Amid a record-breaking year for nominations, the Pearce High School Swim Team was selected as one of twenty $1,000 grant recipients in the 2026 Grant Teaff Beyond the Game Team Award.
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 Eric Ewing and his student athletes for their exceptional leadership and dedication to selfless service.”
The Pearce Swim Team 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 Ewing and his swim 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.
Richardson ISD is proud of the culture and excellence Coach Ewing brings to the swim team and Pearce High School.
Visit www.grantteaff.org to learn more about the foundation, submit nominations for 2027 or support the program through donations.
