UT pledge Card welcomes challenges Pressure ofbeing face ofLonghorns'2020 class doesn't faze Lake Travis quarterback

By Mike Craven [email protected]

FRISCO - The goal for Lake Travis quarterback Hudson Card is to etch his name next in the recent lineage of great quarterbacks from the Austin area. The 6-foot-2, 179 -pound four-star prospect is in Frisco for five days competing in the Elite 11 and the Opening Finals. He was Texas' first pledge in the 2020 cycle and is the face of the class. Card l1andles the pressure around the media the same way he does in the pocket: with poise. "I feel like I already repre­ sent Texas," Card said. "It's close to my home. I was the first commit. I play quarter­ back. I'm trying to get our class going in a great direc­ tion, and I want to be a big part of that. It'll help that Texas is in my backyard. We run their offense at Lake Travis, so that's also a help. I can go up there and learn a lot before I enroll." The last Texas quarter - back pledge to compete at the Opening Finals was Sam Ehlinger, who was on hand Saturday and Sunday as a counselor, leading drills for the next generationof college greats. Ehlinger, a Westlake alum, was also able to attend practices and meetings at UT before enrolling because ofhis proximity to campus. Card's focus this week isn't on following i11 Ehlinger's footsteps. He's at the Opening for the full experience. "It's awesome. It's all the best guys in the country coming in and competi11g," Card said on the first day of the event. "It's a great place to learn and improve." Texas' two highest-rated pledges in the 2020 class play quarterback for pow­ erhouses in Class 6A, Card at Lake Travis and four­ star Ja'Quinden Jackso11 at Duncanville. The com­ mitment of Tackso11 never affected Card's status. He grew up a Longhorn and is ready to embrace the chal- lenges of major college football. "Ja'Quinden is a great player, and we'll make each

See RECRUIT, A9 nine touchdowns on the Hookem.com RECRUIT ground. No quarterback in Austin has recorded those Let Mike Craven keep you From Page AB types of numbers since up on the latest recruit­ Ehlinger led Westlake ing developments at to a state title game as a hookem.com, our home otherbetter. I'mexcited," )UillOr. for Longhorns news and Card said. "There will be "It was easy for him analysis. competition wherever you to play wide receiver, go at this level." and he enjoyed it. He That's Card, a laid­ just wanted to be on the scholarship by Texas in back kid with a breeze field and contribute. It April 2018. He committed of confident swagger. was a great way to break on May 25 of that year. It He first proved it as a into varsity football as was a clear and obvious sophomore when he a sophomore compared decision by the lifelong moved from quarter ­ to the expectations on a Texas fan. The Card family back to wide receiver as young quarterback," said knew the eventual desti­ Matthew Baldwin con­ Hudson's father, Doug. "It nationprettyquickly once trolled the offense. Card helps to be in a place with the Longhorns were inthe didn't pout. He caught 69 so much history and tra­ running. passes for 1,137 yards and dition. He's obviously in "It wasn't that day, but 13 touchdowns. goodhands. I can't imag­ we had a family meeting He became the quar­ ine a better experience for and discussed if there was terback as a junior, a high school quarterback, any place he'd rather go," throwing for 3,543 yards and that's a testament to Doug recalled. "There and 40 touchdowns to the culture at Lake Travis. wasn't, so he was able just four interceptions. We're blessed." to make that decision He added 619 yards and Hudson was offered a quickly." Lake Travis quarterback Hudson Card was Texas' first commitment of the 2020 recruiting class. He's one of two quarterbacks who have pledged to the Longhorns. [JOHN GUTIERREZ/ FOR STATESMAN] Three UT pledges head to Elite 11, Opening Finals

By Mike Craven Hookem.com Texas pledges [email protected] Let Mike Craven keep you up on Jake Majors, QC, Prosper (4 The Elite u and the Opening the latest recruiting develop­ stars; No. 27 on the Statesman Finals get startedSaturdayat ments at hookem.com, our Fab 55): Majors plays tackle at the Star in Frisco, and three home for Longhorns news and Prosper, buthe'll spin inside nt players committed to the analysis. Texas to play guardorcenter. Texas Longhorns are expected He's a bull ofa blocker who is tonttend. better with pads on than he The state will be repre­ Majors, bothUTpledges, will is in these camp settings. He sented by 21 prospects at the be at theOpening Finals. can prove he's the top center events, including one from the T hirteen of the 21 prospect in the 2020 cycle 2021 class, offensive tackle prospects are already com­ with a strongshowing against Donovan Jackson of Houston mitted. Uncomrnjtted UT the best defensive tackles at Bellaire Episcopal. targets from the statewhoare the event. The Elite u highlights the expected to attend include Majors won't need to deal country's top quarterbacks Arlington cornerback Jahari with the speed rushers on the and features three Texans, Rogers, Manor defensive outside who could give him including l"!lk [ . ~:i.1! four­ end Princely Umanrnielen problems with their speed m,ll;his quarterback Hudson Card, who has committed to Texas, starHudson Card. Offensive and defensive tackle Vernon wiU participate in this year's Elite 11 competition. He's the first UT linemen Logan Parr and Jake Broughton. See PLEDGES, CS recruit to do so since Sam Ehlinger. (STEPHEN SPILLMAN/FOR STAT£SMANJ PLEDGES

From Page CJ and length. It'll be a test of strength and technique, areas in which he excels. Logan Parr, OG, San Antonio O'Connor (4 stars; No. 24 on the Fab 55): Parr is another high school tackle readying for a move inside to guard or center. He also could rise in the rankings with a strong showing against the best defensive tackles in the country. Prospects from San Antonio tend to need strong performances at Logan Parr is one of two offensive finemen pledged to the these camps to gain respect Longhorns who'll be at this year's Opening Finals in Frisco. in the rankin gs due to n ot [PHOTOS BY MIKE CRAVEN/AMERICAN-STATESMAHJ playing against high-level competition from Dallas and uncommitted prospects A&M and Oregon. Houston. • Parker Washington, It'llbea good testfor Parr. • Xavier Alford, S, Alvin WR, Fort Bend Travis - 3 He'sa solid pass rusher with Shadow Creek - 4 stars; stars; No. 48 on the Fab 55. good feet, but he'll ueed to No. 31 on the Fab 55. Top Top schools arePennState, prove strong enough to schools are Texas A&M, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech. handlethe biggest defensive Texas, Florida, Alabama and • Haynes King, QB, tackles. Michigan. Longview - 4 stars; No. 18 Hudson Card, QB , Lake • Vernon Broughton, DT, onthe Fab 55. Top school is Travis (4 stars; No. 15 on Houston Cypress Ridge - 4 TexasA&M. the Fab 55): Card is the stars; No. 8 on the Fab 55. • Donovan Jackson, OT, No. 2-ranked dual-threat Topschools areTexas, Ohio Houston Bellaire Episcopal quarterback in the 2020 State,Texas A&M, Arkansas (2021) - 4 stars; No. 1 on cycle, per 247Sports' com­ andLSU. theNext 25. Top schools are posite rankings. He's the • Zachary Evans, RB, OhioState, Texas and Texali first Texas quart erback Galena Park North Shore A&M. pledge to reach the Elite 11 - 5 stars; No. 1 on the Fab since Sam Eblinger in the 55. A Texas target, but top Other committed prospects 2017 cycle. schools areAlabama, Ohio Card can solidify his rep­ State, Georgia, LSU and Nathan Anderson, OT, utation as one of the top Oklahoma. Frisco Reedy - 4 stars, No. quarterback recruits in the • Jahari Rogers, CB, 25 ontheFab55. Committed class with a strong show­ Arlington - 4 stars; No. 32 to Oklahoma. ing in Frisco. He's a special ontheFab55. Topschools are Demond Demas, WR, prospect who was athletic Texas, Florida andAlabama. Tomball - 5stars, No. 3 OD enough to post more than • Princely Umanmielen, the Fab 55. Committed to 1,000 yards receiving as a DE, Manor - 4 stars; No. 28 TexasA&M. sophomore before switching on the Fab 55. Top schools JayloD Jones, CB, Cibolo to quarterback last season. are Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Steele - 4 stars,No. 5 OD the A&M. Jalen Kimber, CB, Mansfield Timberview - 4 stars, No. 14 on the Fab 55. Committed to Georgia. Jase McClellan, RB, Aledo - 5 stms, No. 7 on the Fab 55. Committed to Oklahoma. R.J. Mickens, S, Southlake Carroll - 4 stms, No. 10 on the Fab 55. Committed to Clemson. Akinola Ogunbiyi, G, Fort Bend Kempner - 4 stars, No. 51 on the Fab 55. Committed toTexas A&M. Troy Omeire, WR, Fort H TJ'f Bend Austin - 4 stars, No. 9 on theFab55. Committed to Texas A&M. Rynn Watts, CB, Little Elm - 4 stars, No. 50 on the Fab 55. Committed to Oklahoma. Chandler Morris, QB, Highland Park - 4 stars, Prosper's Jake Majors can prove he's the top center prospect in No. 10-rankeddual-threat the 2020 cycle with a strong showing against the best defensive qumterback. Committed to tackles at the Opening Finals. Arkansas. New WR coach for Cavs shares ties with predecessor

