LH Independent 11-7-2019 by The Liberty Hill Independent

2019

Volume 32, Issue 49

www.LHIndependent.com

News@LHIndependent.com

November 7, 2019 | 50 Cents

Gleason announces he An honorable journey will challenge Chody Honor Flights reinforce nation’s gratitude

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Mike Gleason spent 24 years working in the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, ending his more than two decades of service at the same time Sheriff Robert Chody started to work in 2016. For Gleason, all that has transpired since has become fuel for the fire he has to challenge Chody, and he doesn’t mince words on why he is running. “I’m hoping to see Robert (Chody) in November,” Gleason said. “I started seriously thinking about it the day I retired, and probably some beforehand as well, due to the fact that he lied to so many people and he lied to get in office and basically sold the entire sheriff’s department, all 500 people, a giant bill of goods and then he reneged on the whole thing once he won.” Watching from the sidelines, the 54-year-old Gleason has been running his own Security Consulting Company, FOCUS Security Consultants LLC, with one eye always on the happenings of the department. “It left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, and systematically, one by one, everybody started losing their jobs,” Gleason said. “These are people with 15, 20, 25 or even 30 year careers with pensions and benefits, mortgages and sick kids, kids in college and he has just

Mike Gleason, a former Williamson County Sheriff’s Department employee with 24 years in the department, has announced he seeking the Democratic Party nomination to challenge incumbent Robert Chody. (Courtesy Photo) discarded them like they were trash. It didn’t really sit well with me and I feel a lot of responsibility for it because I helped get him elected.” Gleason found himself complaining with others about the situation and remembered his parents always telling him not to complain unless he planned to get involved. “So I stopped complaining and started organizing,” he said. Filing for the March Primary begins Saturday for all candidates and Gleason plans to be among the ﬁrst, wanting to get

See GLEASON, Page A4

2019 a year of changes for WilCo veterans services

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Throughout the year, the Williamson County Veterans Services Office has gone through several major changes—all as a way to better serve the veterans of Williamson County. The county’s veterans services program has been in place for 17 years, but after a move to a new building in February and the appointment of a new director in June, the program had what it needed to make some improvements. The newly appointed director, Sherry Golden, has worked for the county’s veterans service office for six years, where she started at the front desk. She worked to become a veterans service officer, and after applying for the open director position earlier this year, she got the job in June. Around that same time, the county’s former judge, Dan Gattis, was retiring. With new leadership at the helm, Golden said it was a good time to make some changes to the system. Six years ago, when Golden first started at the veterans service office, walk-ins were accepted. That quickly changed ©2019 The Liberty Hill Independent

to by appointment only, except for Fridays, when walk-ins were still allowed. Now, every day is by appointment only. Golden said this change was implemented because veterans would start lining up outside the office on Fridays at 5 a.m., and then dozens were being turned away when there wasn’t enough time in the day to help them all. At the same time, Golden’s staff was struggling to keep up. “There were times we weren’t able to eat lunch until 3 or 4 p.m.,” she said. “Folks were sitting out there [in the waiting area] for hours, and it was very upsetting to them and to us. We would have several claims filed in one day and then we’d try to process them all, and the quality was terrible and we were feeling terrible. It was just too much to handle.” Golden said right now the waiting period for an appointment is about eight weeks, but changes to staffing should shorten that wait time to about four weeks in the future. “We have gained a service officer that should be fully accredited within a couple of weeks in addition to the two we already have,” Golden said. “We have another one in the process of getting accreditation. We’re not there yet, but that should be

See VETERANS, Page A4

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Eight times each year a special ﬂight departs Austin bound for Washington DC, a ﬂight often jammed with stories and countless unknown heroic deeds held in the hearts of the many American veterans on board. Honor Flight Austin is part of a nationwide network of organizations with the sole purpose of bringing veterans up close and personal with the memorials and monuments to their service that dot the landscape of the nation’s capital. “Most of these veterans haven’t ever had the opportunity to go to Washington DC and see the memorials built in their honor,” said Matt Mathias, the Chair of Honor Flight Austin. “The Word War II Memorial was not dedicated until 2004 by President George W. Bush, so it was 65 years after World War II ended that the memorial was dedicated.” Among a handful of Liberty Hill area veterans to experience all the excitement and

Waiting with 50 fellow veterans, James Hanley of Liberty Hill (front row, second from right) enjoys the fanfare and appreciation of onlookers and travelers who gave the Honor Flight participants a warm sendoff. (Courtesy Photo) emotion of Honor Flight was James Hanley, who flew to DC in April for his first look at the memorial to the war he participated in. “Saturday morning we went to the WWII memorial first and I have never seen anything like it,” Hanley said, adding he

was most moved by the Golden Stars on the memorial. “There were 4,048 stars, each representing 100 of the 448,000 service men killed during that war. That’s a whole lot of loss of life, but through those guys giving their lives they turned this world around.”

Thanks to the efforts of his family, especially his daughter, to encourage Hanley to consider the trip and worked to get him signed up, he boarded the ﬂight in Austin with 29 other WWII vets among the 50 total.

See FLIGHT, Page A5

Voters approve Williamson road, park bonds

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor For the third time since 2000, Williamson County voters have approved a bond package for road and parks projects across the county. The $412 million road bond package passed with 62 percent of the vote and the $35 million parks proposal passed with 59 percent. “I am thankful to the voters in Williamson County for conﬁrming that building and improving roads and parks

in our county is important to them,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long. “I take that conﬁrmation seriously and am getting to work today on the approved projects. Better roads and parks means a better quality of life for our citizens.” Voter turnout was just over 14 percent of eligible voters with 49,422 going to the polls in the county. Of those, 30,587 supported the road bonds and 28,954 supported the parks proposal.

The road bond package includes a list of must-do projects, which are published in the proposition wording, then the County has put together a list of other projects planned for the bond funds, which includes projects in Liberty Hill – the Long Run extension, an extension of CR 214 and the SH 29 bypass. While these items may not appear in the ballot language, they are projects the County has pledged to complete assuming funds remain available. The total in

the bond is intended to cover all projects listed. Work is expected to begin soon on the long list of projects. “The next step is to prioritize which projects we will tackle ﬁrst and select contractors for those and start the engineering portion,” Long said. “Obviously the engineering doesn’t look like anything is happening because dirt is not turning but we have to get the

See RESULTS, Page A4

BUSINESS

Two Brand It proud to be Panther headquarters By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer There are a lot of places in Liberty Hill where Panther fans, parents and students can buy their purple and gold gear, but one local store goes above and beyond to cater to that speciﬁc crowd. Two Brand It, owned by Jennifer Smith and her son Caleb Slye, has been a part of Liberty Hill since 2013, but when Smith and Slye purchased the business in 2016, they decided to turn it from a boutique into the town’s Panther headquarters. “My friend Jennifer Ferrell used to own Two Brand It,” Smith said. “She wanted to sell the business and I want-

Jennifer Smith stands in front of the Panther wall at Two Brand It. ed to buy it, so it worked out perfectly. Her store was more of a boutique, and when my son and I bought the business, we wanted a place for people to go to get spirit wear and be able to wear it that same

day. Our main goal when we bought the store was to turn into Panther headquarters.” Smith said the idea behind making Two Brand It Liberty Hill’s Panther headquarters was because she herself has

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

seven children—ﬁve who have graduated from Liberty Hill High School and two who are still students there—so the Panther spirit runs deep.

See BRAND, Page A5

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Burnet County Veterans Memorial Dedication

The community is invited to the dedication of the Burnet County Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, Monday, in Bertram. The Memorial site is located at 125 SH 29 between the Train Depot and East Street. The nine granite monuments have nearly 3,500 names of Veterans who were either born in or lived in Burnet County. Additionally, there is a special monument honoring the Challenger Crew. Gold Star Families are asked to call (512) 585-9536 for reserved seating. (Courtesy Photo)

Shin Oak Ridge Bulletin Board Send news to: News@LHIndependent.com

Public Meetings

The following are standing open meetings that are subject to change within the guidelines set forth by the Texas Open Meetings Act. For the

most current meeting postings, and meeting agendas, visit the respective websites. - Liberty Hill City Council, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 and 25, City Council Chamber, 2801 RR 1869.

libertyhilltx.gov/agendacenter - Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees, 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, LHISD Administration Bldg., 301 Forrest Street. libertyhill.txed.net

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CapMetro’s temporary Downtown station opened on November 4 and is located on 4th street between Red River & Sabine.

New evening & midday trips added We added a final trip leaving downtown at 7:18 p.m. and two additional midday trips to Leander.

Saturday service remains suspended until early 2020. Check schedules at capmetro.org/MetroRail

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The Liberty Hill Independent is published every Thursday except the weeks of Independence Day and Christmas Day at 14251 W. SH 29, Suite B Liberty Hill, TX 78642. Periodical Postage Paid at Liberty Hill, Texas. Publication #018932 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Liberty Hill Independent, P.O. Box 1235, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Shelly Wilkison - Publisher Mike Eddleman - Managing Editor Scott Akanewich - Sports Editor Stacy Coale - Advertising Rachel Viator - Graphic Design Andrea Brown - Office Manager

2019

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Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Throwback Thursday Another visit to 1928-29 Liberty Hill High School

By JAMES WEAR Columnist A couple of weeks ago we shared with readers a couple of photos and information gleaned from the 1929 edition of the Liberty Hill school yearbook. We’ll return to that time again this week as we believe there’s a few more photos and other tidbits from that time period our readers would enjoy, including a few snippets from the Last Will and Testament of the Seniors of 1929. Among them: I, Genevieve Whitted, do on this said day will to Imogene Starnes my inclination to ‘ﬂirt.’ I, Elbert Insall, will to Andrew Adams all of my mischievous pranks (complete and incompleted). I, W.K. Seward, leave to the care of Edward Whitted all of my high school sweethearts, also my letters from said persons (love letters and otherwise). I, Solon Waley, do, this spring day of March, will my beautiful brown eyes and my methods of winning the fair sex to Lewis Kauffman. I, Amanda Smith, do bequeath on this said day my bashfulness (so hard to overcome) to Sam Miller, trusting, Sam, that my bashfulness will be an example to you. The yearbook also included a poem written by Genevieve Whitted. Entitled “The Class of Knowledge,” the poem included the following lines: “The senior class of nineteen

(ABOVE) The 1928-29 Liberty Hill yearbook included this photo of the newly-opened school. (BELOW) The 1928-29 ninth grade class included, front row from left, Ruby Landry, Marie Gilliland, Dora Mable Simmons, Frances Campbell and Frank Hefner. Second row, from left, Crownover Fowler, Vaden Ross, Lonzo Fowler, Jimmie Moore, Elroy Shufﬁeld, Neal Landry, Lewis Kauffman, Alden Wigzell and Howard Barker. Top row, from left, are Muriel Rowland, Velma Fay West, Alice Cecile Smith, Katie Kauffman, Ruby Isaac, Orneta Jackson, Imogene Starnes, Beth Waley, Cora Belle Sites and Edna Allen. (Courtesy Photos)

twenty-nine, No ﬁner bunch of youngsters can you ﬁne, They are boys and girls with knowledge very great, We girls are three, the boys in number, eight.”

