DISTRICT13-6A SUMMER FOOTBALL TOUR Vandegrift brings its high hopes Vipers optimistic their Where we left off: 111e Vipers experience will fare have \\00 at least one playoffgame DISTRICT13-<6A in six ofthe program'S eight sea Vandegrift well in new district. sons of existence, and last year Vista Ridge t was another successful campaign. Leanoer By Chris Dukes Vandegrift compiled an overall HenG1ckson Conttibutiog wnter record of7-5 and finished third in llouldlloc:k its district behind Westlake and McNeil In February'S biennial realign , ,.,. '"S. TheVipersbeatSan Stony Point ment, longtime dis1rict compet· Antonio Johnson in the bi-district Westwood itor Pflugerville dropped down round of the playoffs before fall Cedarllidse 10 Class SA, and the three larg ing to Cibolo Steele 36·18. The est Leander school disrrict pro Vipers now move north to a new grams joined Hendrickson and district centered in Williamson the Round Rock schools. Each County to take on a new set of trier title in 2018. week this summer, we will take district opponents. With plenty Who's gone? QuarterbackJus· a peek at the nine football pro of returning athleticism and an tin Moore took the reigns of the grams that will compete in District experience head coach in Drew Viper offense last year and drew Vandegrift running back lsalah Smallwood runs for a touchdown t3-6A. We continue the series this Sanders, don't be surprised to durtng the Vipers' mat ch up versus Vista Ridge In 2017. Smallwood week by looking at Vandegrift. see this team challenge for a dis- VIIHN"S continued on A 7 will anchor t he Vipers' offense this fall. NK:KW~NER/AMERICAN STATESMAN wood, a physical runner who of the top prospects in the Vipers excels betwe-en the tackles, country. Tight end Jackson continued from A6 racked up 1,207 yards and 19 Oliver was an unsung hero touchdowns last year. Bren ofthe offense last year. He's rave reviews. He was effi dan Bennetl is the perfect a stout blocker who might cient at getting the ball into complement to Smallwood. find more of a role in the the hands or his playmak He carried the ball just 38 passing game with the loss ers. His top target is also times last year. but made ofseveral playmakers. Mat· gone in Peyton Ausley. Aus· the best or every oppor thew Sanders will be a leader ley ca1.1ght 74 passes for 956 runiry and averaged eight on the offensive line. yards and II touchdowns yards per carry. Davis Beal Breakout player: Ryan last year. Lineman Wesley seems 10 be lhe best candi Merrifield was a luxury for Holmes was another all-dis date to step into the start the Vipers last year but will trict selection. On derense, ing quarterback role. He likely be an essential cog in Myles Hammon and Osora· saw duty as a backup for the any offensive success we chukwu lfesmachukwu were Moore last year. Interest see from Vandegrift in 2018. leaders on the line. Cole Wal ingly enougll, Seal's colle He makes the most or every ther andJonathan Rom were giate furure appears to be at touch and has the sure hands standouts in the secondary. the long-snapper position, that the Vipers will look for Who's bad,'? Isaiah Small- where he is considered one on must-have third downs. Liberty Hill wins 2nd straight We~ L ke Chaps take plooshlp golf teams were the dlf. second place with ference between the Chaparrals and rival 1-, '""· several championships. Scoring: BOys basketball, IS; football, 13; girls basketball. 9; By Thomas Jones boys golf. 8;glrls golf, 8; girls soc· [email protected] cer, 6; volleyball, 6; swimming. 6; tennis, 3; boys soccer, 2; girls THE BREAZEALE CUP: cross country, 2; baseball, 2. OURTOP10 Lasl season: second. 65 points 3. Lake Tr avis (79): With a I. Uberty Hlll.105 points: Tile third consecullve appearance defending Breazeale cup cham In a state championship game, pion enjoyed another spectacu football remains the barometer lar season, especially In the tradl· of the ;..,.,~ ttJ\ 1s athledc pro tlonal team spores. 'lbe Class 4A gram. However, a resurgence Panthers won at least one playolf In girls sports boosted Lhe Class game In each team spore and had 6A school's score by 20 points teams reach a1 leas1 lhe regional OrtpplngSprlngs High Scllool'SJayel Gold smith survllled a three and bumped the cavaliers up a tournament In rnoe of lhose spons. set matell against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff's Femke TJon-A-Joe spot In the standings. Girls soc Llberty Hill's soccer 1eanis com towlntheGlrlsClassSAstatetltleat the UIL Texas Tennis State cer, softball and girls basketball bined for 28 points. Championships In College Station at the George P. Mltcllell Tennis combined for 2l points; last sea Scoring: Girls soccer, 15; vol· Center on the Texas A&M University campus on May 18.R.ALPHBAAl!ERA son. those teams combined for leyball, 13; boys soccer, 13; girts I AMERICAN-STA.TESMMISTA.TESMAN Just six points. basketball. U; boys baskelbaJJ. 11; Scoring: Footbal~ 12; girls soc football, 8; softball, 6; boys cross cer, 10; boys basketball. 10; base country, 6;glrlscrosscountry, 6, 2. wes1 lake (80): District finlshastherunner-upforlhesec ball, 9; boys soccer, 9; softball, boysgolf2,girlsgolf6, 1enniS4; championships in football. vol ond consecutive season. Sixteen 7; tennis, 6; boys cross coumry, baseball, 4. leyball and both boys and girls total points -lhe maximum possi Last season: first, 85 points basketball help lheQass 6A school ble - from Wes :e'ssrate cbam- Cup continued on A7 Lake Travis Cavaliers run out Into the football field before the game at the UIL 6A Dlvl playoff between the Lake Travis cavaliers and the Allen EagJes at AT&T Stadium In Arlington on Dec. 23. JOHNCUTIERllll / FOR AMUAICAH-STAfESMAN 17; baseball, 13; girls basket• leyball, 2; baseball, 2; swin1· Cup ball, 9; soltball, 9; boys cross ming, 2; tennis, 2. continued from A6 country, 4; volleyball, 4;girls Last season: 12th, 46points cross country, 4; football, 4; 8. Wlmberley(53): Boys 6; girls baskC'lball, 4; girls girls golf, 2; tennis, I. sports carried the d ay for golf, 4; volleyball, 2. Last season: Uth, 49 poinlS Class 4A Wimberley, win• Last season : four th, 65 6 . AustiJ1 Hfgb (61): The ning district titles in foot· poin LS Maroons · who will again ball, basketball and base 4. DrippingS prings (72): compete in Class 6A begin· ball. The girls teams may While volleyball was the only nlngwith the2018·19school not have made long playoff team sport to advance past year madethemostoftbelr runs, but they secured post· the third round, every other final Class SA campaign. Aus· season spots in every 1ean1 team made the playoffs. Drip, tin High'sgirls were particu sport except basketball. pingSpr ings also benefited larly dominan1; the Maroons scoring: FOOlball, 13; boys from a strong season bycm; won dislrict ti