Jacob Alvarez, a Lockhart High School graduate, joins the LaR itavis football staff after serving as offensive coordinator at Mccallum High School. [COURTESY OF DAVE WINTER/MAC JOURNALISM] Lockhart native Jacob 'Travis football tean1, have a LBJ while Alvarez served as from Austin ISD." Alvarez Joins staff after common tie in their football offensive coordinator atrival Clay stepped down as successful OC stint careers. McCallun1. Now, they have the Cavaliers' wide receiv­ with Mccallum The longtin1e friends ~II'fanl! 111 common, at ers coach this spring, and from Lockhart played two least onpaper. Alvarez will fill the vacancy years together at Lockhart "It's just one of those once the e111ployn1ent Jay Plotkin High School, with Alvarez things where we've always paperwork becomes offi­ American-Statesman throwing passes to Clay. seemed to find each other cial. The Mccallum High Correspondent They both landed on the since we left Lockhart," School journalism depart- coaching sidelines innearby Alvarez said. "We kept in 111ent recently announced Jacob Alvarez and Curtis District 12- 5A Division I touch and it's kindofinter­ Alvarez's departure. Clay, the past two receiv­ - Clay coaching receivers esting that we both found ers coach for the t:aa at Lanier before moving to our way out to ttak~ Travis See COACH, AI0 experience to work with a points per garne. He knows football at COACH deep receiver group that "I will miss coaching at Lake Travis brings different includes Kyle Eaves, Grayson McCallwn," Alvarez said. "I expectations than n1ost other From Page AB Sandlinand Lake McRee. worked with and learned fr01n places, and he's excited for "He may not have thesame alotofgreatcoaches,andthe the opportwlity. playing experience thatcoach kids really bought into what "I know there are high "We actually interviewed Clay had, but he's been a coor­ we were doing, the 2017 team expectations," he said. "We coach Alvarez for an open­ dinator for a tean1 that n1ade a especially. That was a very are going to work hard to get ing a few years ago, but the long playoff run," Carter said. tight group that 111anaged backto where we want to be, teaching field didn't work "Most ilnportantly, he's a itself and made it so we only which is playing for the state out," Lake Travis coach great person who knows how had to worry about coaching championship." Hank Carter said. "He really to conm1unicate with kids and football." Alvarez isn't wasting time impressed us then, and when motivate them, and that's the While Mccallum found getting prepared for the 2019 [coach Clay] announced he hardest part ofa coaching job. much of its offensive success season. wouldn't be back, he reached We feel like he'll be able to hit by running the ball, Alvarez "He came in and n1et with out to us again." the ground running." knows the opposite is true at [offensive coordinator Will] While Clay brought a Alvarez spent five sea­ his new home. Stein and he felt like it was a wealth of playing experience, sons at McCallwn, working "We've run the ball for a great fit," Carter said. "We he played atTCU and spent a with the Knights' receiv­ while atMcCallun1 anddone want hiln to use his overall year with the Dallas Cowboys ers for three seasons before a really good job," he said. offensive experience and work Jacob Alvarez, a Lockhart before entering coaching. coachil1g quarterbacks and "It's the opposite here atLake wiU1 our receivers. It's a tal­ High School graduate, joins "He was a much better coordinating the offense for Travis. For n1e, it just comes entedgroup, but we want to the Lake Travis football staff football player than I ever coaches Charles Taylor and down to learning the [off en - get then1 to play tougher, be after serving as offensive was," Alvarez said about his Th01nas Gammer dinger. In sive tenninology] and being more precise. These are the coordinator at Mccallum High friend. 2017, McCallwnreached the really good with the details. If san1e tilings we'dwant Coach School. [COURTESY OF DAVE Carter said the Cavaliers 5A, Division I state semifinals, we can do that, we will con­ Clay working with them onif WINTER/MAC JOURNALISM] willleanonAlvarez' coaching won 14 games and scored 4 7 tinue to have a lot ofsuccess." he'd have stayed." istrid's sets

District 25-6A football ABOUT THIS SERIES : Week three: Receivers summer preview series: Throughout the sum1ner, Week four: Offensive line Linebackers the community newspapers Week five: Defensive line exrunine District 25 - 6A and Weeksix: Linebackers rank each tean1, position by Week seven: Defensive By Thomas Jones position. We then assign backs [email protected] points for the top- ranked Week eight: Coaching / team at eachposition, giving intangibles 1. Lake Travis: The strength nine points for the posi­ ofthe Cavs' defense is at this tion leader and one point for Current standings: position, where first - teain ninthplace. We'll update the 1. Lake Travis, 46 all- district seniors Maui totalwitheachinstallment of 2. Westlake, 42 Trevino and Nick Villarreal the series, giving a11 idea of 3. Del Valle, 38 ply their trade. The 5- 11, which tean1s will contendfor 4. Austin High, 34 200-poundTrevino had 128 the district title and the four 5. Anderson, 27 tackles a year ago ai1d pro­ playoff spots. 5. Bowie, 27 vides a physical presence as Series: 7. Hays, 25 well as plenty of inm1easur­ Week one: Quarterbacks 8. Akins, 16 Lake Travis linebacker Maui Trevino (30) hits receiver Noah Byrd as ables. The 5- 11, 190- pound Week two: Running backs 9. Lehn1an, 15 Nick Villarreal (20) reaches for the ball during the cavaliers' spring Villarreal, a converted run- game in May. The linebacking duo leads the Lake Travis defense. [JAY ning back, may not be quite PLOTKIN PHOTO FOR STATESMAN] as physicalas Trevino, buthe 21.3points allowed per game, coach Les Goad last season, showedhis tremendous range this pair willlead the way. andthat group could be even range. Classmate Noe Santos end oflast season. The 5-11, as well as his coverage abilities 2. Hays: An influx of tal­ better in 2019. Jake Lopez, a brings more size at 5 feet, 9 180 -poundZachary Hobert is last season while racking up ented, young linebackers 5- 7, 170- poundjunior, had inches and 190 pounds, and yet another junior who played 124 tackles. Ifthe Cavs are to helped Hays return to the 56 tackles last season while he developed into one of the lowerlastseason's average of playoffs under first- year showing sideline-to-sideline Rebels' bestlinebackers by the See DISTRICT, Alo eye on 6- foot, 185 -pound speed, but he showed plenty DISTRICT soph01nore Kaleb Brown, who of grit and instincts while has in1pressed coaches with en1erging as a reliable starter From Page AB his physical play and football as a soph01nore. Senior Juan snlarts. Ifthis group develops Liscano is another undersized quickly, DelValle could signifi­ linebacker who saw action well last season while racking cantly lower last year's average both on defense and at full­ up 87 tackles, four sacks and of35 points allowed per gaine. back last season. seven tackles for a loss, and 6. Anderson : While the 8. Lehman: The Lobos have 5- 9, 170 - pound Cole1nan strength of the Trojans' a nice n1ix of senior leader­ Johnson brings senior lead­ defense can be found ina vet­ ship and youthful potential ership andevenn1ore varsity eran secondary, second-year at linebacker, wl1ich should experience. coach Daniel Hunter believes help the team lower last sea - 3 . Bowie : T ristan thata set ofunheralded line ­ son's average of 52.9 points Fahrenthold, a 5- 10, 200- backers can help lower last allowed per game. Spencer pound senior, is one of just year's average of25.1 points Winn, a 6- 2, 190- pound two returning defensive allowed per ga111e, which senior, has developed into starters for the Bulldogs, ranked fourth in the district. one of Lelunan's 111ore reli­ and he'll carry a heavy load Versatile Joey Baran, a 5-10, able players, andsopho111ore for a defense desperately Westlake defensive coordinator Tony Salazar will have to revamp the 190-pound junior, will play Robert Vasquez impressed seeking veteran leadership. Chaps' linebacking corps if the team hopes to repeat last season's both receiver and outside during tl1e offseason. FahrenU1old had 54 tackles dominant effort. [PAUL BRICK/FOR AMERICAN -STATESMAN] linebacker, and the coaching 9. Austin High: The gradua­ last season, and the inside staff lauds his high motor and tion of Romeo Brown leaves linebacker thrives between physical play. Watch out for a gaping hole at the position, the tackles. The rest of the Ehlinger at Texas, the Chaps linebacker, altllough he spent Cash Wiley, a 6-foot, 190- and Coach Mike Rosenthal position will need a quick willhave to find a new anchor the spring working on the pound sophomore who caught knows s01ne inexperienced influx from Bowie's tradi­ for the linebacking corps. defensive line. the coaches' eyes in the off­ players will have to come of tionally strong subvarsity Not a single starter at line­ S. Del Valle: Although the season and could push for a age quickly if the Maroons prograins. Keep ai1 eye on backer returns for a defense Cardinals welcome back starting spot. hope to lower last season's Steven Szipocs and Bronko that allowed a district- low nine starters on defense, the 7. Akins:The Eagles allowed average of 41.5points allowed Stachura, a pair of youngsters 42 points in eight district linebacking corps looks inex­ the second-most points in per gan1e. The group will n1oving up fron1 the junior gan1es, but Westlake has as perienced. That n1akes the district play last season, but lean heavily on senior John varsity who may lack expe­ much depth as any program presence of Davion Wright a pair ofatllletic and versatile Colunga, who's undersized rience but boast first-rate in Central Texas. Senior particularly i1nportant; the veterans could help lower that at 5 feet, 9 inches and 175 linebacker nan1es. Will McConnell garnered 6- foot, 180-pound senior number. Junior Luis Rojas is a pounds but showed tre1nen­ 4. We stlake: With Jake experience last season, ai1d had 48 tackles a year ago, and typical Akins linebacker at 5 dous instincts last season Ehlinger now playing along­ classmate AustinMcClendon he'll lead a young group with feet, 8 inches and 175 pound; while racking up 57 tackles side older brother Sam could line up at outside plenty of potential. Keep an he lacks size and top-end and a pair of sacks. American-Statesman all-Central Texas baseball team