The yearbook did not include a group photo of the senior or junior class, but did include photos of the sophomores and freshmen. The yearbook also featured a photo of the new high school,

which according to the caption below it, was erected in 1928. The building would be used for the next four decades until being torn down in 1969.

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EDITORIAL: Thank you

Two words. They require nothing poetic to make them more profound. They echo in a way that carries their message far into tomorrow. They rest with a weight that makes the gravity of that gratitude inescapable. Whispered from a child to parent, coupled with a handshake from neighbor to neighbor, or scrawled on a sign shared between strangers, those two words are what every veteran deserves to hear. Those two words are the simple first step toward truly honoring our veterans. So many things in today’s world can divide us and send us drifting apart, but a service member’s love of country and sense of duty is an anchor we can all stand hold on to as political tides ebb and flow in America. It is the veteran who offers all he or she has in defense of the foundation of freedom. It is the veteran who offers to trade his or her own future for the future liberty of others. And the only price to other Americans is a “thank you”. A thoughtful, sincere thank you will reverberate beyond simple gratitude, though. That thank you will carry with it a sense of responsibility when we contemplate why we offer it. When we remember those reasons we are thankful, it is not difficult to see how much more we could do to ensure these veterans are not only appreciated but taken care of. Real thanks leads to real mental health assistance when they are thrust back into a civilian life that might be difficult to be comfortable in again. It reminds us to respond to even the most subtle signs of struggle as a veteran wrestles with taking their own life. Thank you means attention to a veteran’s specific healthcare needs through viable, quality care that no one has to be denied or wait months to receive. The gratitude for being apart from their family or pausing their own life must come with ways to assist veterans through education and economic assistance that ensures they are not forgotten or fall behind in our economy. For the veteran that ran five miles at 5:30 a.m. in the rain for no other reason than a platoon sergeant said so, to the one who ran toward enemy fire to complete the mission. For the veteran who spent 12 months far from family on a tour in Korea, to the one who has served three combat tours in the Middle East. Every veteran has sacrificed something different, but by taking the same oath, they have all pledged to sacrifice everything if necessary. It is not in parades or speeches on special days that we show our real gratitude for the service of America’s veterans. It is in the sincere personal thank you, and the daily work that comes from its sincerity that will show how much their service has meant to us. They will not even ask for the thank you, but we know we owe them at least that much.

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RESULTS

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design completed first, right of way acquired, utilities relocated if needed. Those are the next steps.” Long said she wasn’t sure which Liberty Hill area projects would be addressed first but hoped that would be worked out in the next month or so. Improvements on Bagdad Road will be completed for the Leander area, with a trail project included that will connect Liberty Hill and Leander on the full stretch of Bagdad. The second of three sections planned to construct the SH 29 Bypass will connect RR 1869 to CR 279 on the south side of downtown. Eventually the SH 29 bypass is planned to run south of Liberty Hill from SH 29 west of Liberty Hill High School to SH 29 on the east end of town as a southern loop. The Citizens Bond Committee presented its proposal to Commissioners in June, suggesting a $640 million package, paring down $2.7 billion in initial requests made by county and area city officials.

The ﬁrst bond election, in 2000, was for $375 million, the second in 2006 was for $250 million and the 2013 bond was for $315 million. Each has passed with a slightly slimmer majority than the previous bond, but all prevailed with 55 percent of the vote or more.

Constitutional Amendments The Texas Constitution, adopted in 1876, has been amended 498 times prior to Tuesday’s election, and this year’s slate of changes added nine of 10 proposed amendments. - Proposition 1: (failed statewide and in the County) allows persons to serve as more than one appointed or elected municipal judge. - Proposition 2: (passed statewide and in the County) allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue up to $200 million in bonds. - Proposition 3: (passed statewide and in the County) authorizes temporary property tax exemption for disaster areas.

- Proposition 4: (passed statewide and in the County) prohibits the state from levying an income tax on individuals. - Proposition 5: (passed statewide and in the County) dedicates revenue from the sale of sporting goods to parks, wildlife and historical agencies. - Proposition 6: (passed statewide and in the County) authorizes the Legislature to increase bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. - Proposition 7: (passed statewide and in the County) increases distributions to the state school fund. - Proposition 8: (passed statewide and in the County) creates a ﬂood infrastructure fund. - Proposition 9: (passed statewide but failed in the County) authorizes property tax exemption for precious metals held in depositories. - Proposition 10: (passed statewide and in the County) allows a transfer of law enforcement animals to handlers or others if in an animal’s best interest.

LHINDEPENDENT.COM/SUBSCRIPTIONS

VETERANS

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done very soon and we’re very excited about that.” The new office at the Georgetown Annex has been another positive change for veterans services, said Golden, because there is much more space to spread out. “In the old building, some of our desks were out in a hallway,” she said. “It was difficult for those veterans with wheelchairs and walkers to get past the desks, along with all the storage out in the hallways.” Golden added that thin walls made it impossible to have privacy when meeting with veterans, and safety concerns were also an issue, because many of the offices did not have windows. In addition, the old lobby could only accommodate about six people. The new lobby is much larger, she said. The county’s veterans services office provides a lot of services to the veterans of Williamson County, from retrieving military records to helping veterans find medical or financial assistance. The main thing the office does, though, is help veterans to file claims. “We have to have a meeting

with anyone who wants to ﬁle a claim,” Golden said. “It’s very important that we meet in person so we can help them with exactly what information they need and what needs to be submitted. Anybody can get the forms online, but my warning is if you don’t do it correctly or send in the wrong form, it sends you down a long, winding trail. We’re trained to know what’s going on. A lot of veterans receive letters from the VA telling them what to do next, and they are confusing, so we help them read VA.” In addition, the ofﬁce provides a counselor to veterans every Tuesday and Wednesday, who comes in from the Austin Vet Center. “That way this northern area of Williamson County doesn’t have to drive all the way to Austin to go to that clinic,” Golden said. “That was implemented when we moved here just for one day, but we’ve made the counselor so busy he comes out twice. A lot of our veterans have PTSD and anxiety and to ask them to drive down into Austin is not a good idea.” Veterans services also has

an office in Taylor, where the original office was many years ago, that is available to veterans on the first and third Wednesdays of the month by appointment. Additionally, two Thursdays a month, the office hosts a veterans treatment court, which helps veterans charged with misdemeanors get back on track. Looking into the future, Golden hopes to continue to make positive changes within her office. One of her goals for the next year is to become more proficient with filing claims internally. “My goal is to have our office be more efficient and make it easier and smoother with our claims processes,” she said. “We are also applying for a grant through the Texas Veterans Commission for assistance with getting our veterans to and from their appointments. We’ve got that already in the works and we’re excited about that. There’s a lot of them who need a ride because they can’t drive.” Currently, Golden said the county office sees an average of 80 veterans per week, but she expects that number

GLEASON

Thursday, November 7, 2019

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his campaign on the ground and focused on what he thinks leadership in the department should be about. “You have to lead by example and don’t ask anyone to do anything you’re not willing to do,” he said. “You have to lead from the front with transparency. When somebody makes a mistake or you have a problem, you as the leader have to own it, correct it, discipline it and reassure the public you will learn from it and move forward and this is how you are going to move forward. Nothing like that exists anymore.” One of the first hurdles Gleason wants to remove is the heavy focus on partisanship, even in the race for Sheriff. “The first thing I want people to realize is that they need to be educated about what’s really going on,” Gleason said. “I’ve never talked to anyone in my life where they called 9-1-1, the operator answered the phone and said ‘where is your emergency and what is your party affiliation?’ That’s the problem with the sheriff’s office is that it has always

to grow. Williamson County is home to 55,000 veterans, which is up from 53,000 just last year. “That’s one thing I’d love everyone to know: we’re not just serving Georgetown,” she said. “We’re based here in Georgetown, but we serve all of Williamson County, which is huge. If you’ve filed something years ago, come check on it because things have changed. Maybe you need to refile or look at what the new possible benefit may be. If you’ve never filed, please file. We will help guide you through every step. The ‘my buddy says’ thing is good, but every veteran’s claim is unique and the only way to know is to come in and file.” The Williamson County Veterans Services office is located at 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but is by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.wilco.org/vetservices or call (512) 943-1900.

been stigmatized as Republican. There is no room in the sheriff’s office for an R or a D in any way shape or form. That’s the problem now is that the Republican Party runs the sheriff’s office. It shouldn’t be about your party and who gave you the most money.” Then he wants to share the message of his experience, which he believes makes him the right choice next November. His resume from his time in the department includes work in patrol, internal affairs, and the jail, and supervisory roles in SWAT, K-9, swift water rescue, dive recovery and the field training officer program. “I started out on midnights as a silver star noncommissioned corrections officer, working from midnight until noon, four on four off,” Gleason said. “I’ve made a lot of good friends and enjoyed the work and moved through the ranks over my career and worked for a lot of good, fair, decent bosses and learned a lot from them. I’ve done it all in pretty much every aspect of the sheriff’s office.”

The race is expected to be fiery and Gleason said there will be a lot of different stories out there for voters to filter through. “(Chody) continues to lie and he has just run that place into the ground,” Gleason said. “There’s a certain set of standards and laws that some people are held to and he himself has shown that he is above the law.” Gleason says he can back up his claims and arguments with documentation. “Everything I talk about I can show you documents, I can prove it, I lived it and I was there,” Gleason said. “The other side that’s going to come out is speculation and finger pointing like you see now. Nothing that comes out now is ever defended. It shuts down and all you ever hear is why they can’t talk about it.” Chody announced his intention to seek reelection in August. Filing for all offices for the March 3 Primary begins Nov. 9 and ends Dec. 9.

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

Sherry Golden was appointed director of Williamson County’s veterans services offices in June, shortly after the offices moved to their new location at the Georgetown Annex. Golden has instituted many positive changes for the office since becoming director.

