November 23, 2022 News-Dispatch

Dripping Springs volleyball earns third state championship

BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

In the team’s first year in Class 6A, the Lady Tigers won the UIL State Championship. They did it on the biggest stage in Texas high school volleyball by defeating The Woodlands High School 3-1 in the semifinals and sweeping Katy Tompkins 3-0 in the finals game at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.

When asked about the jump to 6A, head coach Michael Cane said “A good team is a good team.” Cane has taken his Dripping Springs volleyball teams to the state tournament six times in his 10 years at the helm (4A 2013, 5A 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, See VOLLEYBALL, page 6

BY EILEEN HAEFNER

How to help WISD teens for the holidays

STAFF REPORT

WIMBERLEY Wimberley ISD needs the community’s help to keep its holiday marketplace afloat.

The Holiday Teen Marketplace will be collecting donations for its annual holiday gift store on Nov. 28-29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the back of the Wimberley ISD Administration Building located at 951 FM 2325.

The holiday shop provides students with a fun, stressfree "marketplace" to shop at no cost to them for jackets, shoes, clothing and holiday gifts.

In order for the shop to be successful, the following donations are needed.

Leggings

Sweatpants,

Joggers • Shoes • Dresses

Skirts

loved brands such as Vans, Hey Dudes, Converse, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Hollister, American Eagle, PacSun, Levi's, Wranglers and Wimberley Texan gear.

If you would like to shop specific teen wish lists, please visit this Amazon link: https://www. amazon.com/registries/ holiday/32A842APTD0I8/ guest-view

Additionally, this year, each student who shops at the marketplace will be

SETTING GOALS

provided with a packet of personal hygiene products. Organizers hope to serve 75 students this year.

Adult helpers are also needed to set up and run the store. Volunteers can sign up at https:// www.signupgenius.com/ go/10C0E4EAAAC23A64holiday

Contact Andra Cole at 512-934-8733 or Delayne Van De Walle at 210-6833981 with any questions or concerns.

Cross country coach aims for top 10

BY MEGAN WEHRING

DRIPPING SPRINGS

This

DSISD board, parents address failed bond

BY MEGAN WEHRING

DRIPPING SPRINGS

– Dripping Springs ISD’s $481.13 million bond package did not pass in the Nov. 8 General Election, leaving several parents and the district to question what’s next.

The DSISD board of trustees held its first meeting after Election Day on Monday, Nov. 14, welcoming many concerned parents and members of the community to speak up about the failed bond package.

Lauren Naylor, parent and former middle school teacher, said she woke up the morning after Election Day devastated at the results that the bond did not pass.

“The ratio of students to teachers is already bad and knowing what was going to ensue and how many teachers would leave just made my heart drop into my stomach,” Naylor said.

John Adams, a teacher at Dripping Springs High School, said this was the first bond package that he has witnessed fail “in this fast-growing district” within the 27 years he has been with DSISD.

“I believe it failed because some of our trustees chose not to provide leadership by educating our community members in the face of this wellfunded disinformation campaign,” Adams said.

“Trustees see far more information than the average citizen and are in a unique position to refute falsehoods that circulate, should they choose to … Other than being able to say how disappointed I am in these board members, the failure of the bond proposals failure to pass has left me speechless.”

Nathan Kaspar, who voted in opposition, said that the people who voted not to approve the bond did so for two reasons: cost and trust.

“The vote to not send it forward and to defeat the bonds wasn’t against providing schools or against our kids, it was against these overpriced Taj Mahal schools that are not necessary,” Kaspar said.

He added that if DSISD says that the property tax rate is not going to increase, there needs to be data to back that up.

In his experience through email and in meetings, Carl Aubrey said that he has not received “clear and concise communication” with the board.

Leah Finn, parent of a Dripping Springs Elementary School first grader, said it’s time to get organized when it comes

to the district’s future.