to stafface Jimmy Lewis. But pitcher Zac Wisdom, who had Lake Travis PLAYER OF THE YEAR Baty's contributions went far spentmostoftheseasononthe third baseman beyondthenumbers; hecarried juniorvarsity. Blancolostthe Brett Baty, who Brett Baty, senior, Lake Travis: theheavyloadofexpectations game2-1, butWisdomallowed now plays in What more needs to be said for bothhimselfand the Cavs just five hits in a complete- the New York about the Cavaliers' third with grace while helping Lake gameeffortagainstthestate's Mets' farm baseman than these stats? A Travis reach its first Class 6A No. 1 team. It was typical system, earned .602battingaverage. A school- statetournament. Wyatt, who has shownplenty his second record 19 home runs and 50 of moxie while winning 686 consecutive RBIs. Fifty-nine runs scored COACH OF THE YEAR games over the past 34 years player of the from the leadoffspot, and 49 as Bianco' s head coach. He year award walkswithjust nine strikeouts. Bryan Wyatt, Blanco: Before addedtohis legacyin2019 by from the Want more? Batywent 6-1on the Class 3A state champion- leading the Panthersto a 33-5 American· the mound with a 0.92 ERA shipgamebetweenBlancoand recordandtheschool'ssecond Statesman. and96strikeoutsin53 innings Wall, Wyattmadeamoveboth title game. [JOHN GUTIERREZ/ while bearing a heavier pitching analyticalandintuitivewhenhe FOR STATESMAN] loadafter a late-seasoninjury startedfreshman left-handed See BASEBALL, A9 basesand 57 il7.lllS entering at shortstop helped the BASEBALL the Class 3A statetourna - Panthers reach the Class ment, thesecond baseman 5A playoffs by hitting .434 FromPageA8 went 6-for-6 atstate. with 3 7 runs and 32 stolen Infielder: Kamden Kelton, bases andcompiling a .520 senior, Stony Point on -basepercentage from NEWCOMER A converted catcher his leadoff spot. OF THE YEAR now at third base, the Infielder: Booga De La Blinn College pledge hit Garza, sophomore, Mccallum Easton Salinas, sopho • .530 with 30 runs and 35 With a .440 batting more, Mccallum: Plenty RBIs while helping the average, 27 runs, 20 RBIs of faces changed, butthe Tigers reach the second and14 stolen bases as well winning ways remained round of the Class 6A as a .941 fielding percent­ the same for a team that playoffs. age, the youngster helped won its ninth consecutive Outfielder : Jared the Knigh ts defend their district title. Seven new McKenzie, senior, Round District 25-5A title. starters - five sopho­ Rock Infielder: Jeffery David, mores and two freshmen The Baylor signee senior, Georgetown - joinedfirst-year coach batted .577 indistrict play The versatile third Brandon Grant, a Lago for the Class 6A regional baseman, a Paris Junior Vista native who arrived quarterfina]ists and had College signee, also plays from his alma mater.That a 28-game hitting streak, intheoutfield and hit .420 set of newcomers included the second-longest in with three home ru ns, Salinas, a slick-fielding state history, according 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 42 second baseman who had to MaxPreps. stolen bases. 42 assists and a fielding Outfielder: Ty Tilson, Infielder: Caden Leschber, percentage of .910. He junior, Georgetown junior, Thrall also hit .423 with 17 RBIs The speedy playmaker The three-year starter and 16 runs while helping hit .402 and had an on­ andteamcaptain notonly form a young core for the base percentage of .503 hit .471 with five home Austin school district 's while racking up 38 RBIs, runs and 46 RBIs, but he best baseball program. 32 runs and 22 s tolen alsohadseven wins and 86 FIRST TEAM bases. strikeouts in55 innings on Outfielder: Austin Plante, themound for theClass 2A Pitcher: Jared Southard, senior, Lake Travis regional quarterfinalists. senior, Rouse The TCU pledge gave Outfielder: David Wilson, The Texas signee had a Lake Travis another big senior, Akins dominant season for the bat inthelineup with five A Stephen F. Austin District17-5A champions, home runs, 33 RBIs and a signee with one of the going 7-1 witha 0.51 ERA .411 batting average. sweetest swings in Central while amassing101 strike­ Utility: Wyatt Cheney, Texas, thetbree-timeAll­ outs in55 innings. senior, liberty Hill Centex player hit .409 Catcher: Kory Schmidt, Although Cheney pro­ for an Eagles squad that senior, liberty Hill vided steady production in missed the playoffs. A 6-foot-4 slugger the heartof the Panthers' Outfielder: Jared Younce, with a rifle for an arm, lineup, an arm that deliv­ senior, Stony Point Schmidt hit .430 with six ered a 10-0 record, a 0.63 Not only did theTexas home runs and 32RBIs and ERA and 114 strikeouts in State signee hit -432 with recorded12assists behind 78 innings is what earned 22RBisand24runs,buthe the plate for the Class 4A him a scholarship to also hada perfect fielding Region IV finalists. Oklahoma St ate. percentage. Infielder: Brett Baty, Outfielder: Garrison senior, Lake Travis SECOND TEAM Vaughn, senior, Hays The longtime Texas The steady team leader pledge, a two-time All­ Pitcher: Jij mmy lewis, hit .364 with 29 RBIs and Centex player ofthe year, senior, lake Travis swiped seven bases for the signed withtheNew York The 78thoverall pick in Class 6A playoff-qualify­ Mets this month after his this month's MLB draft by ing Rebels. selection as the 12th over­ the Los Angeles Dodgers Utility: Cameron Dayton, all pick inthe majorleague went 9-0with a 0.52 ERA senior, Round Rock draft. and 83 strikeouts in 53 A workhorse on the Infielder: Cole Posey, innings before a late-sea- mound and at the plate, senior, Georgetown soninjury kept himout of the two-time All-Centex A key component for a the playoffs .. player went 8-1 on the loaded lineup that helped Catcher: Tyler la Rue, mound with a 0.93 ERA the Eagles reach the Class senior, Blanco and hit .556 in District 5A state tournament, the A6-foot-2, 220-pound 13-6A play with 37 RBIs Boise State shortstop rock behind the plate and and31runs. signee hit .390 with six the son of former major THIRD TEAM home runs and37RBIs and leaguer Jason LaRue, the added 4 3 stolen bases and Rice signee hit .482 with Pitcher: Grant Wood, 5oruns. nine home runs and a senior, Georgetown Infielder: Eddie Calzoncit, team-high 39RBIs. The District 18-5A MVP senior, Blanco Infielder: Travis Chestnut, had a perfect game and After hitting -479 with junior, Pflugerville severalone-hitters while nine homers, 21 stolen The three-year starter compiling a 10-0 record with a 0.83 ERA for the the Class 6A regional positions. state-boundEagles. quarterfinals.. Utility: Nick Gullo, senior, Catcher: Lucas Abbott, Infielder : Luke Dripping Springs senior, Lehman Almendarez, senior, Round The Lamar signee played The Grayson College Rock shortstop and anchored signee, one of the top A leader on and offthe the lineup for the Class defensive catchers in the field as well as District 5A regionalquarterfinal­ area, hit .337 with 23 RBIs 13-6A's defensive MVP ists but did most of his and threw out 18 base atshortstop,theHouston damage on the mound, runners while compiling signee hit .308 with 33 where he went 7-2 with 115 a fielding percentage of RBIs and25 rlllils . strikeouts while compiling . 988. Outfielder: Braden Schultz, ao.51ERA. Infielder: Casey Oullette, senior, St. Michael's Honorable mention:Dylan senior, Hendrickson A leader in center field Savino, Westlake; Leo A rock for the Hawks and on the mound for Lowin, Westlake; Ben over the past three years the TAPPS Division II Koch, Austin High; Seth in the field and on the state semifinalists, he Werchan, Bowie; Carter mound, the Louisiana hit .512 with 31 runs and Poulson, Stony Point; Tech signee hit .339 and 16 stolenbases and went Marcos Rosales, Cedar had a 2.69 ERA asthe ace 6-2witha1.01ERAand69 Ridge; Dalton Porter, for the Class 6A playoff strikeouts. Rouse; Ryder Hernandez, qualifiers. Outfielder: AJ Mayes, Cedar Park; Jackson Infielder: Scott Guzman, senior, East View Sioson, Georgetown; senior, Thorndale The speedy center Ryan Walker, Hutto; Ace A four-year starter and fielder hit .354 with 23 Deitz, McCallum; Ryan team captain, the second RBIs, 17 stolenbases and Davenport, Dripping baseman hit .360 with had a perfect fielding per­ Springs; Walker Koehler, 28 RBIs and 35 runs for centage for .a team that LBJ; Kaden Dydalewicz, a team that reached the qualified for the Class 5A Liberty Hill; Ace third round of the Class playoffs. Whitehead, Lampasas; 2A playoffs. Outfielder: Mark Govea, Cole Harms, Taylor; Infielder: Peyton senior, Del Valle Jackson Hunter, Blanco; Sanderson, senior, Westlake The team captain for Cole Johnson, Gateway Arguablythetopdefen - a squad that missed the Prep; Jacob Goff, Luling; sive shortstop in Central Class 6A playoffs had Luke Williams, Thrall; Texas, the team captain plenty of teams pitch Slade Walker, Round Rock also hit .342 and scored around him, but he still Christian. 31 runs for a rejuve­ hit -408 andscored 17 runs nated team that reached while playing multiple Thomas Jones American-Statesman all-Central Texas golf team