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Thursday, November 7, 2019

BRAND

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“We have lived in Liberty Hill for 20 years,” she said. “My background is in retail. I used to be an area manager for American Eagle, which I did for 20 plus years, and then I helped my husband in the front ofﬁce of his business in Cedar Park for a while. When my son, Caleb, graduated with his business degree, I was wanting to work closer to Liberty Hill [for my two youngest children], so it all worked out great.” Smith has enlisted many more than just her son, who does most of the embroidery, to help run things at Two Brand It. Her son-in-law does

FLIGHT

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

graphic design, while another son does screen printing. Her sister-in-law works for her, and her daughters in college and high school help out at the store on the weekends. “It’s a whole family-run business,” she said. “It’s nice to have my kids helping out and working here.” Two Brand It was previously located in downtown Liberty Hill but moved to its new location in July. The location, on State Highway 29, was home to the Liberty Hill Police Department for several years. “We bought this property last year and had to totally gut it and restore it because it had

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As an artilleryman in the U.S. Army during World War II, Hanley took a ship to Japan to serve as part of the occupation force following World War II. He spent 33 months in Japan, but within a short period of time Hanley found himself assigned to a Military Government Team, initially for three months, which were established throughout the country to oversee and assist Japanese local government as the country was rebuilt through occupation. Mathias said for most veterans this is their first time to see the memorials, and often the first time in decades they’ve had the opportunity to be with others who had similar experiences. And all the memorials touch each veteran differently. “The veterans are overwhelmed,” he said. “The World War II Memorial is so majestic and reminiscent of the impact of that war. The Vietnam (Memorial) is so personal, to see these guys get down on their knees and take a crayon and a piece of paper and do rubbings of their buddies’ names with tears flowing down their cheeks. It’s an extremely personal memorial. The Korean (Memorial) is just so lifelike of a platoon marching on patrol that it’s eerie because you can walk around on it and everywhere you look a platoon member is staring you in the eyes.” Having an opportunity to re-

member and honor others and see the recognition the country has offered these veterans is critical. “It’s a very healing process and an honoring process for the veterans to get to go,” Mathias said. “The World War II generation was told to come home, get to work and not talk about what they’d seen or heard, and they did that. They just came home, got jobs, created companies and rebuilt this country after really saving the world from tyranny.” The original focus of Honor Flight was to get World War II veterans to DC to see the World War II Memorial because their numbers were dwindling so quickly as they aged, but today Korean conﬂict veterans and even Vietnam veterans are participating in the program as well. “To my surprise, I think it’s the most healing to the Vietnam veterans,” Mathias said. “They came home and were literally told not to wear their uniform when they returned to the United States. They were just abused when they came home and never got a welcome home. For them to see the crowds in DC cheering them and thanking them and welcoming them, it is an extremely emotional and healing weekend.” Hanley was glad to see veterans from all three conﬂicts being recognized and honored. “I was glad to see Vietnam

mold in it,” Smith said. “Everything was taken out and redone, and we moved in this past July. We needed the parking space and easier access for customers, plus we have more room here to grow if we need to. We didn’t own our other building, so when this one came up for sale, we bought it so we can expand in the future.” Besides plans to expand someday, Smith added that she’d like to have a mural done on her building as well. “We’re going to redo the outside and do a mural wall, which we’d like local people to give us ideas for,” she said.

included as well,” he said. “I know after the ticker tape parades in New York after World War II things began to change because people just didn’t understand what those Vietnam veterans went through.” The veterans all get the star treatment, from a nice hotel to a recognition banquet, to police escorts through DC as they travel by bus from one memorial to another. Each one gets a wheelchair and an escort to push and help them as well. “We were two busloads of veterans with the DC police led the way,” Hanley said. “It was such a short trip and so much to see they got us moving around quick. This little girl named Angel pushed me in the wheelchair everywhere. I kept asking her if she was tired and she just said she was ﬁne. Come to ﬁnd out she was a Marine herself.” Almost as joyous and important for the veterans as seeing the memorials, is the reception they got in the airports and around the capitol. “When we got to Washington the trip through the airport was unbelievable,” Hanley said. “There were so many people there to greet us, untold numbers of kids. If that don’t bring a tear to your eye nothing will. We still have some good Americans and they make you proud of your service.” That appreciation and welcome is something Mathias said can never be underrated

“It’ll have to be something Panther focused for sure.” Two Brand It provides a myriad of custom services, like screen printing, embroidery, vinyl and direct-to-garment printing. The retail store itself is 90 percent focused on Liberty Hill and Panther spirit gear. “We have every sport available on the racks in the store, from soccer to football,” Smith said. “If you want to customize anything we have, you can do that. For example, if your son plays football and you want to buy a hoodie, you can put his name and jersey number on the back.” Embroidery can also be done

in its impact. “That spontaneous appreciation by the crowd, and these are strangers is special,” he said. “You walk off that plane in DC and you start seeing these guys and they start shedding tears. It is amazing to see the number of people in the airport waiting for their flight, who are standing there crying and clapping as these men and women pass by. It is amazingly honoring and it reminds these people what they did was not in vain.” The trip made a lasting impression on Hanley, something he will never forget. “I never imagined something like that,” he said. “I was glad to see so many people recognized and get to do this. I hope it continues.” Each flight ends with the same result, according to Mathias. “They have a new joy, they feel complete, a burden is lifted for so many of them as they experience it.” It takes 75-100 volunteers to make a single flight happen, and it takes a little more than $1,000 per veteran to send them on the trip. To date, Honor Flight Austin has taken just over 2,000 veterans on the trip. To learn more about Honor Flight Austin, or to donate or volunteer, go to the organization’s website at honorflightaustin.org.

BUSINESS

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on anything, from hats and shirts to backpacks and stadium chairs, Smith added. Two Brand It also has online stores for several sports on its website, like the swim team and cross country, as well as for Liberty Hill Junior High School. Smith added that 20 percent of all purchases made online goes back to the schools. “My kids have all grown up here and graduated high school here, and I love that we’re really one school, one team and

Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 175 incidents resulting in two cases, two citations, eight warnings and no arrests. Weekly Highlights: • On Oct. 28, at approximately 9:52 PM, officers responded to W. SH 29 and Bronco, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. • On Oct. 29, at approximately 5:08 AM, officers responded to Tomahawk, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with suspicious activity. • On Oct. 29, at approximately 1:07 PM, officers responded to US 183 south for an accident. • On Oct. 29, at approximately 2:01 PM, officers responded to the 800 block of US 183, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with a traffic hazard complaint. • On Oct. 29, at approximately 5:19 PM, officers responded to US 183 and Larkspur, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with an accident. • On Oct. 29, at approximately 9:37 PM, officers responded to US 183 and W. SH 29 to assist

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SEEKING PART-TIME HELP for ﬁreworks stand Dec. 21-Jan. 2. $10 per hour paid daily. Four positions needed. Must be 18 years old and be able to lift 20+ pounds. This is ﬂex scheduling to cover busy evening hours and some day stocking. Send email to imr1873@gmail.com. (11/28p)

The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the grand opening of Fire Oak Distillery with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Owners are Guy and Tanya Endsley (center). The distillery is located at 4600 CR 207 in Liberty Hill. Learn more at ﬁreoakdistillery. com. (Courtesy Photo)

the Texas Department of Safety with an accident. • On Oct. 30, at approximately 3:35 PM, officers responded to Orange Mimosa to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. • On Oct. 31, at approximately 2:16 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. • On Oct. 31, at approximately 1:38 PM, officers responded to the 4000 block of RR 1869, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with an accident. • On Oct. 31, at approximately 2:31 PM, officers responded to Sun Dance Trail to assist the Liberty Hill Fire/EMS with a fire. • On Nov. 1, at approximately 7:02AM, officers responded to the 16000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. • On Nov. 2, at approximately 6:27 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RR 1869 for a disturbance. • On Nov. 2, at approximately 7:56 PM, officers responded the 3000 block of RR 1869 for a disturbance.

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EMPLOYMENT

Chamber welcomes Fire Oak Distillery

one family,” Smith said. “Even other businesses that do some of the same things I do are so supportive. My favorite thing about being here is being a part of that, where we all support each other.” Two Brand It is located at 14262 SH 29 and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.twobrandit.com.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LEANDER IS HIRING! We are looking for front desk, housekeeping, breakfast attendant and porter/maintenance. If you, or someone you know is interested, email resume to gm.hiexleander@gmail.com. (11/14p)

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE FOR SALE. Sixty-eight acre creekside ranch near Bertram, TX. Wooded, house, barn. Call (512) 869-9699 for details. (11/26p)

REAL ESTATE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE. 2 bedroom 1100 sq ft $950, with $400 deposit. 2117 RR 1869 unit B. Call Randy 512-913-1132. (11/14p)

Christmas AT THE RANCH

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Have you ever wondered about the faces of Liberty Hill’s veterans? We hope these two pages of veterans from our community, or who have a special place in the lives of local residents, will serve as the beginning of a new tradition in The Independent as we salute those who have served. Look closely at these faces and the names and experiences of our veterans. There are those who have served 40 years, representatives from every branch and every theater of conflict dating back close to 90 years. We honor their service and salute the families that are so proud of their loved ones.

MIKE EDDINGS

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Ret) US Army -- AH 64 Instructor Pilot

MARK A. BASALLA Captain, US Air Force 1992-1996

CODY BENNINGFIELD

JEN BENNINGFIELD

Gunnery Sgt., US Marines 1997-2017

THERESA D. PORTER

Staff Sgt., US Marines 1997-2006

SCOTT QUAIFE

US Army AH-64D Apache Pilot

1988-1992 - Desert Shield/Desert Storm

KEITH BATY

BARNEY GENE DYKES

MIKE EDDLEMAN

HARRY ‘RAY’ LANDRY

JAMES RICHARD DYKES, JR.

ANASTASIA CORKER

US Marines 1976-1981

ALRED CHAINEY Vietnam Veteran

PATRICK J. MCELHINNEY

Major, US Marines 1966-1986, Vietnam

US Air Force 1957-1961

US Marines 1961-1965

Sgt., US Army 1991-1998

Captain, US Air Force 2003-present Enduring Freedom

CHRIS JEANS

Lance Cpl., US Marines (Reserve) 2001-2008 -- 2 tours Iraq

JOHN CASCIO

Petty Officer 2nd Class US Navy, 1971-1979 Sgt., US Army, 1980-1984

DAN RIGGS

Fire Controlman 3rd Class US Navy 1944-1946

ANTHONY BUCK

LAMAR NESBITT WALLACE, JR.

DOYLE LEE HOPKINS US Navy 1951-1955

US Marines 1972-1975

CHRIS NANCE

Cpl., US Army 1950-1952, Korean Conflict

Petty Officer 1st Class, US Navy

2007-present -- Iraq, Bahrain, Afghanistan

WILLIAM JOHN GOULD, SR.

DOYLE FOX

Cpl., US Army-Air Force 1940s, World War II

ROY WILSON JONES Specialist, US Army 1972-1975

Specialist, US Army 1959-1968

J.D. FRIDAY

RANZY KENDRICK

Chief Petty Officer (FMF/SW) US Navy, 2003-present

Sgt., US Army 1968-1971 - Vietnam

BRAD LANGHAM

US Navy/Navy Reserve, 16 years Iraq Veteran

Master Sgt., US Army 1965-1986

TRUMAN COX

MICHAEL VIEYRA

Sgt., US Army 2003-2008

ROBERT ALLEN KURCZEWSKI

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Sergeant First Class US Army - 24 years

(COURTESY PHOTOS)

US Army, Military Intelligence

Sgt., US Army, 2005-2010 Iraq 2007-2009

LOWELL KERCHEVILLE

Warrant Officer, US Army 1st Cavalry Pilot,1988-1996 Desert Storm

ZEBADIAH MILLER

Lt. Col., US Army National Guard

18 years, currently serving in Afghanistan

KRYSTAL HERNANDEZ Tech Sgt., Texas Air National Guard 2006-present

LEWIS KETCHUM US Army Vietnam

Thursday, November 7, 2019

GERALD VIOLETTE Captain, US Marines 1995-2003 US Army, 2007-present

BRAEDON VIATOR Staff Sgt., US Army 2002-2008

DALE BATES Staff Sergeant 1943-1945

PHILLIP M. ELLIS

Command Master Chief (Ret), US Navy 1959-1965, 1971-1988

LOGAN D. SCALLEN US Army Engineer 2014-present Iraq, Kuwait

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

JOE A. HERNANDEZ

US Air Force, 1985-1992 Operation Desert Shield/Storm Clark Airbase Philippines

VICTOR DE LA CRUZ Gunnery Sgt. (Ret) US Marines, 1979-1999

EDWARD J. PORTER

RUSSELL DONAHO Specialist, US Army 2000-2013

ROBERT E. HARRIS

Sgt. 1st Class, US Army 1961-1981

ALEX MATAU

Chief Warrant Officer 4 US Army, 1969-1984 Helicopter Pilot, Vietnam Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal with Valor

BRIAN HAWKINS Lt. Col, US Army 2001-present

JEREMY PAUL BUSK

DENNIS VELEZ, SR.

