Athletic competition is a powerful teacher. Canterbury 's athletics programs strive to teach honor, integrity, respect, sportsmanship, compassion, hard work, and fair play. The program features fourteen interscholastic teams for students in grades six through twelve. Varsity teams compete for district, region, and state championships awarded by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).
Most sports operate at both varsity and middle school levels of competition. Because of the variety of options and the school's small size, over the course of a year almost every Canterbury student receives dedicated training and coaching, wears a Canterbury uniform, and represents the school in interscholastic competition. Participation in athletics offers athletes opportunities to develop self-confidence, leadership skills, and a commitment to teamwork that inspires students to lead productive and healthy lives.
In almost every case, the school employs a teacher-coach model: Canterbury teachers—who have themselves competed with distinction in their sports—coach Canterbury athletics teams. Coaches strive to develop individual athletes and teams that are constantly improving, working hard, disciplined, and schooled in the fundamental aspects of their sport.
The school's 36 acres and proximity to Thorntree Country Club mean that Canterbury offers outstanding sports facilities, including a large multi-purpose playing field, fully enclosed baseball field, and two gymnasiums including a competition gym with seating for five hundred.
To learn more about each team, follow links from the list above to access each team's schedule, which includes directions to away games and, in most cases, game summaries. For cancellations, updates and changes to the athletics schedule, please call the Main School Office: 972.572.7200 or the athletic hotline at 972.890.7280.
The Canterbury Cougar baseball team made the most of the 2006 post season, making it all the way to the state finals. Led by first team all-state seniors Jace Findley and Casey Hawthorne, the Cougars defeated district rival St. Albans in the semi-finals to reach the state championship game.
The 2007 season outlook is promising. Returning to the staff is 2006 assistant coach, Kyle Skelton. The 2007 team returns five starters, including senior Collin Piwetz and four Juniors.
The varsity girls team graduated two all state seniors in 2006, returning 10 players from last year's squad that found itself in the TABC top twenty poll for 3A and under private schools. They were also co-district champions with the talented St Johns team from Ennis, and posted a record of 20 wins and 8 losses. The 2006 - 2007 team is expected to be very quick and full of experience.
Coach Jeff Mills will be in his second year as head coach of the girls team. Coach Mills came to Canterbury with high school and collegiate coaching experience. In 2005, Coach Mills led the Cornerstone Eagles boys team to the playoffs for the first time in six years. He also has experience in coaching high school football and track. Coach Mills also led the girls track team to their first state title in 2006.
The varsity boy's team has a record of 51-11 (and a state title) in its first two years under the leadership of Coach Scott Vaughan. Canterbury has also had four different players named to the first team all state list (TAPPS) in those two years. Coach Vaughan coached three of his players in the all-star game this summer in San Antonio, including two who were juniors. Senior Blane Seidler is expected to lead the talented 2006 - 2007 team into action this year. The cougars return three starters and six players from last years state championship team.
Coach Vaughan, who has led three different high school teams to the state championship game is in his second year as head basketball coach at Canterbury and compiles an overall high school record of 202 wins and 40 losses. Vaughan has also coached on the collegiate level for nine years, capturing two national tournaments in the small college realm.
The varsity soccer team is coming off their best season in our school's history. As 2006 state runners up. Last year's team lost in the state finals in a third overtime shootout.
The 2007 team returns several all state players, including first team all state goalie (Dustin Gouge) as well as seven starters from the 2006 state finalist team.
Larry De La Garza has been appointed Head Varsity and Middle School Soccer Coach. His soccer career began early as a member of the under eleven year old Olympic team! He was a standout 5A soccer player in Victoria, TX and played three years at the college level. He has played soccer at the professional level and has coached one of the top Texas Club teams. Currently, he is Director of the GC Sports Camp Soccer program in Waxahachie. He brings immense skill, experience and expertise to our program.
Kyle Skelton will assist Larry with MS and Varsity. Kyle will also be doing his "Student Teaching Internship" at Canterbury this year as part of his educational program at Dallas Baptist University. Kyle coached the Canterbury varsity baseball team last spring.
The Lady Cougars were led by Coach Jeff Ellis in their inaugural season as a varsity team. The team was laden with freshmen and sophomores, which should provide for a positive future for the young squad who made the post season playoffs before being ousted in the first round. Returning for the Lady Cougars are seniors Kristin Yancy and Lauren Savins. Also returning are all-state junior Allison Conner, and all-state sophomores Melissa Powers and Rachel Vaughan.
The 2005-2006 swim team was led by Coach Stacy Lewis. Coach Lewis is in his third year as head swim team coach, and has built a very competitive program at Canterbury. The team practices at the Duncanville Natatorium where they hope to host their first swim meet in 2007. Under the leadership of Coach Lewis, the boys team qualified for the state meet where they finished fourth in class 1A - 3A combined. The varsity team was led by juniors Erin Lewis and Alex Schiess. The team is expected to be very competitive in 2006-2007 returning all but one swimmer for the boys.
The young girls team is expected to have its first complete team this year, although three girls competed individually last season. Coach Stacy Lewis is excited about the possibility of having a girls program compete as a team this upcoming season.
The 2006 tennis team was led by Coach Scott Vaughan. Twenty five upper school students participated in the practices, which were held at Thorntree Country Club just across the street from Canterbury. Both boys and girls teams won district, with both of the boys doubles teams finishing first and second and the girls doubles teams doing the same. Senior Shannon Gann also won district in the girls’ singles event.
Canterbury qualified 11 players (out of a possible 12) for the state tournament. Both girls’ doubles teams made it to the semi-finals in state, while the two boys’ doubles teams made it to the semi and quarter finals. The girls’ team took an overall 4th place in the state tournament.
The 2006 Canterbury girls track team brought home the gold (literally) for Coach Jeff Mills, as they won the state track meet acquiring 9 gold medals. Sophomore, Lauren Attiah, led the way for the Lady Cougars winning three gold medals and one silver. There were no seniors on the talented squad which should be one of the top ranked teams in the state for class 2A in 2007.
The boys track team also fared well in district, sending four participants to the state tournament. Ryan Seidler took silver in the triple jump to lead the boys’ team for Coach Jeff Mills.
The varsity girls volleyball team has had plenty of success in the past few years, including a state championship in 2005. The 2007 roster includes plenty of varsity experience, returning six players from that state championship team as well as five starters from last year's team. A very strong freshman class will also compete for playing time on the varsity squad.
Scott Vaughan is in his third season as head coach of the varsity team. Steve Flores will lead the junior varsity team and assist Vaughan with the varsity program.
The 2007 season schedule includes tournaments at Dallas Christian (Mesquite), Bracken Christian (San Antonio) and a trip to Malibu, California to visit Pepperdine University while playing three schools in Malibu and Santa Monica.
Jeff Ellis will lead the middle school "A" team in the 2007 season. Jeff Mills will coach the intra squad tem.
Two Middle School teams will be playing during the 2007 season. The advanced "A" team will compete against other school teams. The intra squad team will play mostly intra squad home games with a few interschool competitions. Both teams will include players from grades 6 - 8.
Athletic competition is a powerful teacher. Canterbury 's athletics programs strive to teach honor, integrity, respect, sportsmanship, compassion, hard work, and fair play. The program features fourteen interscholastic teams for students in grades six through twelve. Varsity teams compete for district, region, and state championships awarded by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). 
constantly improving, working hard, disciplined, and schooled in the fundamental aspects of their sport.