Carthage ISD is proud to celebrate one of our own for a major honor across East Texas.
At the ETVarsity Best Preps Ceremony presented by the Longview News-Journal on Wednesday, April 29, Carthage High School’s Makayla Escobedo was named the Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year, recognizing her as one of the top soccer players in the region.
This award is a testament to what it truly means to be a student-athlete. Not just success on the field, but excellence in the classroom. Not just performance, but preparation, discipline, and consistency in everything she does.
A three-year varsity starter at center back, Makayla has been a cornerstone of the Lady Dawgs’ defense. Her presence on the back line brought toughness, leadership, and reliability every time she stepped on the field. She did the little things right, communicated at a high level, and took pride in her role as a defender—leading a unit that could be counted on match after match.
Makayla’s performance earned her Honorable Mention All-District in 2024 and Second Team All-District Defender in 2025, but her impact goes beyond awards. She set the standard for effort, accountability, and team-first play.
In the classroom, that same standard showed up every day. Makayla maintained a 3.75 GPA while earning Academic All-District honors all three years, proving that her commitment to excellence extends far beyond the field.
This recognition reflects the complete picture—the student and the athlete—and the way Makayla represents Carthage with pride in both.
Carthage ISD is proud of Makayla Escobedo and the example she sets for others.
Congratulations, Makayla!