Sgt. US Marines 2005-2014

US Army 1982-2010

Col., US Army 1944-1976 WWII, Korea, Vietnam

Major (Ret), US Army 1966-1996

Specialist, US Army 2011-2014 101st Airborne

LUKE PLEAK

WILLIAM R. PATRICK US Navy World War II

Lt. US Army National Guard 1998-2007

TERRY A. SMITH

EDWARD HASHBARGER

RAHUL SHARMA

LES SWAIN

SCOTT AKANEWICH

JOHNNIE DEE SHANNON

JOSEPH SHANE SHANNON

JOHNNY DELL SHANNON

JAMES O. HANLEY

Staff Sgt. (Ret), US Army 1996-2016

STEVE BIBLE

SeaBee, US Navy 1969-1974

STEPHEN PAGE

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Private 1st Class, US Army 2008-2011

1st Class Boatswains Mate US Navy, World War II

US Marines 2003-2008

Specialist U.S. Army, Irag

US Navy 1941-1945

CATHERINE ROBERTS

Sgt., US Army 2002-2012

Staff Sgt., US Army Artillery World War II

Corporal US Army

LANDON HANNA

Sr. Airman, Air National Guard 2014-present

BRAD HANNA

Lt. Col., US Army National Guard 2001-present

ROBIN ‘PETERSON’ BENSON

PETE GARNER

SCOTT PETERSON

CORKY CUNNINGHAM

Sgt., US Marines, 1996

Chief Petty Officer, US Navy, 1993

US Army

US Navy, Photo taken 1946-1947

Junior High to honor veterans Monday

KEVIN BRUNELLE

Staff Sgt., US Air Force August 1987-Sept. 3, 1998

CALVIN TANNER

Staff Sgt., US Air Force August 1966 - August 1970

In what has become a proud local tradition, Liberty Hill Junior High will host a Veterans Day program Monday to bring the community together to honor those who have served. Junior High staff and students see it as a special way to honor local veterans. “It is really neat for the service men and women who come to our campus to see that we do something special honoring and recognizing them and thanking them for their service,” said seventh grade Texas History teacher Michelle Cole who leads the organization of the event. “It is a very patriotic program.”

In addition to the opportunity to honor veterans on their day, Cole said the event is also a good teaching moment and opportunity for students and staff to understand what patriotism is all about. “This is a huge benefit for our students to see the patriotism,” she said. “We have our guest speaker that comes in and normally they talk about their military experience, tell stories about what has happened to them in the service, and I think it’s really neat for the students to hear the stories and how they have served their country.” This year’s speaker is Chuck

Wright, who will be joined by a wide variety of students in different roles. “It is a great event for everyone,” Cole said. “Our band plays, the choir will be singing, National Junior Honor Society participates. We have students involved in all parts of it. A local Boy Scout troop will present the colors. I’m always impressed as a teacher at how well-behaved our students are during the program and it makes me proud of them and how they recognize how special this is for our guests who attend the program.” There is a veterans reception at 12:45 p.m. Monday for

veterans and current military personnel in the Junior High library, and the program will follow at 2 p.m. in the main gym. Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP, though it is not necessary to attend. Cole said everyone is welcome to just show up Monday to enjoy the event. “We want people to be able to come and enjoy the program, both veterans and any member of the community that wants to participate,” she said. “Come and enjoy the program. I think this is something nice we do for our community.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 7, 2019

SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, November 7, 2019 Section B Page 1

Getting to the big dance

Cross country squads to compete at state

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor After everything, it’s finally here. All the early-morning practices, all the grueling training runs, all the pain and suffering, all the injuries and all the trials and tribulations have at long last led the Liberty Hill cross country squad to where it wanted to be all along. The Class 4A state championships, with opportunities for both teams to win titles. However, for the Panthers’ seniors, it will definitely be the last-chance saloon as far as their respective high school careers go and the final time they will be able to compete together, which is something that makes the situation a mixed bag of emotions, said senior Hannah Johnson. “Getting to state is really exciting, but I’m not ready for it to end,” she said. “Running has been such a huge part of my life for so long.” Fellow senior Kevin Berber also realizes the significance of the event beyond its importance as a competition.

“I’m deﬁnitely going to be nervous,” said Berber. “But, it’s kind of sad because it’s going to be my last high school race and I’ve been running with these guys for three years. We’ve built relationships you can’t get anywhere else.” According to Johnson, the emotional roller coaster began when the results were posted at the regional meet in Corpus Christi, with the girls winning and punching their ticket to the big time. “All of us ran over to where they put up the results,” said Johnson. “When I saw we were ﬁrst, I looked at Madison (Sears) and we just started crying and screaming.” Johnson said she shares a special bond with fellow senior Sears. “We’ve been competing against each other neck-andneck since we were in seventh grade,” she said. “We’re running buddies, so it was super-emotional and I had a happy heart.” Berber cited a similar relationship with senior Gabe Diaz, as the duo have been

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Liberty Hill’s boys’ cross country team qualiﬁed for the Class 4A state meet with a second-place ﬁnish at the regional event in Corpus Christi on Oct. 28. each other’s biggest competition within the team. “Gabe’s been like a brother to me,” he said. “There’s always been a rivalry between us, but that’s what we need to drive each other to be better.” An interesting aspect of the dynamic between the two and the roles they play as senior leaders can be described in simple terms, said Berber. “Gabe’s the bad cop and I’m the good cop,” he said, with a

laugh. “But, really we have to be leaders not only as seniors, but because we’re faster.” But, that leadership goes beyond race day, said Berber. “Even at practice, we need to lead by example,” he said. “Making sure everyone does things like drink enough water and eat right.” Now, the pair has led their teammates back to a place they reached last season – the culminating event in Round Rock

on Saturday. “Our ﬁrst goal is to get top three and ﬁnish on the podium,” said Berber. Johnson said the anxiety level as the big race approaches is palpable, but that she and her teammates simply need to be able to channel their emotions properly not only for peak performance, but to be able to soak in and enjoy the atmosphere. “Sure, it’s nerve-wracking,”

she said. “But all we can do is the best we can. We’re going to have our last moments together as a team, but we have to do what we’re best at, stay in the moment and not let our emotions get in the way.” Reaching the promised land of the state meet is a proper reward for all the hard work that goes into her sport all season long, said Johnson.

See STATE, Page B6

Ladies open playoffs with win over Bandera

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor MARBLE FALLS -- On Tuesday evening in Marble Falls, the Lady Panthers began to vanquish the memories of last season’s ﬁrst-round playoff exit with a spirited 3-0 (25-19, 2517, 25-19) victory over a Bandera squad who put the Purple-and-Gold to the test before head Coach Gretchen Peterson’s club was able to close out the Bulldogs. Senior Emily Huppee led the Lady Panthers with nine kills on the match, while Kindsee Escamilla and Emma Becker each added six on a night during which Peterson’s squad was tested, she said. “They deﬁnitely forced us out of our comfort zone,” said Peterson. “We had to rely on a couple things we’re not the best at, which is our tip coverage and block. But, the girls recognized what they had to do, stepped up and got it done.”

See WIN, Page B5

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Emma Becker (#5), Ashley Nelson (#14), Haley Kuhlmann (#1) and the Lady Panthers are ready for a playoff run after last season’s opening-round defeat.

Ready for playoff push LHHS back in the postseason and looking to make title run By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When the Lady Panthers walked off the court a year ago in the aftermath of a ﬁrstround playoff defeat to Fredericksburg, a seed was planted in the minds of those associated with the Purple-and-Gold.

Don’t let it happen again. Senior Emily Huppee, who was a junior on last season’s club, certainly remembers that day quite vividly. “After I ﬁnished crying, I started to think about how we could be better,” said Huppee, who will lead Liberty Hill into

this year’s postseason, along with fellow seniors Ashley Nelson and Lauren LaDuque. “We knew we had to push ourselves.” Nelson said the entire experience was surreal. “It was like a dream,” she said. “But, it made us more

motivated and focused for this year.” Lady Panthers Head Coach Gretchen Peterson has been on the Liberty Hill sidelines for 16 seasons and last fall was only the second time one of her squads has suffered an opening-round exit, something

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that deﬁnitely stuck with her, she said. “I felt like we let a lot of people around the program down,” said Peterson. “You had that sick-to-your-stomach, awful feeling because that’s

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Liberty Hill’s ﬁshing squad continues in remembrance of fallen comrade

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Cade Riley never reeled one in for the Liberty Hill fishing team. In fact, the young man simply known as “Red” to his friends just loved the sport with a passion unmatched by any of his Panther peers. So, when his life was tragically cut short by an off-road vehicle accident at the beginning of his sophomore year in September 2017, all of his former fishing buddies decided to begin a high school fishing team, which would carry on the legacy of his love every time they left the shoreline behind in search of the next big catch. So, the Liberty Hill Panthers fishing squad was born and ever since, Riley’s memory has lived on through the on-water exploits of his old friends, said senior club president Logan Warr. “We started the team because Red loved to fish so much,” he said. According to team adviser Shauna Martin, it’s Riley’s memory that fuels the fire of the team as it moves forward. “I don’t know if it gives what we do more meaning, but it does inspire us in everything we do and motivates us to always be doing more,” said Martin, who helped get the team started. “Red had a very outgoing and friendly personality -- he would talk to anyone and make them feel welcome and included. Yet, at the same time, he had a competitive nature and loved anything and everything about all sports, including competitive bass fishing. He liked the group effort of working together and being part of a team like in football and lacrosse, but he also enjoyed the quiet solitude of fishing on a lake by himself or with another angler -- always working on improving his skills. We strive to carry on his legacy of openness, inclusion

and friendly competition with what we do as a team.” Co-founder Casey Tolbert said the team has undergone many trials and tribulations in getting it off the ground, but everything has gone smoother as time has gone by. “We’ve definitely dealt with some adversity -- there were so many things to learn – just to get into our first tournament, not to mention putting together meetings, an end-of-year awards banquet and fundraising, there’s so much that goes into this most of the time it feels we’re flying by the seat of our pants just hanging on. But, we’ve been blessed with an amazing team of people that want to see this thing through, so challenges aren’t as daunting as they once were because we’re all doing it together.” One of the biggest ongoing challenges is to find enough boat captains who are willing to donate their time and resources to ensure the team members have a platform on which to perform, said Martin. “Boat captains are definitely our limiting factor -- it’s always a challenge to get enough captains to get all of the students who want to fish on the water,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking when a student signs up for a tournament, but we’re unable to get them in a boat. But, we have several great adult leaders and volunteers who work tirelessly to find and recruit captains and we’ve also been very fortunate as a team to have several boat captains volunteer their time to the team even though they don’t have kids on the team. We simply couldn’t do it without these volunteers.” Tolbert added once the captains are involved and really understand the scope and magnitude of what they’re contributing to, the rest is gravy. “Although it’s a big commitment, once we’re able to get captains involved, they realize the bigger picture of what’s