“I believe there is no better time to seriously take a look at creating a fundraising arm of the Dripping Springs Education Fund to address the needs of the district,” Finn said. “One of the big concerns for creating this initiative is manpower, but what I can tell you [is] where there is a will, there is a way. There are a lot of parents out there that want to get involved.”

Finn added that there was some misinformation about the bond that was circulating on social media and there should be a plan on how to better the communication moving forward.

The board’s perspective Superintendent Holly Morris-Kuentz said that the board needs to start discussions about two topics: addressing district growth challenges and future bond planning.

For immediate responses to addressing growth, Morris-Kuentz said that the board could look at attendance zoning, portables and increased class sizes.

Rezoning is the last resort for trustee Barbara Stroud and some of the other board members echoed her point.

Stroud added that increasing class sizes may not be a solution for all campuses logistically.

“My understanding of the research is you do better with smaller class sizes,” Stroud said. “That’s obviously something that we have always tried to prioritize. But even apart from that, it’s not so much the class size as in terms of student to staff ratio; a lot of our classrooms are just simply not big enough to do that.”

Trustee Shannon O’Connor said that sometimes, rezoning is the best option for students.

“We don’t want them in a school where the classrooms are so overcrowded and they have no access to anything,” O’Connor said.

“Is it desirable for them to be rezoned? No. That is a hard decision and we don’t like it but at the end of the day, sometimes that is the best thing for kids in that moment.”

Some board members felt ill-prepared Monday night and wanted more time to gather their thoughts for a future conversation.

There was no vote following the bond discussion. The board discussed improving communication with the community by scheduling more workshops and special meetings for a future bond.

“We have to unite

PHOTO

The Lady Tigers rush the court after winning the state championship.

– Kourtney Morris, head coach of girls cross country at Dripping Springs High School,

looks for her team to make it into the top 10 every year.

year, the team made its ninth-straight state appearance and recorded a 16th-place

finish at the UIL 6A State Meet on Friday, Nov. 8 in Round Rock. Madison Johnson was the top finisher for the Tigers with a time of 20:34

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Holiday Teen Marketplace at Wimberley ISD.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The DSHS girls cross country team made its ninth appearance at the UIL State Meet. From left: head coach Kourtney Morris, Chandler Latham, Madison Johnson, Laurel Hoskovec, Maggie Greenville, Alexa Velasco, Sofia Vences, Avery Dixon, Emmy Ashby, Mia Simons, Rylea Bernhard, Lucy Fredenburg and assistant coach Thomas Acker.

DSISD names legislative priorities

BY MEGAN WEHRING

DRIPPING SPRINGS

Dripping Springs ISD has announced what it hopes lawmakers will deem important for the 88th Legislative Session, which is slated to begin in two months.

The DSISD administrative team developed a list of legislative priorities focused on seven areas: education funding, local decision making, improving accountability for charter schools, special education, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, teacher shortage and assessments and accountability.

On Nov. 14, the DSISD board of trustees unanimously approved the legislative priorities.

Recapture and education funding

DSISD supports legislative efforts to reform Chapter 49 of the Texas Education Code ("Robin Hood"), which will

increase the state's funding for all school districts and lessen the reliance on recapture dollars. The district believes that all recapture dollars should be spent on education, ending the practice of the state supplanting its investment in education with recapture dollars.

The district also supports:

• Increasing the Basic Allotment to help keep pace with inflation and bring perpupil funding in Texas up to the national average.

• Additional investments in the Basic Allotment can also help reduce the growth of recapture while providing more dollars to educate students in all Texas public schools.

• Additional funding for special education.

Local decision making DSISD believes in ensuring all bond and tax rate election ballot is clear, transparent and understandable. Required

language should be revised to improve the clarity of existing ballot requirements for voters.

The district advocates for local discretion in instructional planning and repeal of the accelerated learning committee requirements (HB 4545, 2021).

Teacher retention & staffing shortages

Teacher housing allotments should be based on a sliding scale of the cost of housing in a district, earmarked as a supplement to teacher compensation, according to DSISD.