lies in girls bas· basketball, 9; baseball, 9; SA girls state tennis cham· ketball, girls soccer, softball, softball, 4· girls soccer 4· \'OJ· pion Jayci Goldsmith and volleyball and girls golf. leyball, 2; girls cross coun· a tennis team that neu ed scoring: Girls basketball, try, 2; boys cross country, seven poinLS, the most of 9; girls soccer, 9; softball, 9; 2; girls golf, 2; boys golf, 2; any school in Central TeXas. boys soccer, 8; boys golf, 6; tennis, 4. Scoring: Volleyball, 10; tennis, 4; voUcyball,4; boys Last season: s ixth, S8 fOOLball, 7; Lennis, 7; boys SOC· golf, 4; girls golf, 4; baseball, points cer, 6; girls soccer, 6; swim· 2; boys cross country, 2; girls 9. (tie) Georgetown (45): ming, 6; sollball, 4; boys bas· cross country, 2; football, 2; Traditionally one or the top ketball, 4; baseball, 4; girls boys baskelba!J, 2. aLbletlc programs In the Aus· basketball, 4; boys golf, 4; Last season: seventh, 55 Un area, Class SA George boys cross country, 4; girls points town had an uncharacter1stl· cross country, 4; girls golf, 2. 7. Cedar Par k (58): The cally down year lo girls ath· Last season: third, 74 Class SA school's best girls leUcs but won district d Ues polnLS basketball season ever spear· in baseball and team tennis. 5. Thorndale (67): This headed Cedar Park's 101a), Scoring: Baseball, U; ten Class 2A school finishes In and the Timberwotves· foot· nis, 6; football, 4; softball, 4: the top fil'e despite not even ball team enjoyed another boys cross country, 4; boys competing In sports such as district uue and muJUgame golf, 4; swimming, 4; girls boys and girls soccer, wres playoff run. The school's soccer, 2; boys soccer, 2; girls Wngand swimmlng. Lengthy cross-country teams both golf, 2; girls basketball, 2. playoff runs ofa t least three reached state. Last season: 14111, 42 polots rounds by baseball, softball SCOl1ng: Girls basketball, 9. (tie) Rouse (45): Tbe and both basketball teams U; football, 9; girls soccer, 8; Raiders' state linallst volley high lighted the Bulldogs• girls cross country, 6; boys ball 1eam accounted for more school year. cross country, 6; boys golf, Scoring: Boys basketball, 6; boys basketball, 4; vol· Cup continued on A8 Cup HOW WE SCORED IT actMtiesbeyond bonuspoint. continued from A7 The Austin American athletics. Points were Playoff berths counted Statesman's annual awarded f0< each sport, fortwo points.and each than a Lhird ofthe Class SA George Breazeale Cup based ona team's finish in team victory or series school's poinis, but Rouse hon0-fiveteam finish at ger than two rounds in the forroola similarto the one 1101leybal~ and boys and state and two points for playoffs, but deep 6A ath Universnylnterscholastic sirls wrestling. atop-lOteamfinishat letic program tallied points Leasue officials use to District championshjps state. individual tennis in all but two ream spons. settle on Lone StarCUp in al team SP()rts were champions at the SPrins Last season: 15th, 41 poinlS winners. except that the worthtwopoints,and tournament earned bonus 13. Cedar Ri dge (42): Breazeale Cup does not an undisputed district points for their schools' Football team's run to srate fact0
Howmuc,hdid haWIS 7. Cedar Part<: Levi Bell Jayien Williams pf.lyers in the Statesman's 8. Wlmberley:JoJo Weeks, 24. (tie) San Marcos: Josh Fat> SO listofthe top prep CadeStoe- Wilder athleteshelp teams In the !I. (tie) G41orgetown: 26. (tie) Marble Falls: Breazeale Cup? let'stake Caden Leggettt Bailey Goggans a lookatwllk:h schools in !l.(tle) Rousa:E'lanMcCall 30. (tie) Taylor: Anna the rankinss had athletes 11. ""'1clegrlft: Greg Brown Cathryn Griffith, Delana oothelist Ill, Noah Gochbelll, Justin Hornsby I. Uberty HIii: Brooke Moore 30. (tie l l>fkeervllle: Briscoe.Sedona Prince 12. Hendrickson: Bryana Samariae Bonds 2, W..t:au: Dakota Hll1ter, MlkaYla 'Mxlds 34. (tie) wltng: Buster Luther, Wil Baker, Braden 14. (tie) a-le:Chrtstian Roberts, casstty,RoserChou, Moreno 38. ElgJn: Gracey crafts Matthew Denton, Sadie 11%1:. Grang,o: Emily 39. (tie) B ..net Iancarter , Englemann Magness MarissaEscamllla 3. L:!J.LTr~vls: Garrett 18. (tie) LBJ: O,aitanya 41. {tie l Hays: Gal:li1Y Wilson, Cameron Dicker, Aduru andVls.hwaAduru Bosquez BrettBaty, Bayne Bentley 20.(tle)McCAII...,: 41.{tle) Lanier:Tajik
4.Dripping Springs: Jaycie Mason Bryant,Alexander Bartholomew1 Davion Goldsmith Julian Buster s. ThorndAle: Lanay 20. (tie) Anderson: Ella 45. (tie) Crockett: Grace Laywell Collins Ross 6.AustlnHlgh:Danlelle 22. Tlvall: Joe Sancllf&r S1. (tie) Leander: Alex Serna 24. (tie) Stony Point: Hensley DISTRICT 25-6A SUMMER FOOTBALL TOUR BOWIE - Skill spots special for Bulldogs DISTRICT 25-6A ~ .·, Aust!n Hlgh . "" QB Trinidad Sanders Where we left off: The Bull· Akins , selected as district's dogs are a playotf staple in Cen· Anderson tral Texas, and 2017 was no differ· Bowle ' ;>' newcomer of year. enL Bowie wem 8·3 overall wilh ~7fd..iS .~ ' ... , /{ a 4·1mar k in district play. Things 'Nes"'i..-.t.# ByCIYls Dukes sraned wilh a bang as lhe Bulldog; Hays Contributing Writer beal POugerville (44·12), LBJ (2+ Del valle / fit,-.., ,L 10) and Vista Ridge (52-31). Then Lehman , ,•iilf ·- i ~ \011,,.., . . ,.,. ,...... In Feb~'S biennial realign• came a 49·7 setback against old mem, Wesll,l,.~ and t.J1' l .... i! rival - and a renewed disoict rival rejoined a clistric1 lha1 includes in2018 - We- · e.A35-34over familiar foes such as the four AUs· lime win over tradilional stale dogs· season ended one week lin school district Class 6A 1eams, power Abilene Cooper brought later with a 44·21 loss 10 regional ,' - Plt'-1 ~ !he Hays school district teams and back momentum going imo dis· finalisl Hendrickson. Del Valle. Each week this sum trict play. Four straigh1wins over Who•sgone?QuarterbadcMal· mer, we will lake a peek a1 the Del Valle (23·15), Manor (39·36), !hew Wheeler was a second-tean1 Bowle quarterback Trinidad Sanders hands the ball off t o running nine football programs lha1 will Anderson (52·14) and Akins (42· all-district selection last year. back Kyle Carter duringa high school football same between Bowle compete in District 25-6A. This 28) can1e before a de fac10 dis· He led a high·Oying offense that and Manor at Burger Stadium In Austin on Oct.19, 2017. The returning week. we conlinue the series by rrict championship game Joss pair Is the most experienced backfield In t he dlstrfct. NICl Group's I1 5th celebration. The Taylornative - and a regular per· at 6:15 p.m. to compete in an old-time filled with music, nms fom1er at the Old Settler's reW1ion - will fiddler contest scheduled for 7:15 p.m. play his brand of traditional country, A.C. Bible's Night, dedicated to the Thursday through Saturday. western swing and dance hall favorites. memory of A.C. Bible, a former Lean· An accomplished