(ABOVE) Liberty Hill’s fishing team is in its second year of existence. (BELOW) Seniors Ryder Martin and Albert Konovalski finished seventh in a field of over 100 boats at the Faith Angler Network qualifying tournament at Lake Travis on Sept. 21. (Courtesy Photos) happening and are truly contributing to something greater than themselves and mentoring these students in something they can carry with them for future generations.” Martin said the fact fishing isn’t your prototypical sport, the door is open to many more competitors than in a typical athletic endeavor, which was another hallmark of the imprint Riley left behind. “One of the best aspects about the fishing team is anyone can participate,” she said. “This is part of Red’s legacy we strive to carry on as long as the team exists. A student doesn’t have to fit a predefined mold to join the fishing team. Any student, regardless of their unique characteristics, can join the team and participate. They don’t have to feel pressure to change anything about themselves to be a part of this group and every team member has an equal opportunity to advance regardless of their differences.” For Tolbert, this is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the team for everyone involved, he said. “The most inspiring thing about this program has been

See FISHING, Page B5

PANTHER OF THE WEEK Sears put pen to paper for poignant words to her Panther teammates

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Make no mistake. Madison Sears was devastated when she found out she wouldn’t be competing alongside her longtime Liberty Hill cross country teammates at the Region 4 meet in Corpus Christi on Oct. 28. But, that didn’t mean the senior was going to let that dampen the experience for herself or her Purple-and-Gold sisters in arms. But, Sears decided to do much more than simply support her team from the sidelines. “My freshman year, one of the seniors, Emma Hofmann, wrote letters to all of us before the regional meet,” said Sears. “I really liked it, so I decided to start doing it myself my sophomore year.” Sears said it was important to her to put pen to paper as opposed to taking advantage of technology to get her message of encouragement across.

“I think actually writing a letter is a lot more personable and it’s something they can physically hold onto,” she said. “I like to keep memorabilia from my running career like all my medals, bibs and notes I’ve gotten from people.” Sears said the purpose of the letters, which contained an individual message to all 10 girls who competed in Corpus Christi, was not only to offer inspiration, but also to provide a calming of pre-race nerves. “I know when I got mine as a freshman, it gave me something to think about on the way to the starting line instead of just being nervous,” she said. “When I was writing them, I was thinking about each person and how I’ve seen all of them grow – especially for the new girls because it was their ﬁrst really big race with a lot of anxiety and nerves.” According to Liberty Hill Head Coach Kim Holt, the gesture is a perfect exam-

ple of the kind of role model Sears has developed into over the course of her four years of high school. “She’s really come a long way since she was a freshman,” said Holt. “Madison has become a real team leader for us.” However, it wasn’t always like that, said Holt. “Back at the beginning, she wasn’t as focused or driven as she is now,” she said. But, all that changed at the Panthers’ home meet last season during Sears’ junior year, said Holt. “Madison decided to give a pep talk to the junior high runners before their race,” she said. “I think that’s when she got her calling to be a leader.” Sears said she was simply passing on another Liberty Hill cross country tradition. “Back when I was in junior high, I used to look up to the girls who were already in high school,” she said. “I know it

would’ve been cool for that to happen to me back then because those kids need role models.” Sears battled back from a stress fracture suffered the week before the Panthers’ home meet this season, but the setback proved too much to overcome in time to compete at the regional and state meets. As for her disappointment of not being included on the roster, Sears was philosophical in her approach once the initial sorrow faded away, she said. “After I got the news, by the next day I was ﬁne and just still wanted to be part of the team,” said Sears. “I understood and I couldn’t change what happened, so it was important to me to be there to offer support for my teammates. Besides, I didn’t want to be the reason they didn’t qualify for state.” SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO As it turned out, the Pan- Even during her recovery from a stress fracture earlier this seathers captured victory at the son, senior Madison Sears still remained an integral part of the Panthers cross country team.

See SEARS, Page B5

Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page B3

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Hadley Weems (#64) recovered a fumble during the Panthers’ 63-0 home victory against Taylor on Nov. 1.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

A Purple-and-Gold Slot-T party Panthers to see themselves in the mirror Friday against Canyon Lake

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When the Panthers take the ﬁeld at Hawk Stadium in Fischer on Friday against Canyon Lake, they’ll be battling for their playoff lives. Ironically, when they look across the line of scrimmage, they’ll see themselves in the mirror.

Liberty Hill (3-5, 1-3) will take on Canyon Lake (6-3, 2-2) in a contest between clubs who both run the famed Slot-T offense the Panthers have perfected over the years, which will make the matchup all the more intriguing. The Panthers must defeat the Hawks by at least six points in order to qualify for the

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Now, this is what w e ’ r e talking about. Finally, after the long, sixweek, citywide nightmare came to a close last Friday at Panther Stadium, we saw what we’ve been waiting for. A decisive Liberty Hill football victory. Following a victory drought the likes of which the program hadn’t seen in many an autumn, the Purple-and-Gold finally got back on track with a 63-0 demolition of Taylor. Did somebody step on a Duck? Big time. In fact, it only took 37 seconds before the contest was decided when sophomore Kaden McMahan stepped in front of a Taylor pass and returned it for what ended up being the winning points. Ironically, the defense, which has been much-maligned this season, scored bookend touchdowns to help salt away the Ducks like a hunter who had just bagged a big one, after senior Justin Coffee ran back a pick-six to put a cherry on top of the festivities. However, in between was when we finally saw the Panthers’ offense come to life in the form of the thunder-and-lightning combination of junior running backs Blake Simpson and Trey Seward, as the pair of punishers rumbled and flashed the Taylor defense into submission time and again with their ferocious, ruthless running styles. In the past, the Panthers’ Slot-T offense has been known as the “Purple Blur,” due to its dizzying, head-spinning, frenetic pace. We’re all for carrying on traditions, here. But, despite the fact they were decked out in their famous trademark all-purple uniforms on Friday, perhaps a new moniker can be inspired by the new

all-yellow unis that debuted earlier this season. So, without further ado, we give you the “Gold Rush.” Just think of some old prospector wading in a river somewhere in the Old West, panning for the shiny stuff and then suddenly – Eureka! There’s gold in them there hills! As in Texas Hill Country, that is. Ascetics aside, one thing that struck us as we witnessed the carnage unfold far below us from our lofty perch in the press box was the straightforwardness the offense was operating with. Sure, it was still the Slot-T and quarterback Jacob Cearley was still carrying out his fakes downfield on every play, but it seemed as if there was more of a simplicity to the Panthers’ play. Almost a determination to absolutely annihilate the opposition and win decisively, which of course they did. Seward ran roughshod over the Ducks’ defense to the tune of 202 yards on an efficient 11 carries, good for a tidy 11.8 yards every time he touched the ball, along with a pair of long scoring runs of 83 and 43 yards, displaying a lightning-quick ability to cut the ball back inside when the corner was closed down. Simpson, on the other hand, battered and bruised his way in thunderous fashion to 176 yards on 18 carries and four scores, the final one of which was an impressive 69-yard rumble during which he displayed the ability to turn on the jets himself. Both runners eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season during the course of the evening’s proceedings, as Seward has now piled up 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns on the current campaign, while Simpson is sitting at 1,042 with 11 scores. How’s that for thunder-and-lightning? If Simpson doesn’t blast you like a Mack truck inside,

Thunder, lightning bring Panthers back from the brink

ed 3X Awaurd nity Comm Year of the

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postseason, but according to Liberty Hill Head Coach Jeff Walker, the fact the opposition runs the same offense as his squad does won’t necessarily be signiﬁcant in determining the outcome. “Sure, it’s a lot like watching ourselves,” said Walker. “But, it’s a little different because they run some different forma-

tions – I don’t think it really helps or hurts us they run the same stuff as us other than the fact they know our offense a little better than other teams do.” Canyon Lake may run the Slot-T, but the Hawks have been nowhere near as

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Dynamic duo fuels Panther offense Simpson, Seward eclipse 1,000 yard mark for season

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One will run over you. The other will run right past you. Blake Simpson and Trey Seward form a backﬁeld duo that has a combination of power and speed the likes of which any coach would love to have lining on on Friday nights. Both backs eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season during the Panthers’ 63-0 home win against Taylor on Nov. 1 and are quickly blazing and bashing their way to local dominance, with Seward (1,183 yards) and Simpson (1,042) ranked one-two respectively in the district. According to Liberty Hill Head Coach Jeff Walker, having the two-headed, ground-gaining monster of Simpson and Seward in the lineup together is a potent weapon. “You need playmakers in your backﬁeld,” said Walker. “Guys like that can turn a bad play into a good one.” Walker added the fact that the players are different in their running styles provides nightmares for opposing defenses. “Over the years, we’ve had big backs who didn’t have speed and we’ve also had faster backs who weren’t as powerful,” he said. “So, it’s good to have them as a one-two punch.” Throw in a combined 23

touchdowns between Seward (12) and Simpson (11) and the pair provides not only the critical yards between the 20s, but ﬁnishing potential once the Panthers’ offense gets into the red zone. Of course, sometimes redzone execution isn’t needed, as the game against Taylor proved, when Seward broke off scoring runs of 83 and 43 yards, while Simpson ran one all the way from 69 yards out. Seward said the 83-yarder was especially enjoyable. “It was awesome, really,” he said. “I broke to the outside, but then in a split-second the cutback opened up.” Although Seward has run the ball out of the backﬁeld his entire football life including on the Panthers’ freshman squad two years ago, he was a cornerback last season for the varsity, which caused a bit of consternation when it came time to once again carry the ball at the varsity level, he said. “Coming in this season, I didn’t know what to expect because I’m not the biggest or strongest back,” said Seward. “The pace on varsity is a lot faster, but as time has gone by, I’ve gotten used to it.” Certainly has. Seward is averaging a hefty 10.2 yards per carry this season, not bad for a maiden voyage across the seas of varsity football. Walker credited Seward’s

quick adjustment to the varsity game and his subsequent success to what he already had at his disposal. “Trey’s a natural runner,” he said. “He makes good moves and has excellent vision on the field.” But, Seward is quick to credit his recent success to the big boys up front on the Liberty Hill offensive line. “All I do is trust in my blockers, then turn it upfield,” he said. However, despite his explosiveness and propensity for the big play, Seward knows his primary job is to simply grind ALEX RUBIO PHOTOS out short-to-medium range (ABOVE) Trey Seward (#20) provides the Panthers with an explosive outside threat and the abilgains and if there is anything ity to break big plays any time he has the ball. (BELOW) Blake Simpson (#42) has a bruising inmore on a particular play, it’s side running style, which usually requires more than one defender to stop once in the open field. a bonus. “Most times I’m just happy to keep the offense moving forward,” said Seward. After all, Walker wouldn’t have it any other way. “I always tell Trey to just go get me four yards,” said Walker. “After that, you can go make a play and get me 60.” A little too much trickery from a back can backfire in a hurry, he said. “We don’t like our backs to stop and start dancing,” said Walker. “When you do that, bad things can happen.” Of course, the only kind of two-step Simpson ever does is of the slam-dance variety,