DSISD also supports funding to keep up with inflation and to address geographic cost-of-living differentials that affect transportation and other staffing needs. The district advocates for the current defined benefit pension program for TRS members, an annual cost-of-living adjustment for all retirees

and increased state funding to assist with increased healthcare costs associated with TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care.

Fast-growth districts & school construction Public schools in fastgrowth districts should receive funding for building additional schools in order to meet state mandates for educating all students who move to a district, according to the district. Additional funding for school safety should also be prioritized.

Charters

DSISD supports legislative efforts to ensure charters are held to the same accountability standards as traditional public schools (including special education/504/special populations) and that charters will be subject to public oversight.

The 88th Legislative Session begins on Jan. 10, 2023.

Official canvassed election results

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY

Official results from the Nov. 8 General Election are in. Below are the official canvassed results, according to county data, as of Thursday, Nov. 17.

Hays County Judge*

Ruben Becerra (D): 44,517 or 50.53%

Mark Jones (R): 43,591 or 49.47%

Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 2

Michelle Gutierrez Cohen (D): 10,895 or 60.85%

Mike Gonzalez (R): 7,011 or 39.15%

Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Walt Smith (R): 15,249 or 54.13%

Susan Cook (IND): 12,923 or 45.87%

District Clerk

Avrey Anderson (D): 44,435 or 51.10%

Beverly Crumley (R): 42,529 or 48.90%

County Clerk Elaine Cardenas (D): 46,496 53.36%

Linda Duran (R): 40,636 or 46.64%

County Treasurer

Daphne Sanchez Tenorio (D): 45,498 or 52.30%

Britney Bolton Richey

(R): 41,496 or 47.70%

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5

Sandra Bryant (D): 9,196 or 56.75%

Karen Marshall (R): 7,007 or 43.25%

Kyle City Council, District 1 Marina Tupikov: 1,656 or 15.41%

Neal Breen: 607 or

88TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Sen. Zaffirini pre-files 44 bills

STAFF REPORT

AUSTIN — Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) has pre-filed 44 bills for the 88th Texas Legislative Session.

On Nov. 14, Zaffirini was first in line to pre-file bills that she said are consistent with her longstanding priorities of education and healthcare.

Senate Bill (SB) 39 and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 6 would expand Medicaid services to individuals at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. She also filed SB 51, which would improve accessibility to high-quality hearing aids, and SB 52, which would ensure caregivers can visit family members at state hospitals.

Additionally, SB 47 would increase the availability of mental health counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists, and SB 62 would direct the Texas Health and Human Services and the Veterans commissions to promote a guide regarding caring for veterans with mental illnesses.

“Healthcare, including mental healthcare, is a right — not a privilege. We must do more to make this basic care affordable and accessible for all Texans,” Zaffirini said.

Zaffirini also pre-filed multiple education bills. SBs 34 and 35 would establish tuition-free colleges and universities

for students with household incomes less than $100,000, and SB 36 would reinstate her B-on-Time Student Loan Program, which offered zero-interest loans that could be forgiven for students who earned their degrees timely and with a GPA of at least 3.0.

“Higher education is the key to success,” Zaffirni said. “The future of our state will be brighter if leaders of tomorrow earn their degrees today.”

Additionally, SB 38 would establish universal prekindergarten by extending current eligibility to threeyear-olds and for teachers, SB 33 would provide a one-time, 10% cost-of-living adjustment with subsequent annual increases based on inflation.

Other bills pre-filed by Zaffirini include five to reform the state’s open government laws, bills to address gun violence and the power grid and more bills focused on safety and transparency. A full list can be found on the Texas Senate website at www. senate.texas.gov.

“I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to address a myriad of issues and build a safer, more prosperous and more equitable Texas,” Zaffirini said.

Zaffirini and her staff invite constituents to share advice, feedback and suggestions, and can be contacted at (512) 4630121. The 88th Session will convene Jan. 10.

