach [Lynda] Eastland changed that quickly. She’s been a great motivator to me and she helped me to become disciplined and humble as an individual.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Off the court, McFarland is the oldest of five siblings — a role that’s helped shape her approach to responsibility and maturity.
“Even though we’re not too far apart in age, I’m kind of the first one to experience things and I hope they learn from my mistakes and my successes,” she said.
As she prepares for her last campaign, McFarland continues to draw inspiration from collegiate stars like Harper Murray (Nebraska) and Logan Eggleston (LOVB Austin). And while this fall will present a new challenge for MacArthur, one thing is clear: the Lady Generals’ future now rests in the hands of someone ready for the moment.
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Alief Hastings' Angel Ebiringa
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
That need evolved into something bigger.
“I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to be effective in that [defensive] role, I’d need the stamina,” Ebiringa said. “That led me to running miles and focusing on distance... which eventually translated into me naturally joining cross country.”
The stars of 2025-26 Alief Hastings Girls Cross CountryJamey Wright (VYPE)
Now, she’s not just part of the team—she’s leading it. Ebiringa’s freshman campaign in 2024 offered a glimpse of what’s to come.
She placed fifth overall at the District 20-6A Meet, clocking in at 20:06.52 in the 5K—one of the top finishes by a Hastings athlete in recent memory.
That performance earned her a trip to the UIL Region III-6A Meet in Huntsville, where she represented the Bears as their lone qualifier. Facing a field of 173 runners, she placed a strong 40th overall.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, expectations for Ebiringa are rising, both internally and within the program. Despite her youth, she enters the fall as the undisputed front-runner for Hastings.
But she hasn’t done it alone. Among her early influences is Bissinatt Abdelasis, the former cross country standout from Alief Elsik who graduated this past spring and now competes for Ouachita Baptist University.
“She (Abdelasis) was so good,” Ebiringa said. “Usually, when you see great players or athletes, they have a lot of pride. But when I spoke to Bissinatt, she was always so humble and had a certain way of composing herself. From there, I thought that if I ever get to that level, then I would stay grounded and just continue to be my best self, similar to what she did.”
That balance—competitive edge with grounded maturity—has already become a hallmark of Ebiringa’s approach. Off the course, she holds herself to the same standard, keeping academics at the forefront thanks in large part to the expectations set by her family.
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
“My Mom and family expect the best out of me,” she said. “If I wasn’t able to focus in school, then there’s no way I could excel in sports.”
As she continues to grow in her role, Ebiringa also values the chance to show that who she is as a runner isn’t the whole picture.
“There’s a difference between who I am athletically and who I am personally,” she added. “I’ll be serious and locked in when I compete, but I hope people can recognize the contrast. I like to think that my personality and fun side show when that isn’t the case.”
Considering the strong foundation that’s been established and the exceptional room for her to rise, Angel Ebiringa is primed to lead not only by times and titles—but by example.
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