FOOTBALL

what he started with an eightyard rumble into the end zone and it was 21-0, with still over five minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Taylor put together an eightplay drive, moving into Liberty Hill territory on its next possession, but a missed 41yard field goal attempt was the closest the Ducks would come to putting points on the board against a staunch Panthers defense. What followed was Liberty Hill football at its finest. Cearley led the Panthers’ offense on an epic 15-play, 80yard drive the likes of which hasn’t been seen from the offense all season. Seward’s lightning-quick cutback runs and dashes to the outside were complemented perfectly by the bashing, smashmouth inside running of Simpson and De La Cruz, culminating with Cearley’s three-yard scoring scamper, on which he strolled into the end zone untouched, increasing the Liberty Hill lead to 28-0. Simpson pounded another score in from four yards out the next time the Panthers had the ball and it was 35-0 as the teams headed off at the half. Liberty Hill got the ball to begin the second half and didn’t let off the gas, as Cearley hooked up with Seward on a 35-yard pass, which set up Simpson’s 25-yard scoring run on the next play, running the score to 42-0. However, Seward was saving his most spectacular display of speed for his second touchdown of the game, a sparkling 83-yard sprint in which he outran the entire Taylor defense for a 49-0 advantage. But, Simpson wasn’t about to be one-upped by his fellow junior, as he combined his trademark power with some speed of his own in breaking away for a 69-yard score to make it 56-0. Fittingly, the Panthers’ final score of the night was a perfect bookend to McMahan’s picksix, when senior Justin Coffee cut a route on the corner and took the ball back 36 yards for the game’s final margin. In all, the Panthers piled up 501 yards of total offense, with 459 on the ground. Seward carried 10 times for 201 yards a pair of touchdowns, while Simpson rushed for 176 yards on 17 carries with four touchdowns and De La Cruz added 77 yards on 12 attempts. Simpson was duly relieved about he and his teammates getting back to winning ways, he said. “Getting this win is a big momentum-changer for us,” said

Simpson. “It’s great for the community and it shows what we can do when we play as a team. Now, we just have to keep moving forward.” Walker attributed his squad’s offensive prowess to making fewer mistakes and avoiding costly penalties, both of which had boondoggled his club over the past three games. “We haven’t been bad on offense this year, but tonight we played a lot cleaner,” he said. “We’re pretty much back to our standard, so I’m happy.” Walker was also pleased with the fact his club won the turnover battle, only committing two, while forcing five, including additional interceptions by Matthew Montes and Eric Byrd and a fumble recovery by Hadley Weems, which all killed Ducks’ drives. “It was good to get on the right side of that one,” he said. As for Seward’s continued dazzling big runs, the Panthers’ boss said he’s fine with some improvisation as long as critical yards are ground out first. “I always tell Trey, ‘Just get me four yards,’” said Walker. “‘After that, you can go be an athlete and make a play.’” All that being said, he still wants his backs to hit the hole with a purpose, avoiding too much of the fancy stuff, he said. “We’re not on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ here,” said Walker. “I don’t like our guys dancing a whole lot.” The occasion marked the second consecutive game with Cearley once again under center and Walker said the offense’s improved production during that time is certainly no coincidence. “I think Jacob gives us a calming effect,” said Walker. “I thought we needed a steady hand in there and the guys all believe in him.” Entering the game, the Panthers needed to win their final two games of the regular season in order to qualify for the playoffs and now that mission is partially accomplished, with Walker hoping the victory will ease his players’ minds as they get ready for next week’s road showdown with Canyon Lake. However, despite victory, Walker said the wounds created by recent defeats still haven’t sufficiently healed. “All the wins are great,” he said. “But, we don’t enjoys wins as much as we suffer in defeat.” But, all in all, he was pleased with finally posting a home victory in what for some was their final game on the gridiron at Panther Stadium. “I really wanted to win this

Panthers destroy Ducks, 63-0 to keep playoff hopes alive

One big, very deep breath. It’s what everyone involved with Liberty Hill football can enjoy after Friday’s 63-0 victory against Taylor at Panther Stadium. The home side entered the contest riding a three-game losing streak, which spanned six weeks since the last time the Purple-and-Gold tasted victory with a 59-13 road win against Pflugerville Connally all the way back on Sept. 19. According to Head Coach Jeff Walker, a King Kong-sized monkey was removed from his team’s back with the win. “I’m really happy for our kids,” said Walker. “They never gave up on their coaches or each other.” The memories of failures, which haunted Walker and his players over the past monthand-a-half, were quickly put to the sword early on against the Ducks. After the visitors won the coin toss and elected to receive, the Taylor offense took the field and quickly completed a pass for a 12-yard gain on its opening play from scrimmage. But, it might have been the high point on the evening for the Ducks as on the next snap, sophomore Kaden McMahan stepped in front of a Taylor receiver, intercepted a pass attempt by senior quarterback Michael Schneider and took it back the distance, 37 yards for a touchdown only 37 seconds into the game for a 7-0 advantage. All that did was set the tone for the entire evening as the Panthers ran riot over the Ducks in just about every way possible on a football field. The Liberty Hill defense forced a three-and-out on Taylor’s next possession, then the Panthers’ offense got its first opportunity of the game to go to work, taking over on its own 40-yard line. Blake Simpson took a handoff from senior signal-caller Jacob Cearley and embarked on the first of a series of bruising runs, gaining five yards and sending a message to the Ducks defenders they were in for a rough night at the office. Only four plays later, Trey Seward took off on a 43-yard scoring sprint and just like that, it was 14-0. Another three-and-out for the Ducks and the Panthers quickly went back to work, as Simpson carried three consecutive times, followed by an Eric De La Cruz cruncher up the middle before Simpson finished

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JV tennis team members, from left, are Abby Gates, Analysa Caskey, Hayden Lane, Coach Wendel Jones, Preston Lane, Kylie Harlow and Alyssa Schaefer. The team represented Liberty Hill at the Gatesville JV tournament on Oct. 31. (Courtesy Photo) game for our seniors,” said Walker. “I want them to be able to feel really good about themselves and move forward with conﬁdence.” Liberty Hill (3-5, 1-3) must now defeat Canyon Lake by at least six points next week to return to the postseason and Walker knows what’s at stake for him and his players, he said. “Next week is our ﬁrst-round playoff game,” said Walker. “So, we’re going to work hard and see what we can do.”

SWIMMING

The Liberty Hill swim team competed Nov. 2 at the Burnet Invite and came away with some promising results, as the Panthers finished 11th overall in a field of 26 teams, with the girls placing sixth out of 18, with 178 points. The girls’ 200-yard medley relay team of Cassidy Sudekum, Brooke Becker, Victoria Phegley and Madelyn Edwards finished second in a time of 2:10.49 for the Panthers’ best result of the day. On top of that success, the same four were fifth in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:55.16. Individually, Becker scored the top result with a second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:19.01, while Sudekum finished third in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:13.50 and seventh in the 500-yard freestyle (6:26.66). Edwards was seventh in the 100 backstroke (1:17.64). Becker was also fifth in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:25.70, Phegley was fourth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:30.67) and fifth in the 100yard butterfly (1:07.74).

JV ROUNDUP

Both teams will next play at Georgetown on Nov. 7.

On Oct. 31, the Panthers’ junior varsity tennis squad played at the Gatesville tournament and were led by the girls’ doubles duo of Abby Gates and Analysa Caskey, who won by defeating Copperas Cove 8-6, Gatesville 8-1 and Whitney 8-3 in the finals. In girls’ singles, Kylie Harlow finished third with a victory over Copperas Cove by a score of 6-1 after defeating Whitney, 8-1 and losing to Brownwood, 9-8. In boys’ doubles, the team of Presten Lane and Hayden Lane finished second after beating Brownwood, 8-1 and Whitney, 8-6 before losing in the finals to Brownwood, 8-2. On Oct. 29, the freshman tennis team played at the Pflugerville ninth-grade tournament. Leading the way was freshman girls’ singles champion Grace Davis, who defeated East View 8-3, Vista Ridge 8-4, Pflugerville 8-0 and was leading Westlake 2-0 in the finals before rain washed out the rest of day and Davis was awarded first place. Jesslyn Jackson finished third in girls’ singles, losing to Westlake in the semifinals, but beating Pflugerville for third place. Also placing third was the boys’ doubles team of Cash Terry and Michael Evans, who defeated East View 9-8, but fell to Vista Ridge and then beat Austin for third. Also playing for the Panthers were Joel Rodriguez and Toribio Rodriguez, who made the consolation finals before losing to East View, Creighton Legerit, who made the consolation semifinals and losing to Cedar Ridge and Caden Adams, who lost his second match to Leander Glenn.

LHJH ROUNDUP

Tennis

Football

Liberty Hill Junior High School faced Taylor Oct. 29 in four games across both seventh and eighth grades. Eighth-grade Purple won 3820 after trailing 20-0. Sean Parsons returned a kickoff for a touchdown and the rest of the game, the Panthers defense stiﬂed the Taylor offense. Carson Hollen, Colby Demars and Noah Long added rushing touchdowns for the Panthers. Hollen also intercepted a pass in the ﬁrst half that allowed the Panthers offense to go on another scoring drive. Eighth-grade Gold lost 6-0 as the Panthers defense kept the Taylor offense out of the end zone the entire game. The only score came off of an interception thrown by Liberty Hill. The Panthers tried to make a comeback near the end of the game, but fell short. Seventh-grade Purple won 24-8, as Braden Radziwon scored two touchdowns and Jaxson Scott scored another on a quarterback keeper. The defense shut down the Taylor offense for most of the game. Seventh-grade Gold won 140, as Jackson Knight scored a pair of touchdowns and Memphis Fitch converted on a twopoint conversion, while the defense kept Taylor out of the end zone.