musician, der school district trustee and name· By Arlana Garcia Schlesinger was named as one of the sake for one of the disrricl's football [email protected] top five western swing male vocalists stadiunlS, begins at 7:30 p.m. of1heyearatthe22ndannual Will Rog Festivities resume 4 p.m. Saturday Calling all country music lovers: ers Academy of Western Artists awards with a traditional bluegrass and gos The 115th Old Settlers Association Cel· banquet in March. Last year, Schlesill!J!f pel performance by the Jeff Robenson ebration that runs Thursday through won 1he Academy of Western Artists' Band. The i..1!.e't'r~,.!I Fiddlers,agroup Sanirday will showcase several local Western Swing Song of the Year award. of high school students, will follow a1 musicians, including award-winning Festivities kick off at 7 p.m. Thurs• 5 p.m. Settlers Association Vice Ptesi· fiddler and vocalist Paul Schlesinger. day with Ctickets Night, where Settlers dent Bob Johnson will follow the perfor The annual three-day event hosted Association President Irene K. Walton mance ,vith a scholarship presentation. by the Williamson County Old Set· Michna will preside over opening cere Bluegrass bands the Lonesome can tiers Association celebrates the coun monies and Buddy Michna ,viii serve as yon and Algeri1a Hall will perforn1 at ty's original sett lers and their descen master of ceremonies. County Attorney 6 p.m. and 7 p.m .• respectively. Then dants with a weekend filled with musi Dee Hobs will lead an opening prayer, Randy Collier & Grassland will perfom1 cal entertainment. followed by an official county welcome a combination of bluegrass and acous The celebration wm be at Old Settlers from Justice of the Peace Judy Hobbs. tic music a1 8 p.m. Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd. "Fiddle Night" Friday evening kicks Admission is free, and food and drink Schlesinger and his band, the Knights off with a musical performance by the conces.~ions will be avaiL,ble. Get more ofTexas Swing, will kick off mtLtjcal per· Lone Star Swing Syndicate a1 6 p.m. information by caning 512·388·1733 or forn1ances on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Cuestsofall ages are invited to sign up visiting wcosa.org. Teens win scholarship for volunteer work Two teenage library volunteers shared a $10,000 scholarship from the Friends of Lake Travis Community Library awarded in late May. 0 Receipients Michelle Chang (left) and Whitney Tran (right) will attend The University ofTexas and Texas Tech University respectively . 8 Both volunteered for a total of over 900 hours. Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com STATESMAN IN-DEPTH SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS Zayden Black, 7, (right) and Jonat han Sytu,s, 7, play last month atthe LlonsClub Park In KIiieen. Zayden w as suspended at least five times this past school year at Montague Elementary School. "He's not a violent kid," says hlsmother, Cassandra. "HeJust can't sit still." ANA RAMllEZ/ AMB!ICA~•TESMAN Young ldds still getting suspended, despite la"W Killeen posts 571o usters of pre-I< through 2nd-graders. IIY Jutle Chang drugs or alcohol. Rock used 11lem up to 26 times, Advocates for the change a rate TeXans care for Children warned that suspensions caused and Texas Appleseed, organiza· A year after Texas lawmak· students 10 fall behind in their Lions that advocate for limillng ers prohibited schools from SUS• classwork, to be disciplined more suspensions of young students, pending most young students, in the long run and 10 be ostra• consider LO be LOO high. some Central Texas districts are cized by their peers. I Jowever, the moderately sized stHI using !he practice, including ,\l:rording to data oblained from Killeen school district. which has one Itta! reported a swprisingly 15 Central TC¥1s school districts had one or lhe highest suspen· high 571 suspensions in 1he 2017· in Apri l and May, nearly half did sion rates in the slate, reported 18 school year. not use out-of"5Chool suspensions using out-of-school suspensions Starting last fall, school officials in pre-K through second grade 571 times in pre-K through second could no longer suspend students in the mosl recem school year. grade in the past school year. Dis· in pre-kindergarten through sec while Austin, Leander. George ITict officials said 91 ofthe suspen ond grade except in a few nar town, Manor :and Hutto used sions fell within the exceptions row cases - if a student brings out-of-school suspensions up to of the law but could not provide a gun to school. commits a vio nine times. lent offense or is involved with Hays. Pflugerville and Round S._nstonscontinuedon A9 Cassandra Black (center) poses with her sons Zane, 9, (left) and Zayden, 7, at the Lions Club Park In KIiieen last month. Zayden was suspended from school at least five times this year, Including f or laughingI n the prlnclpal's face. ANA RAMIREZ/ At.01CAN-STATTSMAN Suspensions SUSPENSIONS BY DISTRICT continued from Al After a state law went Into Del Valle: 2,858 students. effect at the beglmlng of o suspensions reasons for the vast major the 201 7 - 1 8 school year Georgetown: 2,831 ity of lhe suspensions. to limit most suspensions students, 6 suspensions• Advocacy groups andSlate ofpre-ldnder8aften to Bastrop:2,556 students, Rep. ErlcJohnson, 0-Dallas, second-grade students, 0 suspensions• who wrote lhe anU-suspen CenttaJTexasdistrlct.s Manor: 2,598students, 7 slon legislation, fear that the reported tnese out-of- suspensions Killeen school dlsuicl Is vlo school suspensions: LaJce Travis: 2,250 lallng lhe law. Austln:24,322students, students,Osuspenslons• ·nia1 is a staggering nwn 9 5111Pffi11«1S Eanes: 1,529 stUdents, 0 ll<'r," Johnson said. • By their KHleen: 16,138 students, suspensions• own explanations, they're 5 71 suspensions san Marcos: 2, 169 saying lherewere460-some Rou1<1Roclc 11,412 students,Osuspenslons odd vlolallons of state law students, 18suspenslons Hutto:1,749students,2 that occurred in their disuict Leander: a, 7 4 1 students, __.ions• last year. By their own exl)la• 2suspenslons • DripplngSprings: 1,620 nation, these are suspen• Ptluservllle:6,204 students,Osuspenslons sions that don't fall within students, 26 rhe law's exceptions, and I -Ions• •SUSPENSION COUNTIS rhink lhal certainly bears ~ 4,735 students, 20 TMROUGIHMHN0OFTJ.IE explanation.· -Ions• 2017-18 SCHOOi. YEAR Killeen officials said they haven't received any con- ...... 