BOYS ATHLETE season, finishing in a tie for OF THE YEAR third place at the Class 6A championship and helping Thomas Bockholt, senior, the Chaps defend their 6A Westlake: With a 12-foot title. Englemannshota two­ birdie on the first playoff roundscore of3-under-par hole, Bockholt wontheClass 141 atLegacyHills Golf Club 6A individual gold medal inGeorgetown. over David Harrison of Byron Nelson andhelpedthe BOYS ALL-CENTEX Westlake boys wintheirthird TEAM straightstate title. Bockholt hadrounds of 71 and 68 for Thomas Bockholt, senior, a 139 inthe 36-hole tourna­ Westlake: The Rice signee ment at Legacy Hills Golf showedhis mettleinthefinal Club in Georgetown. Next round at the Class 6Astate yearhe will golf atRice. tournament, shaking off three bogeys with five bird­ GIRLS ATHLETE ies on the next seven holes OF THE YEAR to set up his championship push. Sadie Englemann, junior, Matthew Denton, senior, Westlake: Englemann had a Thomas Bockholt helped Westlake defend its state championship second consecutive all-state SeeGOLF, Alo at the Class GA tournament. [JOHN GUTIERREZ/FOR STATESMAN] tournament, Petronzio for eighthoverall andhelped GOLF represented the Cavs as an Westlake secure its second individual and finished tied consecutive Class 6Atitle. From Page AB for seventh with a 142. Hannah Liu, senior, Lake HS Chang, junior, Cedar Park: Travis: Although Westlake A keyplayerin Cedar Park's prevented Liuandher senior Westlake: Denton, who shot three consecutive state Lake Travis teammates a 142 for Westlake'swinning appearances, Chang shot a from competing in a fourth team, joined Bockholt as 1-over 145 at the Class 5A consecutive Class 6A state the only high school golfers state tournament while tying tournament, Liutiedfor 10th in state history to play for for sixthoverallamongindi­ as an individual at Legcay three Class 6A champion- vidualscorers. Hills with a 145. ship teams. Lyla Vaughn, junior, Lago Braden Smith, freshman, Lago GIRLS ALL-CENTEX Vista: With a team-low score Vista: Smith, who emergedas TEAM of163, Vaughnfinished sixth the top player for the Class overall at the Class 3A state 3Astate-qualifyingVikings, Sadie Englemann, junior, tournament while helping fired a team-low 159 at the Westlake: A Stanford pledge, theVikings to a second-place state tournamentandhelped Englemann fired a team-low finish with a team score of Lago Vista finish eighthwith 141 while helping the Chaps 726. a 689. roll to a 20-stroke victory Kirsten Richards, junior, Nathan Petronzio, junior, overrunner-up Plano West. Lampasas: Herseventh-place Lake Travis: Although the Bentley Cotton, junior, score of 148 at the Class 4A WesUake's Sadie Englemann, lining up a putt at the Class 6A Lake Travis boys team Westlake: The Baylor pledge state tournament helped state tournament, helped the Chaps defend their state title with didn't make its customary shot a145 atthe36-holestate powerLampasastoa second­ a 20-stroke victory over Plano West. [PHOTOS BY JAMIE HARMS/ FOR trip to the Class 6A state tournament, which tied her place finish. STATESMAN] AMERI CAN- STATES MAN TOP S O C ENTRAL TEXAS HIG H S C H O O L ATHLETES

THETOP10 had quantity and quallty atthe and All-Centex softball player UIL Class SA state meeL The had 23 wins, an 0.81ERA and 1. Brett Baty, senior, Lake Louisville signee and All-Centex 180 strikeouts and also hit .400 Travis: on his baseball acco­ boys swimmer of the year for a team that spent most of lades alone, Baty earned a spot finished the day with four gold the year atop the state's Class in the top 10. The slugging third medals. He set a state record In 6A poll. baseman and pitcher, who the 100 butterfly with a time of Jacob Munoz. senior, Cedar passed on a scholarship offer 48.05 seconds during preliml• Park: The standout football from the University ofTexas naries and then won the state player in the fall went 40-1 after being dmfted No.12 by title in the event. He also won during wrestling season the New York Mets last month, gold in the 100 backstroke to and won gold in the 220- had a school-record 19 home become the area's lone double pound class at the SA state runs and 50 RBIs to go along Individual champion. tournament. with a .602 batting average and 7. Cameron Everts, junior, Dushon Orr, junior, Taylor: The 50 runs. He earned All-Central Lampasas: Arguably the top versatile All-Centex boys track Texas player of the year honors athlete to compete for the athJete of the year won three and helped the cavaliers reach Badgers since former UT medals at the 4A state meet, the Class 6A state tournament. star Johnny ..Lam" Jones, the including gold in the long jump. Baty also earned a spot on the receiver earned Ali•Centex Abby Pana. freshman, Hays: All-Centex basketball team football honors by hauling In one of the top freshmen In after averaging 12.3 points 79 passes for 1,308 yards and Central Texas, she not only on 62.2% shooting along witn 17 touchdowns and rushing debuted at the 6A girls cross­ 5.9 rebounds for the regional for another 342 yards and five country meet but also qualified Quarterflnalists. touchdowns. He carried that for the state track meet in the 2. Chase Griffin, senior, Hutto: success over into track season, 1,600. In his three seasons as the winning the 300 hurdles at the Vincent Ribeiro, junior, Round starting quarterback, the Class 4A state meet. Lake Travis' B:rett Baty, drawing a foul from Clemens' Alden Ingalls Rock: The Ali-Centex swim­ All-Centex football player of 8. Jordyn Carter, senior, in a playoff game, starred in both basketball and baseball. He has mer not only won the 6A title the year redefined the Hippos' Crockett: The girls basketball signed with the New York Mets. lJOHN GUTIERllEZ/fOR STATESMANI In the 200 individual medley program while breaking player, a four-year starter but also took silver in the 100 virtually every school pass- for the South Austin school, finalists· prolrfic attack had the 300 hurdles with a per­ breaststroke. ing record. The 5-foot-10, averaged 18.4 points on 54% 40 goals and 28 assists while sonal-best 44.46. Grayson Schirpik, senior, 190-pound quarterback. now shooting and added 5.1 assists, setting virtually every school Scott Guzman, se-nior, Rouse: The All•Ccntcx volley• at UCLA, passed for 4,051 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 steals a record. Thorndale: The All-Centex ball player. who signed with yards and 51 touchdowns in game while earning Ali•Centex Greg Brown Ill, junior, baseball player also earned all• TCU, also qualified for the SA 2018 while leading Hutto to an honors. She also helped make Vandegrift: n,e explosive 6-7 district honors In football and state track meet in the high l 1-1 record, the school's first school history by leading the forward, a three-year member ran track for the 81Jlldogs. jump. unbeaten regular season since Cougars to their first playoff of the Statesman"s All-Centex Kyle Harrison, senior, Uber!Y sunlta sehmldlorg, senior, 1966 and a spot in the Class SA win. She capped her prep boys basketball first team, Hin: The offensive spark plug Texas School for the Deaf: The Division I regional semifinals. career by Qualifying for the averaged 30.l points, 13.5 for the state football finalists TAPPS all-state player in both He completed 268 of 373 passes Class SA Region IV track meet rebounds ancl 5.4 blocks for the set an Austin-area single­ girls basketball and volleyball with just five interceptions and in multiple events. playoff-Qualifying Vipers. season record with 2.875 yards averaged 14.S points, five rushed for 415 yards and eight 9. Wyatt Cheney, senior, Uberty Alfred COiiins, junior, Cedar rushing and scored 44 total assists and five rebounds for touchdowns on 82 carries while Hm: An All•Centex selection Creek: The 6·5, 260-pounder touchdowns. the state basketball finalists. earning the 2018·19 Gatorade in two sports, the Oklahoma earned a spot on the Ail-Centex MaKenzie Harvey, senior, Jamal Shead, junior, Manor: Texas Football Player of the State baseball pledge delivered football team after racking Pllugerville: The Ali-Centex The All-Centex boys basketball Year award. plenty of heat in a busy senior up 92 tackles. including 28 for girls soccer player of the year selection helped the Mustangs 3. Avery Kalsu, junior, Dripping year. During football season, a loss, and six sacks and led and daughter of Pflugerville reach their hrst state touma- Springs: Aversatile volley• the defensive back led the the Eagles· basketball team in head coach Mike Harvey had 19 ment by averaging 19.3 points ball standout who earned the Class 4A Division I state final- scoring. goals and 21 assists whlle lead- and 4.3 assists. All-Centex player of the year ist Panthers with 102 tackles, Ella Collins, senior, Anderson: ing the Panthers to their best &aurav Singh, junjor, award. Kalsu averaged two including 62 solo stops. In the The All-Centex swimmer com- season in school hi.story. Westwood: The All-Centex boys kills, 6.2 assists and 9A digs per spring, he delivered a 10·0 pleted a career'ltiree-peat by Kirt Hawkins, Junior, Smithville: tennis player of the year helped set with 56 aces While helping record, a o.63 ERA and 114 winning her third straight title The explosive playmaker t he w arriors win the 6A state the Tigers reach the Class SA strikeouts in 78 innings for a in the Class 6A 100 freestyle earned All-Centex football team tennis title in the faJI and state tournament But the Tulsa baseball team that reached the with a personal-best 49.53 and honors with 991 yards and teamed with Kiana Graham to volleyball pledge didn'tslow regional finals. won silver in the 200 freestyle. eight touchdowns receiving as reach the state finals in mixed down after volleyball season: 10. Danielle Serna, senior, Megha Dania. junior, Lake well as five return scores and doubles. as a member of the Tigers· Austin High: A 2018 top-IO Travis: The All-Centex girls Qualified for the 4A state track AYlen Vivar, senior, Bowle: The trad< and field team, Kalsu selection after starring for the tennis player of the year beat meet in the triple jump. All-Centex girls wrestler of the participated in the JOO and 400 Maroons· softball and girls bas- westwood"s Jessica Lu to claim Ana Herceg, sophomore, Weiss: year capped her prep career meters, high jump, long jump, ketball teams, Serna bypassed the Class 6A girls singles title. The All-Centex girl.s swimmer with a 35·3 record and a spot in 400 relay. 800 relay and 1,600 hoops as a seniorbut delivered sadle Englemann, Junior, of the year defended her SA the 6A state linals of the 102· relay. She capped her track a stellar softball performance Westlake: The All-Centex girls stale tiUe in the 200 freestyle pound class. season with a fourth-place while helping Austin to Its best golfer of the year tied for third with astate record of 1:46.39 Montana Welch, sophomore, linish in the 400-meter run at season in school history. The at the Class 6J\ state tourna- and added silver in 500 Free. Taylor. considered a long shot the UIL Class SA state meet Colorado State pledge and ment and helped the Chaparrals cameron Kleiman, senior, LBJ: for gold at the 4A state track 4. Ryan O'Keefe, senior, Round All-Centex player of the year defend their s~te title. The All-Centex boys cross- and lield meet. the All-Centex Rock: One of the most dynamic struck out514 batters in 219 Cade Felps, senior, Blanco:After country athlete of the year led athlete stunned the field by athletes in the state, O'Keefe innings, went 29·6as a starting rushing for almost 1.soo yards the Jaguars to a second-place winning the boys pale vault flashed his blazing speed pitcher and hit .388 with 21 RBIs for the playoff-qualifying team finish in their first Class with a mark of 15 feet, 3 inches. on both the gridiron and the and31 runs scored. football team. ttle speedster SA state meet with a second• Ace Whitehead, sophomore, track. A likely defensive back Qualified for the I 00 in the 3A place time of 15:08.41. Lampasas:The Quarterback, an at Central Florida neJCt season, THE BESTOF THE REST state track meet. Hannah Laurence. senior, All•Centex pick, threw for 3,049 the All-Centex honoree played Michaela Francois, sophomore, Thorndale: The leader and yards and 35 TDs on 71.5% Quarterback for the Dragons (in alphabetical order) Weiss: The All-Centex sprinter all-district performer for the passing while leading his team andamassed 1,8,14 yards and Rodrigo Arellano, senior, made school history by racing Bulldogs' state finalist softball to tile area round for tile first 28 touchdowns rushing and Hendrickson: The All-Centex to gold in the 100 at the SA team also competed in the time since 2010, and he also another 1,068 yards and seven boyS soccer player ofthe year state meet with time of 11.74. class 2A state track meet in the earned all-district baseball scores in the air. In the spring, had 17 goals and three assists becoming the first member of 100 hurdles. honors. O'Keefe capped astellar track while leading the Hawks to the the Weiss track and field team caden Leschber, senior, Thrall: Micah Wiginton, junior, Weiss: season with a fourth-place time district title. to win a state gold medal. The three-year starter and The All-Centex boys wrestler of of JO.SO seconds in the JOO at Will Baker, senior, Westla.ke: Corby Furrer, sophomore, team captain tor baseball hit the year, who also playS foot• the c lass 6A state meet. The Hoot post and All-Centex Georgetown: In addition to .471 with live home runs and 46 ball. capped a perfect season 5. Bailey Goggans, sophomore, boys basketball player of the swimming on the record- RBIs and had seven wins and 86 on the mat with a win in the SA Marble Falls: In the top perfor• year, a Texas signee. aver- setting 400 boys freestyle relay strikeouts. and he also starred 152-pound state championship mance by any area athlete at aged almost 25 points and 13 team and the wanning 200 relay at Quarterback for the football match. the UIL state track meet in May, rebounds. team. the All-centex swimmer team. Garrett Wilson. senior, Lake Goggans continued a school Brian Batts, senior, LBJ: The won individual gold In the 500 Mason Mangum, junior, Travis: One of the top athletes tradition by racing to a pair of versatile football star played free and silver in the 200 free. Westlake: The Arkansas ever to emerge from Central gold medals. Not only did she running back, defensive back Kiana Graham,junior, football pledge and All-Centex Texas had 70 catches for 1.151 win Class SA gold in both the and Quarterback and was Westwood: The All-Centex selection at wide receiver also yards and 19 TOs for the Class 400 and 800, but her tlme of 2 among the team leaders in athlete played on the top line tallied 16 points at the 6A state 6A Division I state football minutes, 7.39 seconds in the scoring and rebounding for the for Westwood's state champi· track meet by finishing second semifmalists before leaving 800 set astate record in her district champion basketball onship tennis team in the tall In the long jump, fourth in the school early to enroll atOhio classification. The All-Centex team. and reached the finals of the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 State. girls track athlete of the year Thomas Bockholt, senior, spring·s 6A mixed doubles state hurdles. Mikayla Woods, senior, joins former Olympian and UT Westlake:The All-{;entex bracket with partner Gaurav Jordan Mathis, junior, Hendrickson: The two-time All-American Leo Manzano as athlete of the year in boys golf Singh. Vandegrift: The All •Centex All-Centex girls basketball a multiple gold winners ror the won the Class 6A individual Anna Cathryn Griffith, senior, girls cross-country athlete of player of the year powered the Mustangs. gold medal and helped his team Taylor:The Texas Tech track the year clocked personal-best 6A regional finalist Hawks on 6. crevson Alarcon. senior, win its third straightstate title. signee capped a brilliant prep 17:26.H while finishing eighth both ends of the court with 20.6 Georgetown: The leader of the Brooke Briscoe, senior, Liberty career by becoming the second at the 6A state meet points, 5..5 assists, 6.8 rebounds Eagles' state championship HUI; The midfield engine of girl to win the pole vault in all Tori Mccann, senior, cedar and 6.J steals per game. boys swimming contingent the Class 4A girls soccer state four years and added silver in Ridge: The Texas State signee Thomas Jones A revamp for 620