Sententia Vera Cultural Hub to open Repair Cafe

STAFF REPORT

DRIPPING SPRINGS

— Sententia Vera LLC, the parent company of Sententia Vera Cultural Hub, is joining the Fixer Movement with its Repair Cafe located at 4002 U.S. Highway 290, a space with a mix of maker and DIY.

“What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a garbled Powerpoint file or Excel spreadsheet? Or with a favorite clothing item with a snag or holes? Delete it?

Toss it? No way! Sententia Vera LLC is organizing the first Repair Cafe at The Cultural Hub,” said Teresa Carbajal Ravet, M.A., owner, in a press release.

Repairing is the fourth “R” of environmentalism after Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. According to a Nov. 15 press release, The Repair Cafe at The Hub

DSISD, from page 1

as a board before our community is going to unite behind us,” said trustee Stefani Reinold.

To listen to the board’s full discussion, visit https:// www.youtube.com/

will foster a “fixer culture” that promotes shared learning and pooling knowledge, promoting the empowerment of people through autonomy and intergenerational exchange — throwing things away will no longer be the norm.

The idea of Repair Cafes began in the Netherlands and has continued popping up around the world. It focuses on sustainability as various volunteer repair “experts” will be available to help make possible repairs free of charge. People are also invited to bring broken items from home, with any tools they might have.

Ravet also pointed out that repairs can save money and resources and minimize CO2 emissions.

The Cultural Hub will come in January 2023.

watch?v=yrfoiL0mqIM.

The DSISD board of trustees will meet next on Monday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m., unless a special meeting is called for an additional date.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Kathryn McKinney (second from right) and Gage Trudeau (second from left) of Wimberley High School are advancing to the UIL State Congress Meet in January after their performances at the regional meet on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Alex Caldwell (far left) placed 4th and was awarded the "Outstanding Presiding Officer" honor and Sophia Vitela (far right) was 5th.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Sen. Judith Zaffirini

CONTRIBUTED BY MICAHEL LEACH

The holiday season is meant to bring peace and joy while families share in love, kindness, compassion and gratitude. However, the holiday season can look quite different for many families.

Stressors quickly pile up, which makes the holiday season difficult for people in recovery or anyone wanting to stay sober between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

It is normal to want the perfect holiday, and every family has a picture of how their holidays should go.

Yet, the stress connected to families, shopping, finances, gatherings and planning holiday celebrations can take a toll.

Maintaining sobriety over the holidays takes planning, and some of the following tips may help.

Have a holiday escape plan. Planning ahead involves having an escape plan. It is ok to turn down invitations, but at holiday parties, it is a good idea to have a plan. Take your vehicle to the party or travel with a sober friend.

Plan ahead for uncomfortable situations and triggering

ELECTION, from page 2

5.65%

Marc McKinney: 2,051 or 19.09%

Amanda Stark: 3,128 or 29.11%

Nick Madsen: 1,084 or 10.09%

Bear Heiser: 2,220 or 20.66%

The runoff election for the District 1 seat on the Kyle City Council has been called for Tuesday, Dec. 13 between candidates Amanda Stark and Bear Heiser.

Kyle City Council, District 3

Miguel A. Zuniga: 5,729 or 53.11%

Robert Rizo: 5,058 or 46.89%

City of Kyle Proposition A

environments. Part of the holiday plan may involve attending 12-step meetings, meeting with a sponsor, limiting time around stressful situations, bringing non-alcoholic drinks and following through with the escape plan.

"Non-alcoholic mocktails are becoming increasingly popular at holiday parties. These options eliminate drinking and driving and all the problems associated with excessive alcohol use," said Marcel Gemme of addicted.org.

Approximately 6% of Texans reported heavy drinking each week, and 17% reported binge drinking.

It is also estimated that one person in Texas dies every eight hours and 31 minutes in a DUI alcohol-related traffic crash.

Recognize triggers and plan for them. A relapse trigger for someone in recovery could be their environment, family members, sights, sounds, and even smells. Plan for this and avoid placing yourself in situations where triggers can lead to a relapse.

