(WACO, Texas) March 25, 2026 — Amid a record-breaking year for nominations, Tyler High School Cross Country was selected as one of twenty (20) $1,000 grant recipients in the 2026 Grant Teaff Beyond the Game Team Award, with Brazoswood High School’s Lady Buc soccer program named as the $5,000 grant winner.
The Grant Teaff Foundation and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, with the support of the Texas High School Coaches Association, the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association and Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports, present this award annually to Texas high school teams that exemplify outstanding service to their communities beyond the game.
“High school coaches have a unique opportunity to shape their athletes’ lives by fostering a culture of servant leadership,” said Grant Teaff, a member of eight halls of fame, including the College Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. “I commend Coach Stephen Niedrauer and his student athletes for their exceptional leadership and dedication to selfless service.”
Tyler Cross Country earned this recognition for its leadership, consistency and meaningful community impact through a wide range of service initiatives - embodying the standard set by Coach Grant Teaff and the mission of the award itself.
“Coach Grant Teaff has long exemplified the power of servant leadership and the influence coaches have beyond the game,” said Joe Martin, executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “I congratulate Coach Niedrauer and his cross country team for their outstanding commitment to serving their community.”
The 2026 award cycle marked a record-breaking year for the program, with 105 Texas high schools nominated for their commitment to community service - more than double the number of applicants from the previous year.
This year’s record number of nominations reflects the continued growth of the program, with significantly more schools recognized than in previous years and a deeper, more competitive pool of service-minded athletic programs across the state. This expansion highlights the increasing emphasis on leadership, character and community impact within high school athletics.
The Grant Teaff Foundation extends its gratitude to all nominated schools for their dedication to serving others and for embodying the values of leadership, character and community that define the Beyond the Game mission.
Visit www.grantteaff.org to view all nominated schools, submit nominations for 2027 or support the program through donations.
About the Grant Teaff Foundation: The Grant Teaff Foundation is a non-profit organization that is committed to recognizing and supporting the education and development of Texas high school students in the areas of servant leadership and community service. Our mission is to empower young Texans to become leaders in their communities and to make a positive impact on the world. We also provide financial assistance to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization located in Waco, Texas, that celebrates the accomplishments of Texas athletes and promotes the benefits of sports for young people.
About the Texas Sports Hall of Fame: With the mission to preserve the legacy of inductees and the history of sports throughout the state, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (TSHOF) celebrates the accomplishments of athletes, coaches and administrators who have brought fame and honor to the State of Texas. Established as the nation’s first and largest state sports hall of fame in 1951, the TSHOF is home to over 400 sports legends and over 18,000 pieces of memorabilia. The museum which is located in Waco, Texas, also offers several educational tours and houses three other halls of fame: the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.