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Dynamic

LHJH cross country success

Liberty Hill Junior High School’s cross country team finished off the season with outstanding results at the district meet in Georgetown on Oct. 9. The Panthers’ seventh-grade girls and boys both won district titles, while the eighth-grade boys also won and the eighth-grade girls finished second. (Photo Courtesy Sarah Lee)

Sears

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regional meet by a healthy margin even without her services on the trails, which validated the decision that was made to drop her from the seven who competed, she said. “Now, I wouldn’t change a thing,” said Sears. “As a senior, this year is about a lot of last times to do things, so it made me really feel like I still wanted to be a part of it all.” How serious and determined was she to make that happen? Even during the course of her injury rehab when she couldn’t actually train herself, Sears was still arriving every morning at 6 a.m. along with the rest of her teammates, which further illustrated her commitment, said Holt. “Some kids are selfish,” she said. “She easily could’ve said, ‘I can’t run, so who cares,’ but she didn’t.” Of course, it certainly doesn’t hurt Sears if someone who revels in the hours before and shortly after the sun rises on a new day. “I’m the most morning person there is,” said Sears. “I’ll even do a rooster crow when we first go out to warm up before practice.” Along with her alarm clock services when her teammates

are still half-asleep, Sears will also play the role of enforcer of rules, said Holt. “Madison is both the good cop and the bad cop,” she said. Sears agreed with her coach’s assessment. “I do have a bit of a crazy side and sometimes the other girls will call me ‘Mama Sears,’ because I can be sweet,” she said. “But, I can also be confrontational if something is going wrong.” Sears cites a friendly rivalry with fellow senior Hannah Johnson as one of the most enjoyable aspects of her Panther journey through the past four years and even before, she said. “Going all the way back to seventh grade, Hannah and I have always been close with our times,” she said. “But, since we’ve been in high school, we’ve gotten a lot closer because we’ve had classes together and so forth.” But, the competition between the two friends has continued to burn bright even after the pair became closer away from running, said Sears. “Hannah’s always been a little faster than me,” she said. “I would beat her in practice, but then she would always run

faster than me in races.” Until last track season when all of that finally changed and the tides of victory were turned in her favor. “In the first meet last year, I beat her by about eight seconds in the mile,” said Sears. “It was very rewarding because it was like, ‘Ha, I finally caught you!” I thinks it’s always going to be fun to look back and have that person you were close with – it’s more sentimental.” Something else that will provide intrinsic reward will be when Sears will once again be there to offer moral support to her teammates at the state meet in Round Rock on Saturday. “I think it’s still going to be very rewarding, but from a different perspective,” said Sears. Finally, she said the bond that exists between the community of Liberty Hill and the Panthers’ sports teams is indeed unique and is something she will always remember. “It’s been really great to be part of a program which is supported by the entire town,” she said. “A place where everyone is proud of our school and all our sports.”

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Ashley Nelson (#1) concentrates on a pass while Haley Kuhlmann (#21) backs up the play during the Lady Panthers’ 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) opening-round victory against Bandera on Tuesday.

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Despite the straight-sets scoreline, the match was a nipand-tuck affair throughout, as momentum swung back and forth. Huppee set the tone for her performance with the opening kill of the contest, followed by one from Lilli Wilkins and a pair from Escamilla for an early advantage. However, Bandera fought back time and again and although they never wrested the lead away from the Lady Panthers, they closed to withing a single point on several occasions before Huppee crushed a pair of kills along with two more by Becker to close out the opening set. Rugged defensive play including a block by Ashley Nelson and a double-team effort by Ailie Hair and Huppee also played a role, as well as a sprawling save on a loose ball by Haley Kuhlmann, which kept a play alive long enough for Nelson to hammer home a kill moments later. Liberty Hill sped out of the gates in the second set, storming to a 7-1 advantage on a Hair kill and another pair of Becker bombs, but Bandera bounced back, even taking the lead at 11-10 midway through

the stanza. But, Nelson answered with an ace and a kill on back-to-back points, followed by a Huppee block to regain momentum for Liberty Hill. Escamilla then mishit a ball, only for it to dribble along the top of the net and fall for a winner, which was indicative of how fortune would shine on the Lady Panthers for the rest of the evening. Becker and Hair teamed up to stuff a pair of Bulldogs attempts and the second set was salted away, 25-17. The Lady Panthers’ block party continued at the outset of the third set as Escamilla first teamed up with Wilkins for a block, then slid over and double-teamed with Hair for another rejection of a Bandera effort. But, like in the previous set, the Bulldogs bravely fought back and took an 8-7 lead, but it was the last time they were ahead. Becker took the ball back behind the end line and smashed three consecutive aces, followed by another pair of Huppee kills before additional aces by Wilkins and Kuhlmann sealed the deal. Becker, who transferred from

Hutto before this season and wasn’t around for last season’s postseason disappointment, was nonetheless relieved at the fact she and her teammates had weathered this year’s opening-round storm. “It’s pretty exciting,” she said. “Right now, it feels really good that all of our hard work all season is starting to pay off.” Becker led Liberty Hill with 16 assists and three aces, while Emma Parsons contributed 14 assists to the cause. Hair blocked nine shots and Wilkins six, with Kuhlmann picking up six digs and Escamilla and Nelson each were credited with three. Nelson and Kuhlmann also each served a pair of aces. Peterson was pleased to have removed the monkey from her team’s back, which had dogged them all season. “We can have a big exhale now and celebrate this victory,” she said. “But, we have much bigger dreams and goals.” Liberty Hill (38-13) will next face Caldwell in a second-round match on Friday in Rockdale at 6:30 p.m.

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bashing his way up inside the mosh pit of madness in the area between the tackles, which means there are certain to be battle scars and the 6-foot-2, 200-pound bruiser is no exception, although he usually gives out more than he takes, said Walker. “It’s good to see a young man who works hard always try to stay on his feet,” he said. “Blake’s a load to bring down.” Look no further than the Taylor game, during which Simpson carried a pair of defenders 20 yards down the field before finally being brought down. Seward said he and his running mate get excited for each other when such a play unfolds. “We always compliment each other when we have good runs,” he said. “We also let each other know what we’re seeing out there as far as the defense. For example, right before his long touchdown against Taylor, I mentioned to him the cutback was there and he took it.” Another dimension the combo brings to the table is the ability to wear down defenses who don’t know where or how they will be hit next – even if they think they do, said Seward. “It’s pretty cool when we run Blake up the middle three or four times in a row and the defense is looking for that,” he said. “Then, I’ll get the ball on a reverse to the outside.” Adding to the duo’s amazing accomplishments is the fact the Panthers’ offensive line has been in a constant state of flux all season, said Walker. “We’ve had a whole bunch

of different guys on our offensive line,” he said. “Only our strong tackle (Keegan Klaus-Ryan), center (Ryley Rosenbusch) and quick guard (Jed Lapuszynski) have been in the same place all season.” Another lineup change occurred when fullback Nate Robinson was moved to defense, with Eric De La Cruz stepping in as the third back, but the biggest one of all has been the rotation of quarterbacks, with junior Charlie Calabretta taking over after starter and senior Jacob Cearley was lost to injury in the second game of the season, only to return under center for the past two games. Cearley’s return to signal-calling duties has certainly sparked the Panthers’ offense as they have averaged 450 yards on the ground in the two games since, a fact not lost on Walker, he said. “Jacob’s really good at taking what the defense gives us,” said Walker. “But, he’s also a very fast, athletic young man who’s been in those situations before. After you play in a state championship game, you’re not going to be nervous in a district game, so he helps boost everyone’s confidence.” Seward agreed with Walker’s assessment. “Jacob’s made a huge difference since he’s been back,” he said. “He always keeps us calm in the huddle and tells us we’re going to get this.” Walker singled out De La Cruz’ contributions to the cause. “Eric has come in and done well for us,” he said, of the junior who has added 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “Even though he hasn’t got-

proficient as the Panthers this season in doing so, as they are averaging 253.8 yards on the ground per game compared to Liberty Hill’s total of 356.8. Sophomore James Bates leads Canyon Lake with 850 yards on 109 carries and nine touchdowns, followed by a pair of seniors in Ethan Slater (360 yards, two touchdowns) and Nic Rivera (346, four). However, the Hawks have been more potent through the air than the Panthers, as junior quarterback Peyton McMullen has completed 27 of 78 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Liberty Hill’s offense has been led by a trio of juniors out of the backfield in Trey Seward (1,183 yards, 12 touchdowns), Blake Simpson (1,042, 11) and Eric De La Cruz (329, two). Walker said despite the similarities between the two sides, it’s really a case of simply executing properly. “I think our defense has a better understanding of their offense,” he said. “But, it’s going to be more about the

Jimmies and Joes getting it done.” Walker was encouraged by the fact the Panthers forced five turnovers in last week’s 63-0 home victory against Taylor. “We have to win the turnover battle again this week,” he said. “We also have to be able to slow them down, eat up the clock like we know we can and punch it in when we get the opportunity.” However, one thing the Hawks do have on their side is a size advantage over his squad, said Walker. “They’re definitely bigger than us,” he said. “But, that’s usually the case on most nights for us when you line up with guys who go 187, 170 and 160.” Walker said the fact his team is coming off a victory for the first time in six weeks provides his players with some impetus in getting ready for what is a de facto playoff game. “We definitely feel better about ourselves,” he said. “But, we’re still a little nervous about this one, although

Canyon Lake

Fishing

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there’s no status quo in regards to who has become involved -- we have scholars, athletes, all different types which have come out to be a part of this for one reason or another. This has been a great opportunity for a lot of students and captains to learn and grow with regards to life skills, leadership, fishing skill and patience -- a lot of growth on so many different levels.” However, what is similar to traditional sports once on the water, it’s a matter of proper technique, strategy and execution in order to be successful, said senior Ryder Martin. “It’s a sport where you definitely learn through experience,” he said. “Like which bait is best, and knowing how to pick a good spot – the more you fish, the better you get.” Usually, the team will scout the location of an upcoming tournament by fishing there a week in advance, like football players studying game film. But, the process doesn’t always pay dividends due to one very important factor that can change everything – weather. “One week, we fished someplace when it was 60 or 65 degrees and there were more fish and they were bigger,” said Martin. “But,when we went back the following week, it was completely dif-

ten a lot of carries.” With the way the Panthers have struggled as a team this season, Walker believes his players have at times been guilty of trying too hard to reverse their fortunes, especially those responsible for gaining yardage and putting up points. “I think for a long time our guys were just trying to do too much,” he said. “You can’t do more than you’re capable of – all you can do is focus on one carry at a time, but at the same time, you can’t fault someone for trying to get that extra yard. Although at some point, you need to let the game come to you.” Suffice to say, Simpson and Seward have done plenty of focusing this season and when the game hasn’t come to them, they’ve gone out and gotten it themselves. As far as his dynamic backfield duo is concerned, Walker is convinced the pair of juniors can build on the accomplishments of this season heading into next, he said. “I think both of them can be a lot better,” said Walker. “Blake has a knee, which has been bothering him this season, so we need to get him healed up. And as far as Trey is concerned, we need to get more weight on him and make him a little faster.” A stronger Seward and a faster Simpson? Certainly a prospect that bodes well for next year’s Panther squad. Kind of like having both an immovable object and an irresistible force in the same backfield. Good luck, opposing defenses.

ferent.” Warr said patience and the will to not give in to conditions are of the utmost importance. “I think fishing is more mental, for sure,” he said. “You have to just stand up and keep casting.” Whereas traditional sports only take up a few hours on game day, a fishing tournament is an endurance event as much as anything else, with the day beginning at 3 a.m., then being out on the lake for eight hours. But, that’s all part of the fun, said sophomore Caitlin Hunter, who joined the ranks this year and is the first female member of the team. “I like getting to wake up early and go be with my teammates,” she said. “When I’m out there, I feel like one of the guys.” Shauna Martin said the future looks bright for the team, if the continuing trend is any indication. “I feel there’s a lot of growth potential for the team. Last year, we had 39 team members and so far this year we have 38, with 21 of those being returning members and 17 new members,” she said. “Also, we averaged six to eight boats per tournament and this year we’re averaging 10-12 boats.”

it’s a different kind of nervous because if we win we keep playing and if we lose we turn our stuff in.” For Walker, a season unlike any he’s had over the course of a coaching career that spans over two decades has unfolded in a way he’s not necessarily surprised about, only to the degree of the struggles, he said. “We lost a lot of players off last season’s team,” said Walker. “But, if someone had told me before the season we’d need to win our last game just to get into the playoffs, I would’ve called them a liar.” After a season filled with trials and tribulations the likes of which the program hasn’t endured in many years, Walker is keenly aware of the gravity of the situation he and his team find themselves in, he said. “We have to do it this week,” said Walker. “We know it’s going to be a challenge, but we can’t worry about outside pressures – we just have to go out and execute.”

