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Whataburger Team of the Week: Kingwood Girls Soccer stays perfect as district race tightens
Kingwood has firmly asserted itself as one of the hottest teams in Texas as the season moves beyond its midway point. Under head coach Adam Bell, the Lady Mustangs have surged to an unbeaten 14-0-1 start, stacking quality results against heavyweights like Stratford and district rival Atascocita in their first meeting of the winter. The consistency of that run has placed Kingwood squarely among the state’s most reliable contenders.
A recent 1-1 draw with Summer Creek (10-3-4) offered a reminder of the volatility that explains District 23-6A, where margins are thin and results rarely come easy. Still, Kingwood’s defensive profile continues to separate it from the field. Through the early portion of 2026, KHS has allowed just four goals, a telling indicator as they position themselves in the district title race.
That defensive identity begins along the back line, anchored by 2025 Team MVP Kate Kristiansen and Addie Abdmoulaie. Both first-team all-district selections a year ago, the senior duo provides stability and composure. They’re complemented by Camryn Hicks, a second-team honoree, along with the SFA-bound Elizabeth Quinn and Helen Shamaly, forming a unit defined by cohesion.
Offensively, Texas Woman’s University signee Concepcion Maya supplies the primary scoring threat. A first-team all-district selection, Maya’s versatility allows her to influence the game as a forward or from an attacking midfield role. Behind her, senior holding midfielder Harper Mills plays an integral role in coordinating the attack, dictating tempo, and linking lines.
The second half of district play rarely offers comfort, only clarity. Kingwood has responded with control, pairing discipline at the back with purpose going forward. After a three-round postseason run a year ago, the Lady Mustangs aren’t navigating new territory—they’re reinforcing what has already been established.

Kingwood Jr. RHP/IF Hunter Quentel (Oklahoma State commit)
RELENTLESS: Quentel balances confidence and control as Kingwood defends its crown
Expectation now follows Kingwood Softball everywhere it goes — and Hunter Quentel wouldn’t have it any other way.
Quentel wasted no time establishing herself among Texas’ elite. Verbally committed to Oklahoma State since September, the junior pitcher and infielder shoulders the spotlight while embracing the chance to lead a team fresh off its inaugural UIL State Championship.
“We’re already back to practicing really hard and reinforcing the team-bonding aspect so that we’ll continue to be prepared for the big moments,” Quentel said. “It’s just been about getting back into the same formula that brought us there.”
Kingwood’s title run last spring validated that formula. After falling in the State Semifinals in 2024, the Mustangs returned with purpose, finishing 34-4-1 and conquering the UIL 6A Division II bracket. A 4-1 victory over Forney in Austin delivered the program’s first-ever UIL crown, with Quentel earning State Tournament MVP honors. Individually, she also captured District 23-6A Pitcher of the Year after going 18-3, and she hit just under .500 at the plate, underscoring her value as a two-way contributor.

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Introduced to softball at age four through the Kingwood Girls Softball Association, Quentel has since grown into one of the high school program’s most dependable and poised players.
With a handful of contributors from last year’s lineup now graduated — including Team USA WBSC U-18 World Champion Addyson Sheppard (Stanford), 23-6A MVP Mia Gagliardi (Virginia Tech), and standout second baseman Leilani Garcia (Houston) — skeptics might be quick to question the ballclub.
But the cool, calm, and collected Quentel, along with her teammates, appears ready to put any perceived setbacks to rest.
“I don’t think we’re stressing too much about that,” Quentel said. “We’re piecing things together and understanding how each player fits into the program and our lineup. This team is young but exceptionally talented. As long as we play together and play as one, I see no reason for us to worry.”

Her approach to softball extends beyond talent and mechanics.
“The most challenging aspect of the sport is getting past the mental blocks that come with it,” Quentel said. “But I think failing is what makes the experience more rewarding. Once you finally see the work pay off, it’s a feeling you can’t replicate. That’s why I’ve learned that giving up or quitting is simply never an option.”
The perspective that drives her play was evident in November, when the Lady Mustangs received their state championship rings during halftime of the football team’s regular-season finale.

“There’s definitely a lot to like about the ring — I’m actually kind of obsessed with it,” she laughed. “But what I appreciate most is the Buc-ee’s logo imprinted on the inside. We made it a point to stop there after each playoff round, and it eventually became a tradition.”
Calm under pressure, Quentel drives the Mustangs toward a repeat, intent on proving last year’s hardware was fully deserved.
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