'hn•• t"• ...... ttn ...,,....,.,..,.. cems about violating sca1e law, adding that they are reviewing cases 10 see ifthey had counted suspensions tha1 never happened. "There could be cases of miscoding, certainly," according to a s1a1ement from the district. "We will continue toworkcloselywilh school leaders to ensure that student disciplinary cases are handled approprla1ely 10 pro1ec1 the rights of s1u· dents and thesafecyof1eacb· ers and s1aff. • Stephanie Rubin of Aus· tln·based Texans care for Children fears Iha! the Killeen, Hays, Round Rock and Pllugerville school dis· tricts, which she said posted ·surprisingly high" suspen• sioo numbers this~school year, have harmed s1uden1s wilh their disciplinary prac• lices. -One of the problems with suspending so many little kids is they start to think that school isn't for themar an~ when they should be excited about learning,· Rubin said. "The thing you really have to remember is !hat all these suspensions don't actually improve behavior. The high number ofsuspensions is a signal that an ISO needs to implement some of the pos· imoe behavior strategies that olher Texas districts have been implememingverysuc· cessfully." ·He just can' t sit still' Cassandra Blac k's son Zayden, who just compleled first grade ln I.he Killeen dis· u1ct. was suspended so many limes Lhls pas! school year that Black can barely keep count - at leas! five limes, she said. One incident involved Zayden laughing in the prin• cipal·s face, which school officials considered insub ordination, Black said. In a separate case in December, Zayden was suspended for running away from a teacher and throwing himself on the floor, an incident the teacher marked a5 a "minor offense,·· according to a disciplinary slip Black received. ~He's nOl a violent kid He justcan"tsitslilJ.· Black said. Zayden talces medication for attention deficit hyperactiv ity disorder. · 1 feel like to suspend him Wa5 the easiest way om. They didn't wam 10 deal with him and ... It seems like teachers didn't even gh-e him a chance.·• Black, who quit her pan time Job at Kman last year 10 stay home with zayden during suspensions, said she bas explored several opllons to keep her son ow of trouble - meellng with the superintendent, chang• ingcampuses, working with school officials to create an individualized education plan for her son and offer• ing 10 home-school him. But lhe suspensions continued. Rick Beaule, presidem of lhe Killeen Teachers Asso ciation and a high school music teacher, hesitates to say his disoict overuses sus pensions. He said any mandate lhat comes down from lhe state takes lime to lmplemem. Many families ln the school dlsll1Cl also move around Fre quently, somelimes because of a parem transferring 10 another mllltary base bm more oflen because of an inabilily to flnd affordable housing. R"equerll 010\'IScan lead 10 academic and behav ioral problems for studenis, making ii hard lo compare Killecn's suspension rates with those of other school districts, Beaule said. "I don't lhink ii would be fair 10 Oat-our just say 1ha1 Killeen ISO is nor doing what they're supposed to do. I think thai if you're going to look at it, you have to take a nuancedapprooch." Beaule said. He added, however, that the school diSITict could make some improvements. Zayden won't remrn to lhe Killeen school district next school year. The mili tary has sent zayden's dad to Missouri, where the fam ily will move lhis summer. An ·abusive system' suspension rates have 1>ero disproportionately hllh among Hispanic and black children as well as children with disabilities and In foster care, one or the major rea· sons Johnson said he wrote thc.>bill to limit the practice. Nearly half of Killecn·s out-of-school suspensions in pre-K through second grade were ofblack Sludents, even though black children make up about one-third ofthe stu dents in those grade levels. "We're showing kids that the way we deal with black kids is to push them out, or the way we deal with dis abled kids is co push them out, and I think it's acrually in some ways a really abu sivesysiem that we're teach ing kids,· said Morgan Cra ven with Texas Appleseed, which hasbeemmoongwitb school districts to limit the use ofsuspensions. The Hays school district suspended 12 pre-K through second-grade children 20 tlmes In the pa51 school year, whlle the POugervlUe dls lTlct suspended 18 siudems 216 Limes. Hispanic children were most or the ones sus· pended In botll districts, but they wc.>re suspended at a rate al or below the total per· centagc or l·tispank Sludents in the lowest grade levels. Tim Savoy, spokesman for the !lays district, said district officials agree with concerns that their suspen sion numbers are too high. Under the leadership of Superintendent Eric Wright, who assurned the role in Jan· uary, plinciµils must now~ amhorization to suspend a young student from a dep uty cllief academic officer and a director who special· izes in student discipline - an lmernal control that will add ·an Important check and balance to the process,· savoy said. "Safety Is paramount, so bl certain circumstances, we may liaise absolutely no other option but out-of.school sus peru,ion. But where we can, we' ll keep the students in school; savoy said. Changing behavior In addition to limiting the use ofout-o f-school suspen sions.Johnson's bill requires school districts to imple ment research-based behav ior models. ~Ileschool officials said they're using restorative discipline, which seeks to help students understand how their behavior might harm someone and learn how to repair relationships. For the past six years, the Austin school district, which suspended pre-K pupils through second-grad· ers nine times as of May, bas used social-emotional leamb1g, a currlculun1 that teaches chlldren 10 self-reg ulate, verball.ze U1e!r Issues, learnempathyandgeulong beuer with 0U1ers. Three years ago, the dis· tric1 started training in a specific way 10 help chi!· dren who ha,-c experienced trauma. The Baslrop school dis• lrict, which didn't suspend any young learners this past school year, rewardss111den1S for positive behavior and has designatedclasstimeforstu· dents to come together to 1alk abou1 problems. Different types of student behaviors are addressed by staffers through a tiered system, and softer punitive actions are taken, such as lunch or recess detention. "The age of these kiddos is when you're most sue· cessful at changing behav ior,·· said Reba King, prin· cipal of Mina Elememary School in Bastrop. "The district's al1erna· live practices promote con· nectedness and emotional and physical safety of kids and ensures transparency and authenticity in how we handle all of our children. There are definitely other very effective measures 10 take other than suspending young children," Kingsaid. contact JUiie Changat512 - 912-2565. Twitter: @Juliechangl Name and mascot for new "Middle School Number 3" unmasked •f43iMWl-11-i•I "Middle School Number 3" finally lost its code name June 19 as the school district voted to decide on the school's new name and mascot- Bee Cave Middle School with red and silver raiders as its mascot. The