There's something to be said about timing in sports -- not just on the court, but in the natural rhythm of maturing as an athlete. For Destiny McFarland, a senior outside hitter for Aldine MacArthur, that timing has arrived.
After helping the Lady Generals clinch a second consecutive district championship last fall, McFarland now steps into a central role following the graduation of several cornerstone players —including District 14-6A MVP Jessika Martinez, Defensive Player of the Year Alexis Lopez, and first-team, all-district honoree LaShae Goffney.
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.
“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.”
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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