Bike lanes, medians Texas Department of Eckermann said, as we he planned; Bee Cave Transportation continues was writing notes on the residents weigh in to gather input onits RM project map. 620 improvement project. The project proposes By Luz Moreno-Lozano Ben Eckermann, who to widen the road, and lmoreno-lozano@ lives in the Falconhead add raised medians and statesman.com neighborhood, says his bike lanes, in an effort to Bike lanes and traf­ use of RM 620 is mostly address safety and mobil­ fic near the Lake Travis for biking. ity concerns onthe road. High School campus "I want 620 to be good Two lanes, one in each were among the key for everyone and I hope direction, will be added Ben Eckermann writes down his thoughts about bike concerns voiced by Bee that it stays as good or lanes on the map during an open house in Bee Cave Cave residents as tl1e get better for cycling," SeeREVAMP, A5 on June 26. [ LUZ MORENO-LOZANO/ LAKE TRAVIS VIEW] that currently runs the ontoRM 620 willbeadded REVAMP length of the road will be to the Cavalier Drive replaced with a center intersectionandwill likely From Page Al raised median. improve theflow oftraffic Residents raised ques­ inthat area as well. tions about turn lanes at The Texas 71 and RM to theroad creatinga six­ the dedicated lights that 620 intersection will also lanedivided highway that go into shopping cen- beimprovedas part ofthe PROPOSED RM620 stretchesfromTexas 71 to ters and neighborhoods. project. The intersection .I Hudson Bend Road. The H ector Tamez, project will be converted into a RIGHT OF WAY To Be Determined area has experienced sig- manager, said dedicated displaced left turn, similar l--13 I t--13 • Cl>,o . C/).0 nificant congestion over right and left turns will to the intersection at the 3 ( r:5ia: 1 2' 12' 12' 18' 12' 1 2' 12' ~ jcr: 3 the lastfew years, andthis stillbe available. "Y" at Oak Hill Wheelis ~ VARIES LANE LAN E LAN E RAISED MEDIAN LAN E LANE LANE VARIES ~ ' ' O improvement is expected "The reason why we said. fil :VARIES 10' 10' VARIES I w en .-.-~i------i .----ii----, en to resolve that, project put dedicated turn lanes Drivers heading east ~ j UTlJTY 2 ~ UTlJTY • ~ 0 • AND oi:!:: 6 i:!:: All!) • 0 officials said. is to reduce conflict on Texas 71 and turning 0::: j DRAINMlE s cf;; ~cf;; ~ j a.. •CORRIDOR :c 8: "Our maingoal is toget points," Wheelis said. northontoRM 620 willbe • en t t t V5 • through t r affic moving "It's safer and will move diverted into a displaced - • -r ■ - = • A ? 1 • and relieve congestion more vehicles throughthe left turn lane separate I for those passingthrough intersection." Another from drivers staying on and those living in the resident said traffic Texas 71.The difference in PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTION - RM 620 community," said Brad tends to back up by the driving time saves about BETWEEN SH 7 1AND HUDSON BEND ROAD Wheelis, spokes per - high school during peak 45 seco11ds, officials said. son for TxDOT. "This hours and wondered if The $70 million project, improvementwill benefit the t iming of the lights is still in thedesign stages everybody and having could be altered to help andis undergoing anenvi­ additional lanes will be with that. ronmental assessment. a big improvement for Tamez said dual turn Constructionis expected The proposed changes to RM 620 include adding one lane in each direction and adding emergency services." lanes going west into the to begin in late 2022 and raised medians and bike lanes up the road from Texas 71 to Hudson Bend Road. The center turn lane high school and south be completedby 2025. [COURTESY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION] EDUCATION MATTERS Lalce Travis district committed to retaining great teachers