name and mascot were each the winner out of 10 top suggestions reviewed at the district's May 16 meeting. Board member Kim Flasch said it was a daunting task for the board to make up its mind among so many choices. During the meeting, Lake Travis !SD Superintendent Brad Lancaster pointed out that the middle school site is currently located in an extra-ter ritorial jurisdiction of the city of Bee Cave, and could be annexed into the city in the future. Most of the board members nominated "Bee Cave" as their favorite. Elementary School #7 will open for 2020-21 year ■fJaii:foWi~i•• Elementary School No. 7, located in the Rough Gi""1 ...... c =o Hollow subdivision off Bee Creek L.::.J BEE CREEK Road, east of Lake Travis Middle School, is on track to see construc //// tion begin in November. Construc - ·: tion is expected to last until April 2020, Robert Winovitch, director of facilities and construction for the district, said in a June 5 update to the Lake Travis board of trustees. May through July 2020 will be spent installing furniture and equipment and making sure the building is ready for the 2020-21 school year. Highlights from the 2018 Lake Travis ISO employee opinion survey reviewed ■fji3if i'41H~i•i The results of the OUT OF 1,134 SURVEYED ... PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES Lake Travis ISD Employee Opinion WHO AGREE THAT... Survey conducted in January were pre of all participants 2013 ______their workload Is appropriate 77% sented before the school board during expressed satisfaction toward their job its June 19 meeting. 2014 68% The results show an overall optimistic 2015 -~~~~~~~f 66% 2016 .______. 66% attitude toward working environment of all participants feel their 2018 ------' 69% and district leadership but also sug working environment they can communicate their gest low confidence among employees ls safe; concerns with district leaders in fair pay. Participants consisted of e 2013 77% mainly teachers at 61 percent, along of all participants trust 20152014 - -=-~~~~~~~~~~=-=-=...-:.64% 70% with instructional aides, campus district leaders in acting 2016 J 67% 2018 66% and district administrators, auxiliary on behalf of the students' support, clerical, office and other pro interest; their pay Is fair fessionals, and unidentified job types. e 2013 51% 2014 I 43% •tliEREWAS Among 1,134 employees notified about of all participants feel 2015 --====---' 43% NOSTUOV the survey, 834 participated and the happy with their 2016 44% TAKEN IN 2018 __J 42% 2017 response rate was 74 percent, slightly relationship with coworkers. higher than 71 percent in 2016. SOURCE.LAKE TRAVIS ISO/ COMMUNITY IMPACT e NEWSPAPER ■f+j:i4@YJ€i~i•I rrustees unanimously approved a 3 percent salary increase of the midpoint for each employee pay grade at the June 5 budget workshop. For teachers, that will provide an average increase of $1 ,550. Compensation and raises from area school districts and capacity within the district's budget was taken into consideration when coming up with an adjustment amount, a staff report said. Also, the district expects a student increase of about 6 pe.rcent, or613 new students. The estimated total enrollment for LTISD for the fall is 11,000 students. TOP 5 STORIES Most-read stories from .5/ 25/ 18 - 6/ 25/ 18 0 Construction on RM 2222 and RM 620 to begin this fall 0 Bee Creek Resort p Ians move ahead to council vote in Lakeway 0 Moviehouse & Eatery opens in Southwest Austin 0 Photo gallery: Southwest Austin's Moviehouse & Eatery getting ready for opening 0 Local youth hurting under pressure: The mental health of Lake Travis-Westlake students :REAL ESTATE EDITION \·'\ The rea l estate market in the Lake Travis-Westlake area stays strong as new homes continue to be constructed and prices rise. 4real estate trends to know in lake Travis-Westlake D Sales in the lake Travis-Westlake area show no signs of slowing down anytime soon BY SALLY GRACE HOLTGRIEVE be expected, said Michelle Jones, a "There's still a demand because devel Even though the nine ZlP code, Realtor who works primarily in the opers continue to buy land, apply for Lake Travis-Westlake area has more Lake Travis-Westlake area. permits and build, and people keep housing inventory than has been "I feel like there's still not enough, moving to the area and buying up available in some time, a strong as we're seeing tight levels of inven [homes that are already built]." upward trend in home sales can still tory verses buyer need," Jones said. CONTINUED ON 32 CONTINUED FROM 1 to the school districts - Eanes ISD and Jones said she does not feel as if Lake Travis ISD - and the way of life in the area is in a bubble and that a high the communities. demand for homes should stay consis Regarding sales trends in specific tent for the next several years, at least. neighborhoods, Strub called the real Mark Strub, a principal Realtor at estate on Cuernavaca Drive a "sleeper" Strub Residential, said he has noticed that "looks good on paper," is in EISD a trend of more and more young fami and is affordable by comparison to the lies coming to the Lake Travis-Westlake rest of the area but has yet to see the area. He said the families are attracted same boom. This chart shows the total amount of closed listings in the region, including Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, Lakeway and Bee Cave. 6000 ~ U) N .... U) .-;, .-;, °'.. U) U) co U) 5000 N °' ~ IB an z i= U) Ul U) :::; 4000 _J U) 0 w Ul ,,i 9 u u.. 0 3000 - a:: w al ::E ::::>z 2000 - 1000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Local Realtors said the housing market in the l ake Travis-Westlake area is not in a bubble and that they expect the high demand for homes, both new and already built, to continue. D Newcomers continue to move to area People are still coming here from other cities and states The total number of households has grown differently in the area. Rollingwood has not changed since 2010, while the total in Bee Cave has almost doubled. A huge part of Strub's business Texas are drawn to EISD and LTISD when deciding where in the Austin r Bee Cave r Lakeway and day-to-day work is relocating ~ 1 500 ~~------~~ ~ 6,000 out-of-city and out-of-state families. area they want to live. "One out of four, or 25 percent, of "We've also been seeing a trend buyers we represent [at Strub Resi of moving to Texas in general," she ~ 1,200 7it----'.,;J J5,000 ---+--+-~~~-;:~ dential] are brand-new to Austin," said. "Because even though prop he said. "What we've seen just in erty taxes are still a factor, it's a v(i f · i .