Fort Worth Nolan will compete as a non-aligned member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) this season, a move that removes the program from district play and eliminates its eligibility for postseason tournaments. The decision follows a difficult 2025 campaign in which the team finished with a one-and-nine record and was outscored 454 to 110.
The shift marks a significant departure for a program that captured seven state titles and appeared in nine championship games between 2004 and 2013. Head coach Tony Savino, entering his first full season at the helm, stated that the change was necessary to address player safety and development issues that plagued the previous year.
Savino noted that many of the current roster members, including juniors and seniors, lacked prior strength training experience. The team suffered frequent injuries during last season, with five or six players getting hurt in single games against larger opponents. Savino described the previous schedule as a gauntlet that left the squad physically and mentally exhausted.
Despite the competitive downgrade, participation has grown. The varsity roster now includes approximately 41 athletes, while the junior varsity team has about 33 players. Enrollment at the school stands at roughly 575 students, which keeps it in TAPPS Division I based on state cutoffs, making a drop to Division II ineligible.
The new schedule will feature matchups against smaller TAPPS schools, private institutions from the Southwest Preparatory Conference, and one Class 4A public school, Life Waxahachie. Savino emphasized that the goal is to provide players with more competitive games where they can develop physically and mentally without the constant threat of severe blowouts.