By Brad Lancaster

n Aug. 14, nearly 11,100 students are 0 expectedto arrive at ourfront doors, marking the start ofthe 2019-2020 school year. The beginning ofa new school year is an exciting tiine because ofthe energy ourstudents, staff, To meet the demand of rapid growth in the Lake Ttavis area, the parents and comnnmity school district is building a new middle school, which will open in members bring to it - andall August. [COURTESY LAKE TRAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICTI the possibilities that workiI1g together in the best inter­ our school board chose to detailed de111ographic data estofstudents provides. use local funds to n1ore and n1aps, suggestions Speakingofenergy, we thandouble this amount to submitted online through recently concluded another $3,000 while also provid­ our Thoughtexchange pro­ busy and productive season ing a pay increase for all cess and feedback received ofLake Travis school remaining staff. during two public presen- district surnn1er can1ps. It is understandable that tations, the realigmnent Approxinlately3,000 some staff111embers may be process is complete. New youngsters participated in frustrated or confused by nriddle school attendance more than80 camps featur­ our district providing less zones will become effec­ ingarts and crafts, n1usic, than what was advertised. tive August 2019 with the science and sports. SiI1ce Our teachers and staff can opening of Bee Cave Middle 2012, enrollment inour rest assured our trustees School, wlrile elemen- surnn1er camp programs has considered a nun1ber of tary school attendance increasedbymore tl1an 80 salary options tlhat were zones will become effec­ percent. I applaud our dis­ presented by the senior tive August 2020 with the trict's Office ofConm1unity leadership team. Our start­ openingof Elen1entary Programs as well as each ing pay for a first-year School No. 7. New 111aps ofour can1p providers for educator is competitive at andother inforn1ation taking good care of ourstu­ $49,500 annually andis one regarding school attendance dents over thesunm1er. of the top teacher salaries zones are available on our The biggest news of in Central Texas. Overall, district's website. I thank the sumn1er thus far has the board's actionspeaks Deputy Superintendent come fron1 our n1ost recent loud and clear about its Holly Morris -Kuentz and legislative session. As you conm1itn1ent to retaining a the School Attendance Zone may already know, there highly-qualified staff and Advisory Committee for have been a great deal of underscores its: appreciation their work andleadership news n1edia coverage and of district employees for throughout tlus process. conversations on popu- meeting increased respon­ As we prepare to embrace lar social n1edia platfom1s sibilities inour fast-growth the challenges and opportu­ about House Bill 3 and school district. nities of the new year ahead, salary increases for teach­ Inorder to stay ahead I am pleased to announce ers. Contrary to many of that growtl1, construc­ the following can1pus lead­ recent news stories, there tion ofour third middle ership roles for the coming is no statewide flat raise. school - now known as fall: Legislators ultimately chose Bee Cave Middle School - • Kim Kellner has been not to approve an across­ began aln1ost imn1ediately promoted as principal the-boardraise. Instead, after passage ofour $253 ofBee Cave Elementary raises were tied toa percent­ nullion bond inN oven1ber School. Most recently, age ofa school district's 2017. Construction is on Kellner served as the overall funding increase. schedule, and the school school's assistant principal As a result, pay raises vary is expected to opennext • Melanie Be11inga will greatly a111ong districts. month for tl1e start of the begin her first full year as Infact, some districts will new school year. Modeled principal ofWest Cypress see little to noincrease in after Lake Travis Middle Hills Ele111entary School. funding, and those districts School, the $76.2mil- Beninga was promoted will therefore have little to lion facility was designed to principalin February no state-funded raises to by Fields & Associates after having served as the deliver to teachers andother Architects and is being built school's assistant principal. staff. by American Constructors. • Lester Wolff will begin That being said, I am very The 240,000 square foot his first full year as princi- - . - . pleased to report that on ca1npus will accommodate pal ofLake Travis Middle June 19, the Lake Travis 1,200 students in two ­ School. Wolff was named school board unanin1ously story, grade-level houses principal inFebruary after approved a salary adjust­ boasting hill countryviews. having served as interim mentfor all staff. Our It willfeature outdoor principal at West Cypress teachers, librarians, coun­ science and art areas, an Hills Elen1entary. selors and nurses with n1ore outdoor gathering space, I an1 also pleased to share than five years of experience abundant naturallight and that we have hired a number will receive anacross-the­ multipurpose areas that ofnewassistant principals board raise of $3,000, while allow for flexibility and col­ throughout our district. teachers, librarians, coun­ laboration. An1anda Prehn These are critical positions selors and nurses withfewer willserve as school princi - for us, and I am excited than five years of experi­ pal. She is an outstanding about the impact tllese ence will receive a raise educator and instructional experienced professionals ofapproximately $2,700. leader. Most recently, Prehn will have on our students Con1bined, this represents served as principal ofWest andstaff. an average increase of Cypress Hills Elen1entary On behalf of our school 5. 3o/o for teachers, librar­ School. Her vision, experi­ board and approxi1nately ians, counselors and nurses ence and enthusiasn1 will 1,200 ofn1y colleagues, I employedbyLake Travis help create and foster an wish our families all the best school district. All other exciting andsuccessful as we prepare to undertake district staff will receive a learning environn1ent at Bee "A Work of Heart" across salary increase of4% of their Cave Middle School. our great district. In the pay grade midpoint. In preparation for the n1eantime, inforn1ation It is important to note, opening ofBee Cave Middle on student enrolln1ent, that according to calcu- SchoolinAugust as well as inlillunization requirements lations provided by the Elementary School No. 7 in andother back-to-school Texas Education Agency, August 2020, it was neces­ resources for the 2019-2020 the state's contribution of sary to realignour school school year can be obtained additional funds resulted attendance zones in order on our district website at in a salary increase of only to accon1modate continued ltisdschools. org. $1,462 for Lake Travis growthin student enroll­ teachers and not the $4,000 ment. After nun1erous Brad Lancaster is the raise initially shared by meetings this past spring superintendent ofLake state officials. However, spent analyzing highly Travis school district. POPUI.ATION Study aids Eanes WITHIN DISTRICT POPULATION UNDERAGE 19 ISO officials with 12,000 10,000 -Hr--;;;;;;;;:;::t While Eanes ISO isg fowing in 6,000 +-f-____.....l- district decisions population and income, the school­ s.ooo ■ i=li½I aged popt.alatlon ls decttaslng. o~+-----1- Student enrollment will drop 2010 2018 EANES ISO TOTAL POPULATION despite population growth MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 39,000 n, BY BRIAN RASH From 2010-18, the median house­ hold income within Eanes ISO has ~~: ~ -'!H!"''tU1@W ~ Pl•fl·ffl ~::~ :ti::·-=~~::::~::·: risen about 30o/.-from S116,151 to $0 SS0,000 $100,000 SIS0,000 20lO 20 18 $151, 327. In that same time period, TDTAL HDUSEHDLDS IN DISTRICT the average existing home price has shot up nearly 70%-from $555,977 I to $945,123. 2010 • · The data comes from the 201a ~ &.,"'"*"·:!11~ I I I c-• newly released 2019 demo­ 0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 I5,000 graphic study from Templeton CONTINUED ON 40 SOlUICE: EANES!SO/COMMUJ,ifTYll,INClNEV-'SPAPSI Students transfer intoEanes ISO from many neighboring school districts. This graph shows how many students came to EJSO in the 2011-12 schoolyear compared to the 2017- 18: schoolyear. -----

HAYSCISD 0 14 130% ~-- •133 33111't

LEANDER ISD 80% 1--- • 11 •5'. SS¥o On the whole, Eanes ISO isprojectedto 70% I---, reduceenrollmentfor residentstudents LAKE TRAVIS ISD 60% by more than 300 from the2018-19 school year to the 2028-29 school year. 5()% 1--- DEL VALLE ISD 40% f--~ ® 10 • 11 .g 09% :Ml% 1--- -4.63% DECREASE DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD 20% f---,

10% 1---

0% f--...J

-10% I-~======~- -=::,,,:=-- AUSTIN ISD -20% . 498 ® 458 -803%

-SO% ,_____ -2667% -60% .______PFLUGERVILLE ISD e 10 u~~111tA[} Over thenextdecade.with the exception of kindergarten, fi rst, fourth and 12th grades. total student population within EISD is ·Residentstudent total-s do not include transfer students fOR(CAST p rojected to d iminish.

700 ■ 2018-1 9 -■ 2028-29

600

400

300

200

100

0

Community lmpactNewspaper • communityimpa,ct.com OOi'W W~~ ilO~O~OOOfll HO"'IE PHICES IIESI 11 El~TIAL A look ataverage home pricesfrom2010-18 IIEAL ESTATE S1.2M NEW HOMES +61.59% The number ofexisting home sales far outpaces new home S1 M saleswithin EISO, but new homesales h aveshown a higherpercentage of growth in the last three years. $SOOK

INCREASE IN NEW HOME 67 +109.38% SALES FROM2010.18 70 60 _J 50 . 32 -- / 27 2J 26 / 40 21 30 12--10 11 / i',.._ .JI' ~ 20 ...... --·~ ...... L/ 10 - 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

INCREASE IN EXISTING +29.83% HOMESALES FROM 2010.18 900 827 827 I 787 I I .... 750 753 I 800 ' ...... ,,,. -· 671 687/ - , 669 / 637 r• 700 ·- ... r 600

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 201S 2016 2017 2018

CONTINUED fROM 1 Another factor contributing to a lack or resident shifts and grade-level trends, one of which is the growth is the average cost of a home within EISD, Demographics, a company E[S0 commissioned to continued low projection or incoming kindergarten which is now almost SI million, Arnett said, adding study current trends within the district. students." younger families with children are not typically able Somefigures ofnote include the fact that while the For the 2019·20 school year, the study estimates to afford a home at that price. area encompassed by EISD, though almost totally Eanes ISD will enroll 8,218 total students for grades "So, we're not seeing families move in, particu· built out, is adding new homes. its student enroll· K-12. By the 2028·29 school year, the district is Jarly with younger children, which is why the 10-year ment is projected todrop over the next decade. expected t.o drop almost 400enrolled students to tap forecast shows our population gradually declining Jeremy Tremble, EISD's chief operations officer, outat 7,830, constituting a 41.72:0/o drop. from the bottom up, meaning we're first observing said the demographic study offers the district one Deputy Superintendent Jeff Arnett said EISD is dif· that decrease in our student enrollment occur in our sourceofreliable datathatprovides valuable insights ferent from most districts in Central Texas because it primary grades,'' he said. "We don't typically seeany about its future, where specific resources may need is landlocked, and there is not geographic room fo r potential growth inour population until the interme­ to be allocated and any other need for additional the residential population to increase. diate grades or later.'' planning. ..Our resident population is aging, and we're not Editor's note: The data represented in this story "While Eanes ISO has seen a few new housing yet seeing a regreening effect where older residents relate solel}1 to the area encapsultited within Eanes developments introduced over the last year, the pro· are selling their homes and younger residents with /SD. Community Impact Newspaper reported on a jections from Templeton Demographics show enroll· children are moving in,'' A.mett said...So. our resi· similar study pertaining to Lake Travis /SD in the April ment remaining relatively flat during the next five to dent population is projected to decline in number 2019 edition. JO years," Trimble said. "Even with a stable overall over the next decade, whereas otherdistricts around population in Eanes ISD, we use this demographic usare stiU experiencing significant growth, and they For mare:nf~rmatmn 11s.1l: 1,i information to monitor campus-level enrollment areseeing an increase in their student population." - communrty1mpact.com LakeTravis • 'Nestlakeedition • July 2019 4 1 It's love on parade for the holiday