-_w I I I the last year or two is that people great state tax wise." i: z zt~ ~ come here chasing the idea that this But many home sales are also o~:::~~~~~~ o is an inexpensive city to live in, and coming from "move-up" buyers, l? l? l? l? l? l? l? l? then they get here and are shocked Jones added. at how expensive it is." "Those are people who want to Ro llingwood West Lake Hills Strub said he foresees outside stay in the same area but are ready 600 buyers continuing to come to the for a bigger home," she said. "That's 500 -- I; : area, resulting in large homes con a sign of a good economy." 400 ~ tinuing to be built in Lake Travis Lipscomb said as more resi 300 and prices in Westlake continuing dences are built, more day-to-day 200 I to drive up. conveniences - such as medical 100 I Jones agreed that a lot of the buy offices, stores, restaurants and ser - ers in the Lake Travis-Westlake area vices - are also added to the area, 0~ - - are coming from out of state, and which then further draws people in l? that those who are not from Central and perpetuates the demand. SOURCE. METROSTU0Y/ COMMUNITYIMPACTNEWSPAPER ltQUEST R)R ..Ol'OSALS - .....S MlOOI.£ SCHOOl 0 &nerG'I (onJtR,11[\on. tht Construe• uon Marwger~at-Rtst tor Lake lralM ~o:~ =~i::" ~ •t 1&101 WSH /1,Aul~f.'!u:7873«. ~~~=~'t.~i:1: :m~~~·r!, structon ~ 11900 West Pilrf1liel' LJne, Suite 200.. Cedar P•k. rx 79'11. or abni«.cf\q bx to (512)318-75,20 &-18. 7.5. 7·12/7011 DCOCJIA&:7$-01 4 t.l[KE , '» SCHOOL DISTRICT Entire bus fleet gets seat belts Program will be a law that requires Texas school implemented at start of districts to equip school buses with a three-point seat belt, a new school year. restraint that goes over the shoul der and lap, for each passenger Byl.UZMor-LoZilllO and the operator. The law only [email protected] requires the seat belts on buses that are model)'ear ~17 or newer. Lake Travis students board• Buses older rhan ~17 models are ing school buses in rhe fall will not required to be retrofit with notice the new seat belt restraint seatbelts. system that is being installed on Theschooldistrictallocated$1.3 all district buses this summer. mttlion of its $25.3 mi1Jion bond The Lake Travis school district ro installing the three-point seat wilJ equip all its school buses with belt system on its existing fleet. seatbeltsoverthesummer,aproj The district also purchased SI new ecl that was approved as part of school buses, all of which will be The new lake Travis school district school buses will have a three the 2017 bond program. point restraint system that includes shoulder and lap straps. In 2017, rhe legislanire passed Buses continued on A2 l-UZ MaH:NO lOZANO/U\KE TilAYIS VfEW not be filled with the three seat belts and not just the Buses point restraint system, but few we were purchasing." continued from Al we are installing lap belt sys Davis said other safety tems on those." features on the bus include equipped with the new three The district covers about video su rveillance, backup point system, school official 118 square miles and sees cameras, a front camera and said. All 124 of the district's an average of about 4,800 a smart tag system to pre buses will have a sear bell. students ride the school bus vent unauthorized riders. "We are purchasing our daily, Davis said. • Adding seat belts is just new buses with the three "The school district saw anotherwayto kcepour stu• point restrain! system and an opportunity to equip all dents safe," Davis said " It's retroliuing our route buses our school buses with seat justanot her added measure with the three-point restraint belts using bond monies," were taking for the safety of system," said Rhonda Davis, Davis said "Our district also our students." director of transportation for realized that we wanted all The new seat belts will be the district. · o ur sub buses of our students to be on a installed by the start of the are ouro lder buses and can• bus that was equipped with new school year in August. EARLY STAAR RESULTS High ,passing rates for area districts Students excel in all subjects across the board. ByluzMorenc>-1..ozano [email protected] Preliminary results from the first administration of the State of Texas Assessments ofAcade mic Readiness, or S'll'AAR, exam was released to school dislricts across the state in June. The state tests students in third through eigh th grades in sev e ral subjects that includes read ing, math, writi'ng, science and social studies. Here's how area school districts preformed this year: Lake Travis s chool district The recently released results renec1 the first admin istration for all students in third through eighth grade who rested in the Lake Travis school district, said Marco Alvarado. director ofcom • munications for the district Reading and math are tested for all students in third through eighth grades. Pl'l'liminary results show that most students passed the read· ingexam with 91 percenl in third grade; 89 perc<'flt in fourth grade; 96 percent in fiflh grade; 87 per· cent in sb.-rhgrade; 91 percent in seventh grade; and 94 percent In eighth grade. Malh SCOl'l'S also reOected high achievements from students with 88 percent in tllird, fourth and seventh grades; 94 percent In fifth grade; 91 percent In sixth STAAR contlnued on A2 lly rating. grade; 92 percent in sixth 96 percent passing in the STAAR Thestate rates school dis• grade; 95 percent in sev• eighth grade. continued from Al lricts annually, based l~ly enth grade; and 97 percent McWhorter said the dis• on performanc.-eonstalL'stan· in eighth grade. Lrict has traditionally done grade; and 96 percent in dardlzed tests and gradua• Math scores were also wcll on testing and received eighth grade. lion rates. among the top scoring for a · Mel Standard" account Thewritingexam is tested In 2017, the Lake Travis Eanes school distric1studmlS ability rating for the district 01 fourth and seventh grades school district mcciveda "Met with 9S percelll in third and and all nine ofilS campuscs. with 85and 90 percenl ofstu · Stmdard" acroumability rat· fourth grade; ':17 percent in "Through oursupport sys· denlS pas.mig, respecllvely. ill:- Each oflls nine campuses Oflh grade; 93 percent In terns in Response Lo lnLen-en Science test scores, which also all "Met Slandarcl." s ixth grade, 97 percent In lion, special education and Is administered in lillb and seventh grade and 96 per core curriculum, wesuppon eighth grades, also showed Eanes school district cent In eigh.th grade. all learners where there are high passing percentages a1 The Eanes school dlsuiCL Writing exam scores pre needs; McWhoner said. 88 and 96 percent, respec· SfAAR scores are among the sented a 94 percent passing SludenlS who did not pass lively. highesl In the stale, said Clau· rate In seventh grade. Fourth theSfAARexam in the spring Eighth-graders also lest in dla Mcwhorter, executive grade scores were unavail· will have another chance social studies. Preliminary director ofcommunlcalions able al press Lime. over the summer 10 retalce results show a 93 percent for the dlsuict. Fifth and eighth grade sci· and pass the exam. passing rate across the dis· Preliminary resullS show ence test scores showed a Students in fifth and tjpllh uicL that most students passed passingrateof91and9Sper· grade are requJred to pass the Alvarado said these preJJm the reading exam with 94 cent, respecti~-ely. math and reacllng exams In lnary results will 001be used percent in lhlrd and fourth SOdal studies was another order to be promoted 10 the for the dlsu1crs accoumabU· grades; 98 percenl In fifth high-testing category, ,vith next grade level. SOCCER Mexican pro teams to face off in friendly 1'igres UANL. Pachuca Pachuca winger Kckuta Man· to play at Dell Diamond nch, a 23-year·old former t.;.... ~ -rr-s1uden1who played for on Sunday evening. 