Be mindful of negative thoughts. When these thoughts begin to creep in, such as rationalization to consume alcohol, reassure yourself of your capabilities. Remind yourself

why you are sober or why you want to be sober over the holidays.

Remain vigilant about practicing self-care over the holiday season. It often happens where we begin to lose track of adequate sleep, healthy eating, and physical activity. Proper nutrition, exercise and sleep do wonders for an individual's wellbeing.

During the holiday season, find some time to practice self-care and more importantly, have fun. Do things that make you happy over the holidays. Remember, the holidays are about joy, spending time with family and friends, sharing compassion and love and being gracious.

If you are struggling, utilize a support system, whether family or friends, meetings or a recovery coach. Reach out for help or give back or help someone out. Some of the most rewarding things we can do over the holidays are to give back to those in need and spend some time volunteering.

Overall, recognize the true meaning of the holiday season, create new memories and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Sobriety over the holidays is entirely possible.

The issuance of bonds in the amount of $294,000,000 for streets, bridges and sidewalks and the levying of a tax in payment thereof.

For: 8,575 or 64.69%

Against: 4,680 or 35.31%

Dripping Springs ISD Bond Election

Prop A The issuance of $199,280,000 of bonds by DSISD for school facilities including a new elementary school and middle school expansion, the purchase of the necessary sites for school facilities and the purchase of new school buses and the levying of a tax in payment thereof. This is a

property tax increase.

For: 9,529 or 48.31%

Against: 10,196 or 51.69%

Prop B The issuance of $275,350,000 of bonds by DSISD for school facilities including a new high school and the purchase of the necessary sites for school facilities and the levying of a tax in payment thereof. This is a property tax increase.

For: 9,102 or 46.18% Against: 10,609 or 53.82%

Prop C The issuance of $6,505,000 of bonds by DSISD for instructional technology and the

imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.

For: 9,136 or 46.45% Against: 10,534 or 53.55%

Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees, Place 5 Chad Canine: 3,971 or 50.67%

Lindsey Deringer: 3,866 or 49.33%

*A recount for the Hays County Judge's race will be conducted on Monday, Nov. 28, according to Hays County Clerk Elaine Cardenas. No other information is available at this time but the Hays Free Press will update the public.

Gunner Thames Memorial Foundation to receive ARPA funds

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY – To alleviate stress brought on by the pandemic, Hays County is allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Gunner Thames Memorial Foundation (GTM).

On Nov. 15, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a grant for GTM not to exceed $50,000 in funds received from the county’s allocation of ARPA funds.

GTM is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to distribute to kids in the form of scholarships, 4-H/Future Farmers of America (FFA) projects and families in crisis in Hays County.

“Gunner Thames was a local youth who [died] at the age of 15,”

said commissioner Walt Smith. “He was very involved in 4-H, hunting, fishing and those kinds of things. There was a foundation set up in his honor, which actually invests 100% of any income they have back into the community.”

The majority of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Hays County, but also nationally, were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and GTM was not an exception.

“They give a lot of scholarships and they were hurt by COVID-19,” said commissioner Mark Jones. “There’s a lot of people that work for this organization [and] do a lot of good things.”

To learn more about the organization, visit https://gunnerthames memorialfoundation. com/about.

Go Native with Soil Health

Have you heard? There’s a whole world of life in the soil beneath your boots.

News about the benefits of soil health is everywhere and agricultural producers across Texas are taking notice. Healthy soils lead to clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive grazing lands, and healthy landscapes.

Texas farmers and ranchers are adopting conservation practices such as no-till planting, residue management, prescribed grazing systems, and diversified crop rotations. These choices are crucial not only to local farmers and ranchers, but also to our region’s future.

Soil health plays a role on how resilient crops, livestock, and wildlife are to our region’s everchanging weather patterns including droughts, floods, and

climate shifts.