Lake ravts LGBTQ float makes July 4 debut

By Leslee Sassman Contributing writer

Tialce way resident Tan1n1y --:._------Stanley believes "the tin1es are changing" in her city, with a fresh n1on1entun1 guiding the cornn1mlity that recently witnessed the electionofits first female 111ayor in2018 and a new ethnic andoccupational diversity onits 2019 dais. Today, Stanley and her wife, Misty Hillin, orga - nized another first for the western Tr.,.Jis County city: an LGBTQ float in the con1- munity's long- standing FourthofJuly parade. "Things are changing," Stanley said ofI: tkeway's The talfe Travis LGBTQ Alliance float won Best General Category in LaReway's Fourth of July parade. character. "Sonow,ifwe [PHOTO BY LESLEE SASSMAN] don'tgo with tllis mon1en­ tun1, we're going to lose it." She attributes the proj ­ student members oftl1e Moon and Back" - is a nod U.S. 1nannedmoonrnission. ect's timing to the notion Gay Straight Alliance at tothe book "I Love You to "Let's connect, let's stop that "hearts andn1inds Lake II'ra VI High School. tl1e Moon and Back" by Tin1 judging each other, let's are opening" to inclu­ "There are 10 things I'd Warnes, a bedtin1e reading con1e togetller as a com­ sionas well as a "pushfor tell you about n1yself before staple for Stanley and her mmlity," Stanley said. "The love" intl1e cornn1mlity. telling you l'n1 gay," Stanley daughter Ella. The topic cor­ thing that binds us together Sponsored bythe newly said. "But at the san1e time, responded with this year's is that we're all hmnan and formed Lake Tra i~ LGBTQ l'n1 proudof who I am, proud parade theme, "Fly Me To we all love. We alllove in Alliance, thefloat, which ofmy fanilly, proud of my The Moon: One S111all Step ourown ways. Love to tlle was an1ong some 140 parade wife and the ability to marry for Man, One Giant Leap for n1oon and back- whatelse is floats, incorporated about her, tlle personIlove." Mankind," celebrating the 25 participants, including The float - "Love to the 50th anniversary ofthefirst See PARADE, A7 LakeTravis View WEEK OF JULY 11, 2019 A7

regardless ofwhat kind of PARADE lives welive, what ourfaini­ lies look like," Hillin said. FromPage AI "We're all Americans." Every star onthe float was 1nade byn1embers and there at the endof the day?" friends of the Gay Straight The Lake TravisLGBTQ Alliance, Stailley said. Allianceis a grassroots Coveredina crisp, reflective byproductofthe experi - mylar, Stailley's jeeppulled ences shared bythose the tractor thatheld the base working on the float. Its depicting an astronauton members include the Gay a n1oonwalk while motor­ StraightAlliance as well cyclists droveandalliance as local residents Stanley members walked alongside. met while runningfor a "I'dlike to seen1ore queer seat on theLakeway City representationinLakeway," Councila year ago. said Clay Horton, a May "The floatis in1portant graduate ofLake Travis High to n1e to connectwith the School and past president peoplewho are LGBTQ in oftheschool's GSA. "I feel this colllillunity," Stanley like wehave a lot of111en1- said. "I want (the GSA} to bersin that comn1unity and seegay adults in thecom­ it'sunderrepresented." munity, doing son1ething City officials haveshown for their conllllunityand not their support for the project, afraid. Ourfanlilies don't Longtime Lakeway resident Tony lncalcatera, left, and husband James Buswold wave to residents along with Stailley statingMayor reallyunderstand thatwe do the route of the Fourth of July parade in Lakeway. lncalcatera and Buswold were a part of the inaugural Sandy Coxwanted to leave live witha certain amount Lake Travis LGBTQ float. [PHOTOS BY LESLEE BASSMANJ a legacy ofinclusiveness offear, evenas boldand for her administration. brave as people think I am." "Idon't want indiffer- . . She said she is probably ence," Stanley said. "I don't receivingsome internal want tolerance. I want open "healing" from the project. hearts, opennlinds and "Theyears thatwehid connection. I want people to - those of us inn1y genera - connect withus and realize tion- those (years) dan1aged we'realready here- we're us," Stanleysaid. "It's just your doctor, your lawyer, a shadow that youfeel." your graphic designer, James Buswold and his your personwho ran for husband, Tony Incalcatera, office, your entrepreneur, constructedthe rain- your wellness guide. It's bow portionofthe float time for us to step up." affixed tothe top of The float received Stanley's jeep. Although theparade's General the couple lives downthe Classification award, an street from Stanley, she accolade Stanleysaid didn'tmeet them until representedso much she filed for office. 111ore than a ribbon. "The LGBTQcommunity "We justmade a ripple in inLakeway hasn't been the c01umunity, anditwas represented, ever," said received withlove," she Buswold, a six-year resident said. "Myheart is sofull." and n1edical researcher. The week before tl1e "WhenI first 111oved to Supporters of the inaugural Lake Travis LGBTQ float cheer to the crowd along the parade route during parade, a local lawfim1 Austin (30 years ago), you Lakeway'sFourth of July parade. - Whitehurst, Harkness, dared notcon1e this far Brees, Cheng, Alsaffar, west. It was wayonthe Higginbotham& Jacob, outskirts of town, andit was com111unity that just haven't not fit in perfectly with the constructionfor weeks. PLLC - approached a very conservative area." beenveryvisible inthe past. rest of the community (or) The float concept evolved Stanley, requesting to spon­ He said the LGBTQ com­ "This is anopportunity for their school. They can see fron1 a rudin1entary draw­ sor tlle float intheAustin n1unity has grown and us to really let people know there are peopleout there ing ona sheet ofloose- Pride Parade onAug. 9. is accepted "but (is) not there's increaseddiversity like theru who are living leaf paper fashioned by Stanley, who has lived where we wantit to be." inLakeway," he said. "It's relatively normallives and Stanley, a graphic designer, inLakeway for 20 years, Incalcatera, a 20-year a great example for younger they can befree to express andhealth/wellness is raising herdaughter in resident of Lakeway and people to be able tosee there who they reallyare." practitioner Hillin, one the c0111munity she loves. marketing research profes­ are (diverse) men1bers ofthe The project has kept evening after dinner. "Mymessageis love," sional, saidhe and Buswold com111unity, that they're not Lakeway resident Chris "We're justas proud as she said. "That's always noticed there areparts ofthe isolated ifthey happen to Lovell knee-deep inits everyone at the parade, beenn1y message." Lake Travis ISO votes yes on a5.3% salary increase

LAKE TRAVIS ISO Veteran teachers of$2,700 for the 2019-20 year. for Lake Travis !SD will get a $3,000 All other employees, such as aides salary increase across the board. or bus drivers, will receive a 4o/o sal­ Voted on during the June 19 school ary increase off the midpoint LTISD board meeting, the salary adjust­ pay grade, which varies depending ments would apply to any teacher, on the position. Alvarado said each librarian, counselor and nurse, or position within the district is struc­ TCLN, with five years ofexperience or tured with a minimum, midpoint and more, according to Marco Alvarado, maximum salary or hourly rate, and LTISD director of Communications, the raise is factored based on each Media and Community Relations. position's midpoint. District information states that all The adjustments combined create TLCN employees with less than five an average 5.3% salary increase for years' experience will receive a raise LTISD employees, Alvarado said.

FACULTY RAISE BREAKDOWN

The wage increase applies toteachers, librarians, counselors and nurses , or TCLN, with five years ofexperience ormore. TLCN employees with less than five years, as well as all otherstaffmembers such as aides and bus monitors, will receive a smaller wage increase.