1.-0nes1ar soccer and the AUS· Jin AZre•. Indicated hls sched I Byl(.-.,lnL,yttlo ule will keep him from playing. ktYl-U0CStll8SF"f\.lO.oom ·w11 be nice to be back home for that, but don·tcount on see· Area fans hungering for a raste ing me there,'" tweeted Manneh. or professional soccer w111 once who spenc five years in Major l.cague socc.-er, Including 2017 :f1J~1f~~~~1~~h~~ke~J: w101 COiumbus Crew SC. Tign>s UANL. one of the mooi The three Liga MX frl(.'ltdlles 31 successful clubs in Mexico. De!! Diamood ha"' drawn crowds will play Pachuca in a Liga MX ranging from 11.181 For Cuadala· friendly at S p.m. Sunday. Tick· jara·J>achuca in the 2015 debut ets will be on sale at the stadium to 7,757 for last year 's Toluca· box office and at 1lckris.com. s:tncos 1.aguna. ·Tlgrcs has bc"'1 rhe bcsl rcsm ·wcw been (')(rremcly happy in MeXlco over the lasl rive sea with rhc ma,.chcs, .. r.011Sdt said. sons,. said SPD Spons President •s ach 1.hue is anoLher opportu• Juan earl~ Padilla. whose group nily ror us lO show bow v('rsa promotes inlemalional soccer tile De-U Diamond is. Our expec· matches. "They Juve three titles tation this year would be for an in that period and consistently attendance closer LO what we good fini.sllcs. We're pleased 10 drewwith Olivas (Ctladalajara)." showcase 1hem 10 Austin." Padilla po1mcd 10 rhc good t.oca100 In s.,n Nicolas de los riming of the march. Carza near Monterrey, Tigres •1t·s during Lbe World Cup: has won lltreecon:seculi\l(" Aper• soccer will be very much ln Lhe tura championships. Liga MX is conversation.,. he said. "'This divided into two seasons. the march also is on a day when Apenura and ctausura. there are no world cup games, T1gres UANL sens more than Jorge Torres ofT!gres, left, and EdwutnCetre of Santos Laguna battle durtng the Clausura P'ayoffs In May. so nobody will miss anything. 30,000 season tickets and has ngres,one or the most popola.r team51n 1..1g• MX, wm pl~ at Dell Diamond on suncs..y. tiHOt056VMhNIXL · we should sell this out, or a scrong regional fan base 1ha1 GOAOAPIU.M4/GfTTYIMAr.fS come close." includes a supporters dub in Auslin. 1,eJ~~r:::~£~~~~!~~ '"I think it's a really big deal such as Jen wingJavier Aquino Tigres• IStaGI against Cruz Azul at Myers Sta· gettingTigres." saidJ.J. Gottsch, and left back Jorge Torres. Jimenez, left, diumon the University of Te.us chief operating officer of Ryan Tigres, a six·time first·divi• and Jonathan campus. 5.1ndcrs l\aSroall. '"11lcrearc a kM slon champ, bcaI Monterrey Rodriguez of This will be the Lhlrd straight of people living In cenrral TI>xas 1 Sant osL.ag.una year the Mexican league has Illa, are either from Monterrey ~~~~i~:~."!?.~t~~ ~~: cr:'ue 11snttorthe offer<.'() the only professional or have Family In Monterrey, my ball during the game In ,own. wife included. We've been try· ri:: f1':;'~ ;~~~~hfJ~~•i, QU.).fl$r'Rn.als Next year Circuit of the Amer· ing to get Tigres here for a loag lhe Copa Libertadores in 2015 of theClausu,.1 icas Chair man Bobby Epsl e-in time. f'onunately for us, tile and the CONCACAP Champions playoffslnMay. plans to launch USL Austin, a scheduling finally worked out.'" League in 2016 and 2017. TigresUANLls Oivi.sion 2 llnited Soccer League A('oompUshcd lnIcrn.111ona1s f'adluca, whlrh playoo cuada• from suburban team, and Prccoun sporIs Ven such as forwards Eduardo vargas la.)ara In the firsi Uga MX friendly Monterrey. rurcs Is working 10 bring MI.S' of a,ne. Eon er Valencia of Ecua at Dell Diamond in 2015, was Crew 10 town. dor and Andre-Pierre Gignac of uinlll In 1J1erec.-entlyconcluded France dot Ute Tigres roster. in Clausuu. The 2018 Apertura contact KcWII.Yttlea.t512-445 addition to Mexican nationals begins in mid-July. 3615. LONGHORNS ROUNDUP UT's Papp, Schubert help U.S. maintain Palmer Cup lead American-Statesman staff Papp, who will be a soph· won their four-ball match lost her morning roursome horns Molly Mccage and The competition wm begin omorc i!t lff this rau, J)i!ired s and 4 against Maria Fassi m;uch with Zilch Bauc'1011 Chialca Ogbogu will be part with pool pJ.iy, and the u.s. With help rrom Texas with SM l..ee to halve a four• and Ainhoa Olarra. 10 Harry Hall and Wenyung ortheu.s. team competing will lace Trinidad and'Tbbago Longhorns Kaitlyn Papp some match against Jara· Schubert, who was an Keh3and 1. SundaythroughSaturday in on Sunday, Cuba on Monday and Sophia Schubert, the vee Boonchant and l'redtik All-American as a senior at On Sunday, the competi· the Women's Pan Am Cup at and Puerto Rico on Tues U.S. team is up 20½·15½ Nilehn on Saturday mom· UT in the spring, teamed lion will reature 24 singles Santo Domingo, Dominican day. The tournament will over an international team ing. In the afternoon. she with Lauren Stephenson to matches, and those will com· Republic. continue with quarterfinals after two days in the Arnold and ;e \ ~HighSchool beat Albane Valenzuela and plere thetean1 totals to deter· They are parto fa 14-player Wednesday. semifinals Fti· Palmer Cup at Evian-les· graduate Kristen Cilbnan. Dewi Weber 3 and 2 in a row-· mine the Palrner Qlp winner. squad chosen after training day and the medal round Bains. France. who now plays ror Alabama. ball match. Schubert had Volleyball: Former Long- since May in Anaheim. calif. Saturday. STATESMAN INTERVIEW KRI STEN GILLMAN Alabama's Gillman discusses golf, future Kristen GIiiman p lays her tee shot at the 12th hole during afternoon foursomes atthe Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge CoifC lub fn Scarsdale,N .Y.,onJune8. Glllmanisatwo•t lmeWomen1sGolfCoachesAssociatlonAl.,_.Amerlcan.STFVENC.l880NS/1JSCA is High grad is 7th-ranked amateur in world. ByMlchaelAdams No. 7-rankedamateurin the world [email protected] (No. 4 in the United States). She GlllMAN:FYI recently helped the U.S. com Amateurranlc 7th lnthewood,4tll in U.S. It's been four years since Kris plete the biggesr blowout in eur Hlghsdlootc..,.e .,~. .s ten GUlman - then 16 years old tis Cup history. College: Alabama - pulled off one of the biggest As for Individual accolades - Age:20 upsets in U.S. women·s amateur something Gillman says she's Highlights: golf history. ·not really concerned with" - ■ 2014 U.S. Women's Amateur~ Her perfom1ance ar iheJunlor the 2016 Class 6A state champion ■ 2014 Jlrllot PGA champion PCA Championships was nolhing from _ ~ t! 1 LS High School ■ 2014 Junlot Ryoer<:w champion (Team USA) sbon of astounding. She shot a became the third player to go ■ 2015JunlotSolhelmCupchamplon(Team 16 under par to break a 15-year S·O In match play since the eur USA) old record, winning the tourna tls cup format changed to three ■ 201 s Pan-AmetleanGamessllver medalist ment by u sLrokcs. A week later days In 2008. ■ 2016 Class 6A lndMdual stateCl\amplon she beat canada's Brooke Hen This came Just weeks after she ■ 2018 Curtis cup Cl\amplon (Team USA) derson, the top amateur in the made her fJJ'Sl professional cut in ■ 201 BAmold PalmetCupel\amplon(Team USA) world al the time, in the cham• an LPCA event at the U.S. Wom• ■ Ttvee-tlme team state d'lamplOn pionship match at the U.S. Wom en·s Open at Shoal Greek COUil· ■ Two-time WGCA first-team AB-American en's Amateur at the Nassau coun try Club in Shoal Creek, Ala., ■ 201 S SEC freslvnan of the year try dub in Glen cove, N.Y. which is 66 miles east of Tus• ■ Third player since 2008 to ao 5-0 In match play Now a junior•to•be al the Uni• caloosa, where she attends col at Curtis Cup ( 2018) versity of Alabama, Gillman is a lege. She finished the tourna• ■ Holds record for largest margin ofvlctory at two-time Women's Golf Coaches JuniorPGAChampionships(2014, 11 strokes) Association All-American and the GlllmM1contlnued on C3 next month In Kingston You look over and see Lexi my marches, I had a partner 10 push each olher and gl'l Gillman Sprints, Tenn. Thompson and Inbee Park playing wilh me. SO it was a along well. continued from Cl On SUnday, Gillman, along and Michelle Wie, who Igrew lot offun lo win it wilh them. Do you still keep In wilh Te.xas' SOphia Schuber! up wa1ching play, and see Do you enjoy four•ball touch with Kaitlyn Papp? ment tied for 271h at S over and Kaitlyn Papp, helped your ruime with theirs. It's play more than stroke play Is there a rivalry between par (l93) after opening wilh Team USA win the Arnold pretty cool, but it's not the as an individual? you two? a low round of70 that put Palmer Cup in France. same level of nerves. Yes. I really like it because I would say it's a friendly her in seventh place. Up next, Cilbnan wm traVel Did you feel that yon you have to strategiw a lot rivalry. I'd say she's my best · 1 got off to a great stan.• 10 Japan to play in the ANA had a little adv:mt:lge since more and it's a lot easier to friend Whenever I'm home, Cillmansaid "lthinkatone Princess Cup on the LPCA Shoal Creek is so close to get into the g;ime because we always hang out with point r was in, like, fourth Tour ofJapan, beginning Tuscaloosa? you have a partner there and each other. When we're on place. I've never been in a Wednesday. We'Ve played !hat course a you're helping each other. the golf course. I think we position like char. so it was a With two more years left few times. but it's not really Sophia Schubert was aren't trying to beat each new experience for me to see at Alabama, Gillman said a homecow-se for Alabama. your teammate at the Cnr· other, but we both want to my name on a leaderboard she knows she's about to Kristen GIiiman hasn't Having played it definitely tis Cup. How's your rela· win the tournament we're at a major championship. r face an imponant life ded· decided whether to tum gave me more comfon. I tionship with her? playing in. Whenever we learned bow 10 play with the sion:Join the LPCA Tour or pro after college. SIB/91 don't think it was an advan· I'm preny close with her. are offthe flf course, we're nerves and the pressure and give up the game she loves Gr880HS/USGA tage because the course was I've gonen to know her a lot best fiien . not pm 100 much emphasis and begin a career in com- so wet. 11was like playing a the last couple of years in You still have two more on the rest or the row1ds. • munications. whole different course. junior golf. I want to beat years at Alabama. Do hou AS K>rC~. she has been The American-States· which was cool, and plac· You then achieved her and she wants to beat plan to turn pro a ter an All·SEC first-team selec· man caught up with CUI· ing 27th at the U.S. Wom· another accomplish· me, like any golfer would, you're done. or Is that tion twice, holds Alabama man recently to talk abom en·s Open was great, and the ment by becoming the but we·re friends and have even still a consideratlon? school records for rounds her amateur relf career, the Curtis Olp was run because 1 third golfer to go 5·0 at a good Lime playing against I'm n01 exactly sure what under par In a season with frtendsblpss e·smadeand got. to represent my country, the Curtis Cup. Did you each other. I'm going to do. I have a lot 22 and low round (54) and what's ahead for her this which Is always a big honor. feed oft" the energy from How's Alabama treat• of thinking sllll to do in lhe was ranked the No. 8 worn· swnmer: When you look up and the U.S. Open? Ing you? riext year, but I haven't quiLe en's college player by Golf· What have you been see your uame In the I dOll'l know, reany. I Lhlnk The team am1ospbere Is a made a decision. week !his past season. up to since we last chat· top IO at the U.S. \VOID• it was more playing w1Lh a lot like Lake -n-avts. I don·t Say you don't go pro And al the NCAA Cham· ted with you at the state en's open. what's going team. I was lucky enough to think you can Ond a team after college. What would plonshlps, Gillman fmished tournament a couple of through your head? Surely. gel to play all five matches. !hat got along better than complete your golf career? tied for seventh at I under years ago? )'Ou'Ve felt nen'l'S before at Each day, two people bad to we did at Lake -n-avls, but Winning a national cham· par (287). (Laughing) Lols ofgolL In other tournaments you'w sit out, and I got to play all it's been a lot of fun. I've pionship.1bat'liourgoal. We All before her 21st birth• lhe pasl two years (at Ala• played In. five matches. I had a lot of learned a lolabout my game, got so close this pasL year. day, which is in September. bama), I've won a couple of Nol like this. This is dif• good partners, and it was a and rm fortunale enough Gillman isgearingup for tournaments, our Learn vmn ferenl. You're playing with lot of fun because it was a to have really good team· Contact M ichael Adams the U.S. Women·s Amateur runner-up al the NCAAs, 1he top golfers in 1he world. team effort because in four of mates. We've all been able at512-445-3682. GOLF Lal{eTravi grads help U.S. l