The increase in numbers also means more competitive opportunities, said Martin. “Last year, we fished in one tournament trail, which had four qualifying tournaments, and one state championship,” she said. “This year, we’re competing in two different tournament trails with a total of eight qualifying tournaments and two state championships.” Where there is more competition, there are more chances for members of the team to move on and compete at the college level, much like their athletic brethren, said Martin. “Only the state championship offered scholarships to the top finishers last year,” she said. “But, this year, scholarships are available to the top three finishers at all eight of the qualifying tournaments, as well as both of the state championships. Competitive bass fishing is a growing sport with tremendous opportunities for these students.” However, all that being said, at the end of the day, it’s simply about doing something one loves with people who share the same passion, regardless of results, said Warr. “I like the fact it’s not necessarily about the fishing,” he said. “But, it’s more about having fun because a bad day fishing is still a good day.”

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VOLLEYBALL

not how we do things at Liberty Hill.” Despite the fact last year’s team had eight seniors on the roster, there was still a lack of experience in the side, she said. “We had seniors who hadn’t gotten a lot of playing time up to that point and were thrust into roles maybe they weren’t accustomed to,” said Peterson. “But, I thought they handled it pretty well.” LaDuque spent last year on the junior varsity, but she knew as an incoming senior this season she would help carry the burden of that failure moving forward, she said. “I think for me it was different because I didn’t experience it myself,” said LaDuque. “But, it still makes me not want to go through it.” Now that the Lady Panthers have returned to that same place where they were a year ago, the entire team is ready and determined to ensure there’s no disappointment this time around, said LaDuque.

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“It’s deﬁnitely something we’ve been anticipating,” she said. “For us, it’s the culmination of the entire year’s work.” Liberty Hill entered the postseason on a 19-match winning streak, with the last defeat being at the Smithson Valley tournament over two months ago, the ﬁnal event of three road trips to play in tournaments against higher-level competition, which was designed to toughen her team up for the pressurized gauntlet they’re about to pass through, said Peterson. “We got stronger from those challenges,” she said. “We saw what it takes to play at that level because you learn more from your losses than wins.” Peterson also said the returning players from last season’s side who went through the disappointment are stronger now because of it. “Players like Ashley (Nelson), Ailie (Hair), Lilli (Wilkins), Ashleigh Dubbs and Emma Parsons have all gotten even better this season

Continued from Page B1

“Some days, you’re just super tired and don’t want to get up for practice, you just want to lay in bed,” she said. “But, once you can push past that wall in your head, it’s exciting to see the results from all our hard work because it all makes us stronger in the end.” Ayanna Donwerth and freshman Zaila Smith are the top guns in the Liberty Hill lineup, so when the runners break from the line in Round Rock, there’s a deﬁnite strategy in place for the rest of the Panthers, said Johnson. “The start is critical because you don’t want to get boxed in and have to work around people,” she said. “What I do after that is pick a person who’s a little faster than me and try to keep up, then after I pass her, I’ll keep trying to pick off one more at a time. If I have a kick at the end, great.” Johnson ﬁnished 19th at the regional race in a time of 12:41.61, which was a new personal best and the fastest she had run a race since her freshman season, a result that was good enough for fourth on the Panthers, helping them to a team total of 76, which easily outpaced runner-up Bandera, who could muster only 156.

On the boys’ side, Berber finished 20th in 17:23.68, which was also fourth among his teammates, and helped Liberty Hill to a second-place showing as junior Isaiah De La Garza crossed the line as the lead Panther runner in ninth with a time of 17:03.50. De La Garza is usually in the mix of the Panthers’ numbers three, four and five runners behind Diaz and Berber, but that wasn’t the case on this day, something that Berber didn’t expect, he said. “Isaiah surprised me with what he did,” said Berber. “I looked up ahead of me and saw a guy in purple and said to myself it couldn’t be him, but then he rounded a corner and could see it was. He ran one of his best races.” Liberty Hill head Coach Kim Holt said the regional results will bode well for her squad’s fortunes at the state event. “The fact our girls won by so much – 80 points, was surprising, but that gives them a lot of confidence moving forward,” said Holt, who has now presided over five girls’ regional championships during her tenure as coach. “The boys have had better races, but that will just motivate them to do bet-

because of what they went through last year,” she said. “I feel like now we have more mature players than we did last year and the potential to go really far in the playoffs because we’re also more gifted and talented.” Now that the time for redemption is at hand, Nelson said she’s ready to go in taking care of unﬁnished business. “I’m not really nervous – I’m more excited,” she said. “We’re ready for what’s to come. For us, anything short of a state title is failure.” Huppee echoed her teammate’s sentiment. “I think we’re going to be very disappointed if we don’t go far,” she said. “Because we have the potential to do so.” LaDuque is certain she and the rest of the Lady Panthers are poised to pounce in the playoffs, she said. “I fell like we’ve really come together as a team,” said LaDuque. “We all know each other, we know how to make each other better, but most of

ter.” Holt was pleased with the performance put on by De La Garza, she said. “It was awesome to see Isaiah up there,” said Holt. “For him, it’s deﬁnitely a conﬁdence-builder and I hope he can do it again.” Holt added results like these at season’s end are always very gratifying for her as a coach. “For me, it’s always great to see them do well and reach their goals,” she said. “It’s really exciting to see how happy they are.” Johnson said a big part of the role she and fellow seniors Sears and Lindsee Miller play is to ensure certain standards are adhered to by the younger members of the program. “I guess I feel pressure to teach the underclassmen the traditions of what we do,” she said. “But, it’s our job to teach the people below us.” So, what are some of those hallowed Purple-and-Gold traditions? “Stuff like our team chant we do before a race and also our prayer we say,” said Johnson. “We also sing the school song on the bus and there’s also the Kim Holt fan club.” Johnson said a visit to the

Thursday, November 7, 2019

all, we want to make one another better. There’s a real cohesiveness on our team and we all believe in ourselves.” All in all, last season’s abbreviated postseason run could actually be in retrospect a black cloud with the proverbial silver lining, said Peterson. “Could be what happened to us last year was a blessing,” she said. “Because I think it’s made us tougher and stronger and has been a big motivating factor for our girls.” Peterson said this time of the year after a long, grueling regular season is always like a breath of fresh air – for players and coaches alike. “Playoffs deﬁnitely give you a sense of urgency and a lot of excitement,” she said. “It’s like a new life and a very fun time of the season.” However, not all the memories will be made on the court and in fact, some of the most lasting will have nothing to do with scorelines, said Peterson. “I think it’s important for our girls to make the most of ev-

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Senior Hannah Johnson and her Panthers teammates will compete at the state meet in Round Rock on Saturday following a regional victory. beach was in order after the team’s success in Corpus Christi. “We all swam into the ocean

PANTHER R GAMES FOR NOV. 7 1. Canyon Lake vs. Liberty Hill 2. Hutto vs. Rouse 3. Taylor vs. Burnet 4. Cedar Park vs. Manor 5. W. Virginia vs. Texas Tech 6. Alabama vs. LSU 7. Texas vs. Kansas St. 8. Oklahoma vs. Iowa St. 9. TCU vs. Baylor 10. Wisconsin vs. Iowa 11. Jets vs. Giants 12. Cowboys vs. Vikings LAST WEEK’S RECORD OVERALL RECORD

Kevin Dydalewicz

Jamie Etzkorn

Bret Smith

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

The Lady Panthers celebrated a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) opening-round playoff win against Bandera in Marble Falls on Tuesday. ery moment and ﬁnd joy in the at hand is still in the forefront, journey,” she said. “Memories with how last season ended alwill come from things like the ready a distant memory, said road trips, team dinners, and Peterson. time they spend with one an“We’ve moved forward and other. Nobody’s going to re- set our team up according to member who played what or who we are now,” she said. how, so they just need to em- “We know who we are, so now it’s time to take care of busibrace the situation.” All that being said, the task ness.”

JD Davis

and it was a huge bonding experience for us – it’s something we’ll remember for a long time,” she said. “We’ve

all worked really hard to get to this point.”

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Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Manor Texas Tech LSU Texas Oklahoma Baylor Wisconsin Giants Vikings

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Cedar Park W. Virginia Alabama Kansas St. Oklahoma Baylor Iowa Giants Vikings

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Cedar Park Texas Tech LSU Texas Oklahoma Baylor Wisconsin Jets Cowboys

Liberty Hill Rouse Burnet Cedar Park Texas Tech Alabama Texas Oklahoma TCU Wisconsin Giants Cowboys

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Cedar Park W. Virginia LSU Texas Oklahoma TCU Wisconsin Giants Vikings

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Cedar Park W. Virginia Alabama Kansas St. Oklahoma TCU Wisconsin Giants Cowboys

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Cedar Park Texas Tech Alabama Texas Oklahoma TCU Wisconsin Giants Vikings

Liberty Hill Hutto Burnet Manor Texas Tech Alabama Texas Oklahoma TCU Wisconsin Jets Cowboys

8-4 73-47

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7-5 79-41

11-1 85-35

4-8 73-47

8-4 73-47

9-3 74-48

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Thursday, November 7, 2019

NUMBERS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page B3

Seward will zap you with an electric move to the outside. On one particular sequence on Friday, Simpson literally carried a pair of Taylor tacklers and took them for an all-expenses-paid trip about 20 yards down the ﬁeld before he ﬁnally went down. “Did anyone get the number of that big rig that just took me for a ride?” 42. Oh and by the way, it was 20 who ran right past you before you could even get back up again. So, for a few blessed hours on another chilly night under

the Lights at Panther Stadium, it was once again the halcyon days for the Purple-and-Gold and there was much rejoicing within the ranks of the Liberty Hill faithful. But, as Head Coach Jeff Walker sat at his desk in the aftermath with loud music blaring in the adjoining locker room, he already had his mind on what lies directly in front of his club. A win-and-you’re-in, loseand-go-home road game SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO against Canyon Lake this week The sunset over Panther Stadium tailgating tents Nov. 1. in order for a chance to wash away the bad taste of this seaBut, that was for another day. shining moments, the Gold son with another playoff run. What matters is for a few Rush was back on.

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500 San Gabriel Dr 1953 CR 250 105 Chickasaw Plum 211 River Rock Dr. 1160 CR 226 209 Estima Ct 107 Matthews Cir 429 Dove Trail 433 Dove Trail 24703 Long Hollow Trail 31451 Kingsway Rd 105 Junction Cir 126 Robert’s Circle 120 Red Mulberry 119 Hickman St

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 7, 2019