TLCN with five TLCN with less Otheremployees: years ormore: than five years: 4%0FF $3,000 $2,700 their midpointLTISD payg rade• •Eac:h position within the distri<:tisstructufed with a mil'limum, midpoint and maximum salary or houtly rate, and the raiseis fac:to,ed based on each positloo 's midpoint. SOUCE. lAKETRAVISISO/COMMUNITYIMPACTNEWSPAPER Sam Ehlinger didn't have a lot to say in response to harsh words from former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield recently, but the Longhorn was the one wearing the Golden Hat after beating Mayfield's old team in October. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN·STATESMANJ Slam Sam Ehlinger at your own risl( for no discerruble reason other thantotrasha damn good quarterback who will be intheReismanTrophy conversation this fall. Yeah, he's that good. IUrkBobls Sorry,Terry. Heis. Ifyou thinkotherwise, check out thegame tapes from 2018 hank you, Baker. and especially theSugar Bowl. Appreciate it, Terry. Twenty-five touchdowns T Who's next? andfive interceptions don't Anyone elsefrom Lake lie. Neither willyour eyeballs. Travis? The Aggies? Andifyoustillfeelhe "ain't National critics? that good," asyou recently Callthis the summer saidatyour almamater, go ofdiscontent aboutSam back tostudying the NFL. Ehlinger, thecover boyfor He is thatgood. Infact, in Sam Ehlinger, a proud Westlake graduate, sported a throwback Dave Campbell'sTexas myhalf-centuryofcover­ jersey honoring ex-Chaparral Drew Brees before the Sugar Bowl on Football magazine andthe ing Longhorns football, I Jan. l in New Orleans, where Brees leads the Saints. There's no love most experienced quarter­ cansay no otherUT quar­ lost between Westlake and Baker Mayfield's alma mater, Lake Travis. backintheBig 12 this side of terback improved more a certain Alabama transfer. fromhis freshman to his junior seasonin2005. But to do with his short stayin TomHennanhas to love it. sophomore season thanSam Vince waslargely just being the NFL. He was just the Recently, BakerMayfield Ehlinger. None. Nobody. Vince the whole time. He most athletic quarterback andTerry Bradshaw have NotevenVince Young, was never the polished ever to playatTexas. come after Ehlinger with who took his dramatic jump passer or th e video room bothbarrels blazing. And from his sophomore to his fanatic, and that had a lot See BOHLS, C3 BOHLS

From Page Cl

Mayfield, ofcourse, said he doesn't like Ehlinger and doesn't think Ehlinger likes him andTexas still sucks and Samcouldn't beat Lakl!Tmvts and, well, you know the drill. Baker being bombastic Baker. In truth, both Mayfield and Bradshaw were play­ ing to their bases - one inNorman, Okla., and the other at Louisiana Tech, which just hap- pens to open the seasonin Austinin August. So you can discount their opin­ Slamming Sam might be a good nickname for Sam Ehlinger, who ions to a degree. They both is known for physical runs such as this one through the Georgia have a dog in the fight. defense for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl. [RICARDO B. BRAZZI ELL/ On that note, I hope you AMERICAN-STATESMAN] can take to heart this opin- ion that Ehlinger is one of in the mix for thataward. Ehlinger rarely pops off the top five quarterbacks And my guess is like Mayfield, and that's in all ofcollege football Sam is seething right probably because he's more becauseI'dlike to think my now. In a good way. mature than the Cleveland objectivityhas been well­ He's always ibeen a driven Browns quarterback. And established by now. I voted competitor, but these barbs Sam never quite had to face for Ricky Williams and Colt from beyond canonly fuel the same dismissals that McColt for the Heismanin him to have theabsolute best Mayfield did as a two-time 1998 and 2008, butI also 2019 season he could have. walk-on atTexas Tech and gave a second-place vote to Not that he wasn't already Oklahoma whom nobody another Longhorns quarter­ incentivizedto do so. But a wanted. Mayfield deserves a back once upon a time. You little extra boost never hurts. ton ofcredit for winning the might have heard about it. And that's a good thing Heisman, taking the Sooners I think these recent Sam for Herman. These kinds to the playoffs, emerging slams have more to do ofslights are pure motiva­ as the No. 1 pickof the NFL with the Texas-OUand tion. Mayfield and Bradshaw draft and energizing the Westluke-Lake Tr.nru; rival - both did Hermana solid. Browns to the point that ries and the Longhorns' We've seen little signs Cleveland is a realistic favor­ 2019 schedule than accurate ofSam's cockiness before, ite to make the playoffs. assessments ofEhlinger's his self-assuredness and Ehlinger's got big upside abilities. He's a runner on inner arrogance, ifyou will. as well, so much that I the order ofTim Tebow. The qualities that all great don't know ifTexas has He's become avery accu­ quarterbacks must have. ever relied on a quarterback rate thrower. His intan- Ehlinger couldn't resist quite so much as it will this gibles are off the charts. an "OK, cool. Hook 'em" season. Sure, he runs too Slamming Sammy is danger­ tweet back inthefall, then much for his owngood and ous. Slamming Sam might lamely told us inthe press he puts himselfat risk, and his evenbe a decent nickname didn't know what itmeant. backup is a redshirt fresh­ as physical as he is. He directed Texas to an man and the next backup I do not think Ehlinger October winover Oklahoma is a true freshman. Neither is thefavorite to win in the Cotton Bowl, then has taken a college snap. the Heisman. He trails had a small dust-up with Deep down, Mayfield Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray and, thus probably respects Ehlinger Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa provoked, told the Sooner greatlyin private. And andOregon's Justin Herbert to "take the L, man" or Bradshaw probably is and maybe even OU's words to that effect. just trying to infuse his JalenHurts. But I'd place Then he took apart Georgia Bulldogs with confidence him in the next category from the vauntedSEC in and fire up their fans. alongside Georgia's Jake the Sugar Bowl and told an AndEhlinger? He's prob­ Fromm, whom he out­ adoring crowd that Texas ably good with all ofit. played in New Orleans. is back. It's not. Not yet, But Bradshaw may actu­ Ehlinger might be the most butHermanhas to love that ally be right when he said competitive ofthe current his quarterback says so. He he ain't THAT good. quarterbacks. Or at least might really be Orange Jesus. He may be great. Ehlinger featured in latest Texas Football magazine•

By Thomas Jo nes [email protected]

For the second ti111e in his football career, Austin native San1 Ehlinger draws the cov­ eted spot onthe coverofDave Campbell's Texas Football n1agazine. Ehlinger, the University of Texas quarterback and a 2017 Westlake graduate, enters this season as a Heisman hopeful for a team ranked in the top 10. The cover story discusses the high expecta - tions that Ehlinger embraces as quarterback for one of the iconic programs in the coun - try as well as the role that the UniversityofTexashasplayed in his life. According to Greg Tepper, the magazin e's managing editor, "the buzz surrounding Ehlinger and the Longhorns after their breakout 2018 season makes the111, in n1y n1ind, the most con1pelling story in the stateentering the 2019 season." DCTF

FromPageA6 receiver Mason Mangum, Cedar Ridge running back Deuce Vaughn, Stony Point offensive line1nan Greg Chnlielewski, Georgetown linebacker Taylor Behl, Connally defensive back Jahdae Barron, Hendrickson defensive lineman Gabriel Hw1ter, Hendrickson defensive line1nan Michael Ike and Westlake defensive line­ manBobby Duncum. • A survey of hlgh school coaches - ar new feature in the n1agazine - reveals some interesting percep­ tions of the Austi.11 area. Lake Travis head coach Hank Carter ties for sev­ enth in a poll of hls peers concenling the state's best coach, wllile Liberty Hill's Jeff Walker ties for first in a poll for the state's n1ost underrated coach. Lake Travisislistedasthestate's second n1ost desirable job Class 5Atop-25polls, which ("great area to live; great are topped by Highland football; high standards," Parkin Division I andAledo according to one anony­ inDivisionII,includeNo. 9 n1ous coach). CedarParkandNo.15Hutto • The magazine's Class inDivisionI.Themagazine 6A top-50 poll, which is lists Dripping Springs as toppedbydefending Galena one of its four darkhorse ParkNorthShore, includes candidates. Georgetown four area teaininNo. 3 Lake offensive li11e1nan Alex Travis,No. 7Westlake,No. Thiel is a preseason all­ 19 Vandegrift and No. 49 stateselection. Cedar Ridge. Lake Travis • The magazine's two linebacker Maui Trevino Class 4A top-25 polls, is a preseason all-state whicl1 are toppedbyWaco selection, andWestlakeis LaVega in Division I and picked to reacl1 the Class 6A Texarkai1a Pleasant Grove Division II title game. inDivision II, include No. • The n1agazine's two 4 LibertyHill. Texas nabs l

By Mike Craven [email protected]

Texas, needing a jolt on the recruiting trail, received just that on Tuesday when it received pledges fr01n a highly regarded pass -rushing threat for the 2020 class and a local tight end for 2021 who's the latest pledge from the grow­ ing pipeline intotlwl lfrav s. Highland Park defensive end Prince Dorbah, a 6 -2, 208-pound four-star pros­ pect who's rankedNo. 19 on the American -States1nan' s Fabulous 55, has recorded 30 sacks over the past two years and is expected to transi­ tion to outside linebacker at Texas, playing the position that Joseph Ossai - another former defensive end that has n1oved to UT's "B -backer" spot - will1nan this fall. Dorbah is Texas' eighth pledge for the 2020 class; the Longhorns' class jumped up five spots in the 247Sports composite national rank­ ings, to 31st. Dorbah is the second defensive pledge for the Longhorns. LONGHORNS ROUNDUP

rexas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, shown gree·ting fans on his way into Royal-Memorial Stadium for the Orange-White game this spring, was voted the Big 12's preseason offensive player of the year ahead of the 2019 season. [RODOLFO GONZALEZ/FOR STATESMAN] Ehlinger highlights preseason All-Big 12 teant

By Danny Davis defensive player of the also set a Big 12 record [email protected] year. Sooners quarter­ when he went 308 con- back Jalen Hurts, who secutive passes without For the first time in a spent the past three years aninterception. dozen years, Texas will at Alabaina, was voted the Texas center Zach enter a football season top newcomer. Shackelford, kicker with the Big 12' s top Colt McCoy was the last Ca1neron Dicker and offensive player on its Longhorn to earn the pre­ safety Caden Sterns roster. season offensive honor joined Ehlinger on the Junior quarterback Sain from the Big 12. During preseason team. Dicker, Ehlinger was voted the Big that 2007 season, he went Shackelford and Sterns 12's pres~ason offensive on to throw for 3,303 all earned all -confer conference announced As a sophomore, The Big 12willreveal its Tuesday. After con1pil­ Ehlinger threw for 3,292 preseason team poll on ing votes fro111 media yards and 25 itouchdowus Wednesday. Next week, me111bers who cover the as Texas went 10 - 4 Ehlinger and Shackelford conference, the Big 12 and beat Georgia in the will be among UT's rep­ also honored Oklah0111a Sugar Bowl. His 16 rush­ resentatives as the Big linebacker Kenneth ing touchdowns ranked 12's annual n1edia days in Murray as its preseason ninth in the country. He Arlington.