Cypress School News

Source: CFISD News Media Former Cypress Ranch Teammates Selected in MLB Draft

Ty Madden and Colton Cowser have been friends since middle school and were teammates on the Cypress Ranch baseball team. From 2015-2018, the longtime friends and other Mustangs advanced to postseason each year with deep runs and finished the 2018 season as Class 6A state semifinalists. But their mutual successes didn’t stop there. The Class of 2018 graduates shared the stage during their watch party at Creekwood Grill in Cypress alongside friends and families as the former Mustangs were selected on day one of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft, held from July 11-13, at the Bellco Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Sam Houston State sophomore outfielder Cowser was drafted fifth overall by the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the highest selectee in program and Southland Conference history and only the second player from Cy-Fair ISD to be chosen that high. “It’s an honor,” said Cowser in a Cy-Fair ISD press release. “It’s awesome that the Baltimore Orioles believe in me and believe that I have the skillset to contribute to their organization eventually.” Only 27 selections later, University of Texas right-hand pitcher Madden became the program’s highest pick since 2011 when the Detroit Tigers took him with the 32nd pick. “This is amazing,” Madden said in the press release. “I can’t thank the Tigers organization enough for giving me this opportunity. Let’s roll.” At Sam Houston State, Cowser was named Southland Conference Player of the Year this past March, after batting .374 with 76 hits, 61 runs, 16 HRs and 52 RBI, and also made the all-conference first team as an outfielder and was named to the alldefensive team. He was a Freshman All-American in 2019 and became the first player in program history to be voted conference Hitter of the Year that year as a true freshman. “For this to be a reality now, it just tells a lot about how

hard I’ve worked and how much my friends and family have believed in me,” Cowser said. “I’m very grateful for Sam Houston to give me the opportunity to get better and develop. I’m forever grateful for that.” Madden was originally chosen in the 43rd round with the 1,022nd pick by the Kansas City Royals three years ago but opted to go the college route instead. At the University of Texas, he was 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 appearances including eight starts as a true freshman and went 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings the following year as a starting pitcher. Ty Madden (left) and Colton Cowsser watching the MLB draft at Creekwood Grill This past season, the third-year sophomore posted a 7-5 record with a 2.45 ERA and 137 strikeouts as a starting pitcher in 18 games across 113.2 innings. He was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and was recognized on three different All-American teams after helping lead the Longhorns to the College World Series. “Going to school was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Madden said. “Back then I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t. My time at Texas was the best time of my life and the way my game developed was unbelievable. I’m glad I made that decision three years ago.” They joined former teammates and current minor league players who were drafted out of high school in 2019: J.J. Goss, Matthew Thompson and Jared Alvarez-Lopez. All were part of the team that finished as state semifinalists in 2018. Madden and Cowser became the highest pair of teammates to be drafted this high since Cypress Falls’ Everts and Scott Kazmir were taken in the first round, fifth and 15th overall, in 2002. “We’ve been best friends since eighth grade and we’ve always talked—whether if it was in whiffle ball games or working out—about taking it to the next level and experiencing this together,” Madden said. “We went back and forth on whether to do this but I’m glad we did.”

Conner Weigman Bridgeland High School senior Conner Weigman was named to the 2021 Elite 11, a prestigious honor in which the premier competition brings together the nation’s top high school quarterbacks to compete, challenge themselves and improve their skillset. Weigman earned his invitation to the finals competition after excelling during his junior season with the Bridgeland football team and at the Elite 11 Houston Regional in March. He led the Bears to a 12-1 record and District 16-6A championship in 2020, throwing for 3,803 yards and 42 touchdowns and adding 665 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Weigman finished second in athletic testing at the Houston Regional, solidifying his invite to the Elite 11 Finals. Twenty talented quarterbacks across 11 different states (four from Texas) made the finals roster. The Elite 11 Finals were held June 30-July 3 in Los Angeles, and included advanced, one-onone quarterback instruction, leadership training and high-level skills competitions. Weigman won the Rail Shot Challenge on the first night, finished second in the Mega-Target Accuracy Challenge and placed fourth at the Pro Day Workout. The final 11 were named on July 3 and determined by Elite 11 staff based on junior season film and performance (50 percent), and event evaluation and traits (50 percent). Weigman is just the sixth Houston-area quarterback to be named to the final Elite 11 in the competition’s 23-year history. He is also the first Elite 11 member in CFISD history.

CTE Students Receive Reimbursements for Industry Certifications

A total of 1,099 CFISD career and technical education (CTE) students recently received reimbursements totaling $41,819 to help offset the cost of certification exams. In 2019, the Texas Legislature amended the Texas Education Code permitting the state to provide a one-time reimbursement to CTE students that passed a certification exam and earned a certification from a state-approved listing of advanced certifications. CFISD offers more than 50 certifications from the list, with plans to add additional certifications soon. Students who received reimbursements include Cypress Woods High School graduate Blake Stuart, who became the first student from CFISD to earn his real estate sales agent license. Students who passed their respective certification exams prepared for the tests utilizing industry-standard material, software and equipment for little or no cost through district CTE courses, saving students hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the certification earned. “I am often asked why students should pursue and earn the certifications made available through the CTE courses they are taking,” said Denise Kubecka, director of career and technical education. “My simple answer is, ‘why would they not?’ Having an industry-recognized credential on their résumé when they graduate from high school could be the edge they need to set themselves apart from others as they apply for what comes next. As a bonus, getting certified through CFISD happens at a fraction of the cost of doing so through an outside agency. Again—why would you not?” For more info visit: www.cfisd.net/CTE