Killeen ISD is celebrating 17 students across three fall sports recognized Thursday by the Texas High School Coaches Association as Academic All-State honorees.
Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, the THSCA will select senior athletes, trainers and managers for the high-level award based on their excellence in the classroom while balancing their athletic commitments.
Killeen High tennis player Dylan Layman earned the top honor of Elite, while KISD students also received four First-Team selections, nine Second-Team placements and three Honorable Mentions.
“We appreciate our student-athletes embracing the importance of their academics. Student comes before athlete, and these individuals are a testament to that principle,” KISD executive director for athletics Latisha Williams said. “We are so proud of their commitment and discipline in the classroom and in their respective sports.”
To be nominated by their head coach, who must be a member of the THSCA, students are required to be in good standing with their team, be of good moral character, and have an overall GPA of 92 or above –– including ninth through 11th grade courses and courses completed so far during their senior year.
The THSCA reviews nominations and assigns points based on GPA, class rank and SAT and/or ACT scores before placing selected students into four categories: Elite, First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention.
The full list by sport and school is below.
Cross country
Chaparral
Avery Wiltzius, second team
Jasmin Garraway, second team
Isabella Rodriguez, honorable mention
Harker Heights
Ian Otto, honorable mention
Killeen
Jacob Roman, first team
Team Tennis
Harker Heights
William Pierce, second team
Madison Walker, second team
Payton Thomas, second team
Killeen
Dylan Layman, Elite
Lawrenze Hood, first team
Trinity Cohn, first team
Talha Khan, second team
Aiyana Berry, honorable mention
Volleyball
Chaparral
Caoimhe Gormley, first team
Ellison
Ja'Lya Swiney, second team
Killeen
Victoria L. Barnett, second team
Gisella Lily Wood, second team
The next round of Academic All-State selections, scheduled for December, will include football players and athletic trainers.