The health of soil is determined by its continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Soil is a living and life-giving natural resource, not an inert growing medium. Healthy soil is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elaborate symbiotic ecosystem. Soil does all this by performing five essential functions:

• Regulating water: Soil

helps control where rain, snowmelt, and irrigation water goes. Water flows over the land or into and through the soil.

• Sustaining plant and animal life: Soil is the base that plant and animal life rely on. The diversity and productivity of living things depends on our soils being healthy.

• Filtering and buffering potential pollutants: The minerals and microbes in soil are responsible for filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying organic and inorganic materials –including industrial and municipal by-products and atmospheric deposits.

• Cycling nutrients: Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and many other nutrients are stored, transformed, and cycled in the soil.

• Providing physical stability and support: Soil structure provides a medium for plant roots. Soils also provide support for human structures and protection for archeological treasures.

Looking to improve soil health on your land? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers technical and financial assistance to local agricultural producers who may not know where to start. NRCS specialists can help with recommendations to develop a voluntary conservation plan to address soil health and other conservation concerns on your land. There is no charge for NRCS assistance or the conservation plan to help you meet your land management goals. Maximizing soil health is essential to maximizing profitability.

As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive is of paramount importance. Farming using soil health principles and systems, including no-till or minimal tillage, cover cropping, and diverse rotations, more and more farmers are increasing their soil’s organic matter and improving microbial

activity. As a result, farmers are sequestering more carbon, increasing water infiltration, improving wildlife and pollinator habitat – all while harvesting better profits and often better yields.

To learn more and connect with folks who care about your piece of Texas just as much as you do, visit www.texasconservation. org. If you have questions related to stewardship or conservation, you can email them to DearStew@ texasconservation.org and you might just see them answered in a future column. Looking forward to learning more with you. –The Hill Country Steward The Hill Country Steward – not a person, but a partnership of local experts dedicated to sharing the best information, tips, and lessons learned. Have questions? Send them to DearStew@ texasconservation.org Learn more at www. texasconservation.org.

THE HILL COUNTRY STEWARD

BY CENTRAL TEXAS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY WHITE AND THE HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE

Texans yield fifth shutout of year

BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Wimberley traveled Friday night to Southwest Legacy Stadium to meet Orange Grove and had no problems scoring in a 48-0 win, their fifth shutout of the year, over the Bulldogs. “It’s another win and all that matters,” quarterback Cody Stoever said after the game. “It’s all about survive and advance, and get better as we punch our ticket for next week.”

The Texans used Stoever for their aerial attack, 10 of 17 for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns and on the ground, 10 carries for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“We wanted a fast start,” head coach Doug Warren said after the game. “We accomplished that and

also wanted to be the more physical team on both sides of the ball and we established that early so I’m pleased with the team.”

Johnny Ball scored a pair of touchdowns and led rushing with 140 yards on 12 carries. Ryan Shaw had 2 receptions, both for touchdowns, totaling 42 yards. Tru Couch had 2 catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. On a windy night, Gage Tumlinson missed only 1 of 7 PATs. Wimberley has outscored opponents 526 – 135.

Wimberley (12-0) will face 4A District 13 foe Jarrell (6-6) in the regional semifinals at John Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Wimberley beat Jarrell 73-14 in the regular season.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda

First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle

Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda

Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle

Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor

Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626

Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle

Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda

Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle

Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W.

CATHOLIC

Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda

St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle

St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland

CHRISTIAN

New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

Iglesia Israelita Casa de Dios 816 Green Pastures Dr., Kyle

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Buda-Kyle Church of Christ 3.5 miles south of Buda

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK Wimberley’s Ryan Shaw

defends.

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever (No. 2) slips out of the grasp of Orange Grove’s Aiden Cole (No. 7).

DS football advances to regional semis

BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Dripping Springs scored early and often in a 56-28 area win over San Antonio Brandeis on Saturday at

quarterback Austin Novosad completed 17 of 25 passes for 325 yards, ran for a touchdown, and had 4 touchdown passes to Garon Duncan in the second quarter.

“Duncan had a heck of a first half. We came out and executed really well from the start,” head coach Galen Zimmerman said

after the win. “We’re excited to play in the next round.”

Sophomore Jack Tyndall had 12 carries for 115 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Kade Curry had 24 yards rushing and a touchdown. Kyle Koch had 4 receptions for 75

yards. Walker Wright was good on all 8 PATs. Dripping Springs has outscored opponents 582 – 135.

Dripping Springs (11-1) will face off with Harlingen (12-0) in the regional semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m.

GOALS, from page 1

over the 3.2-mile course.

Rylea Bernhard (20:58), Mia Simons (21:02), Alexa Velasco (21:14), Chandler Latham (21:25), Sofia Vences (21:39) and Laurel Hoskovec (21:53) represented Dripping Springs with the top five finishers contributing to the team score of 422 points.

The DSISD board of trustees recognized the

team for its successful season at the Nov. 14 meeting.

“We didn’t really know what to expect at the 6A level,” Morris said in her presentation. “We learned that it’s really competitive [and] what it’s going to take to be there next year. Hopefully, [we] will be in the top 10 every year from here on out.”

Morris said that not

only are the girls excellent athletes, but they are dedicated students in the classroom. She added that it’s exciting that she will be able to welcome back all of them to the team next year because none of them are seniors.

“The best part for me as a coach is I get to have them all come back next year and compete together again,” Morris concluded.

2022), winning state in 2015.

In the 6A semifinal against The Woodlands on Friday, Dripping Springs lost the first game 21-25, then took the next three games 25-20, 25-19, 27-25 to advance to the final. Sydney Lund had 32 assists, and Presley Alford had 17. Freshman sensation Henley Anderson led with 19 kills, followed by Ava Williamson with 13, Mackenzie Plante with 10, Natalie Arnold and Riley Certain with 6 each, and Ashley Euston with 2. Taylor Tjelmeland led in digs with 25. In the last game for the win, a kill by Williamson tied it 25-25, and Arnold is credited with the next two points, the final point being a service ace.

“They [the team] were all so welcoming when I came in. Coming from a private school this is so much different and it’s an amazing experience,” Anderson said after winning the 6A Region IV final to advance to state. “I love this team so much.”

MVP and senior Plante led with 14 kills in the final 3-0 win on Saturday for the championship against Katy (26-24, 25-15, 25-19). Anderson had 10 kills, Arnold contributed 7, Williamson with 5, Certain with 4 and Euston with

1. Lund had 16 assists.

Tjelmeland had 11 digs and Anderson had 8. In the first set, a nail biter, Tompkins’s three consecutive points tied it 24-24. A block by Certain and Euston put the Tigers up 25-24 and Plante’s kill won the set.

“We have some freshmen and juniors but having kind of an older team (10 seniors), we all connect on the court really well and bond, and that’s what makes us so successful,” Plante said after the regionals.

“This program is a tribute to a lot of kids and a lot of years past, where the kids have taken ownership of a program and a reason it is one of the most successful in the state,"

Seniors Plante and Williamson and freshman Anderson were named to the 6A State Championship All-Tournament Teams.

“You never know when you’ll have opportunities – we don’t take it for granted – every moment is something to hold on to,” Kane said.

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Dripping Springs’s Garon Duncan jumps up high to catch a touchdown pass over Brandeis’s Trevor Short (No. 9). Duncan had 4 touchdown receptions in the second quarter totaling 144 yards.

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Ian Luna (No. 18, San Antonio Brandies) tries to block a pass from Dripping Springs quarterback Austin Novosad (No. 16).

PARADE FIREWORKS ART VENDORS LIVE MUSIC

Heroes Stadium in San Antonio. Dripping Springs

Kane said.

VOLLEYBALL, from page 1

PHOTO BY EILEEN HAEFNER

Senior Mackenzie Plante spikes the ball over the fingertips of blockers for The Woodlands in the state semifinals.

PHOTO BY EILEEN HAEFNER

Senior Ava Williamson jumps to spike the ball in the last set of finals.