Dragon Pride Spring 2022 by Southlake Style Magazine

SPRING

,22

SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM

SPRING ’22 • 49

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alliebeth.com 50 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

LEADING OFF

TAFFFF & & C O N T R II B SSTA BU UTTO ORRSS

PUBLISHER Mike Tesoriero Mike@SouthlakeStyle.com SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Nicole Tesoriero Nicole@SouthlakeStyle.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR David Dunn David@SouthlakeStyle.com

STAFF WRITER Lizzy Spangler Lizzy@SouthlakeStyle.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bruce Sons ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER Andrea Hatchett Andrea@SouthlakeStyle.com

soccer chops I’m from a place where high school soccer is played in the fall. My brother and I played varsity for our small school. He was considerably better and an all-district performer. Like so many kids in Southlake, my girls played soccer too and, like so many parents, I coached and cheered from the sidelines as long as I could. Last year, my youngest decided to give one last go for her Carroll Middle school team, and I was happy for another season in the stands. I’m no talent scout, but it was quite apparent these eighth grade Dragons had some serious soccer chops as they handily defeated the opposition in the season opener. I contacted my brother at halftime to share my opinion that neither of us would have started for this team. Then came the big game against Dawson Middle school at Dragon Stadium. I was amazed as Dawson’s Dragons took out CMS by just as large of a margin — cementing in my mind a deep and talented run for years to come. I’m unsure if anyone realized the time would be so soon. In hindsight, I had witnessed the early stages of what the rest of the state now understands. Coach Matt Colvin’s roster of talented freshmen — led by Kennedy Fuller, Hannah Jordan and Olivia Gellar — already have Lady Dragon Soccer at the top of the heap. Congratulations to the entire team on its third state championship. From soccer to the soon-to-be-UIL water polo team, this season’s issue boasts an impressive roster of big-time performers that have Carroll well on its way to another Lone Star Cup.

OFFICE COORDINATOR Kelly Rose

Yours in Dragon Pride,

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Zach Warner

Stewart Johnson

SPRING

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

,22

Mike Tesoriero | Publisher Mike@SouthlakeStyle.com

ON THE COVER CONTACT US 520 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 100 Southlake, TX 76092 817.416.4500 SouthlakeStyle.com

Soccer Success

The Big Win

Photo by Robbie Rakestraw DPS 22 Cover.indd

5/9/22 9:54 AM

Southlake Style is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and agencies assume all liability for advertising content. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

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SPRING ’22 • 01

04 04

ALWAYS IN SEASON Lady Dragon Soccer State Champs

CARROLL SPORTS IN REVIEW Recapping the 2021-2022 athletic season

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT Celebrate the stories of this season’s athletes

S IGNING DAY

THE LONG GAME

See where these Dragons will play next

Dragon Baseball is on a hot winning streak

DIVING IN Water Polo prepares to join the UIL

WELL REPRESENTED These Dragon athletes made us proud

PARTING SHOT Down the stretch

02 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

L E T ’ S CON T INUE T HE

TRADITION

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@southlakecopelands SPRING ’22 • 03

ALWAYS in season

PHOTOS BY JOE CALOMENI

Hat Trick Heroics: Freshman Kennedy Fuller scores three goals during the state title game.

he Lady Dragons have done it again. After cruising past Austin Westlake in a 3-0 win in the state semifinal, the Dragons won the state championship in a 4-0 shutout win against Rockwall. This win marks the third state championship of the program, which previously won state in 2008 and 2019. “This team is special in many ways,” head coach Matthew Colvin says. “From the youth to the incredible senior leadership, they were able to find a common goal and together prepared every day to reach that goal. Their special bond came from the belief and trust they had in each other and the team as a whole.”

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM The Dragons’ offense more than shined during the state final against Rockwall. Freshman Kennedy Fuller scored the team’s first goal in the 13th minute of the game and, following an assist by senior Hanna Khan, scored again to bring the Dragons’ lead to 2-0 in the first half. It didn’t take long for the Lady Dragons to add to their lead going into the second half. A free kick by freshman Zoe Matthews made it 3-0 after which Fuller followed up with her own goal, achieving a hat trick and securing the Dragons’ state victory. Following the win, coach Colvin received a Gatorade shower, which he says was “chilly, but with the temperature and high humidity, I did not mind it!” Immediately after the game ended, Fuller was selected as MVP, while she and Matthews, Khan and Olivia Geller were named to the University Interscholastic League’s 6A Girls All-Tournament Team. Meanwhile, in the weeks following the end of the season, the accolades just kept coming for the Lady Dragons. Among the honors received, “The Dallas Morning News” recognized Fuller as the Soccer Player of the Year, while naming freshman Hannah Jordan the Newcomer of the Year and Khan to the newspaper’s AllArea First Team. Khan was also named District Co-Offensive MVP while Fuller was named District MVP. The coaching staff also received recognition, earning District Staff of the Year.

SPRING ’22 • 05

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SPRING ’22 • 07

SPORTS IN REVIEW

,22

WITH PHOTOS BY STEWART JOHNSON

D RAG O N S

SOFTBALL

ROSTER Head Coach: Tim Stuewe Assistant Coaches: Jennifer Hutto, Callie Pomroy, Emilia Egel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Aubree Shelton Claire Carrick Morgan Cashon Anna Hunt Cameron Timmons Ro McAteer Sammy Petkus Bella Jones Abigail Smith Sydney Stagg Brooke Berwick Emmy May Ava Ordaz Jordan Stewart Emerson Thorne Scarlett Kuhn Raina Rumalla Lillian Cooper Megan Merimonti

Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr.

SEASON RECAP

ABOUT THE TEAM Last year, mound time was dominated by Cameron Timmons, who served as the lone ace for the Lady Dragons softball team. This year, opponents couldn’t get used to seeing one arm winding up against them when they played Carroll. Four different pitchers have started, as no one hurler carried the load for the team. Through the first 27 games, the staff was led by Timmons (3-2), Sydney Stagg (4-2) and Aubree Shelton (3-1) who boasted a team-leading 2 ERA. “We've pitched by committee,” Carroll softball coach Tim Stuewe says. “At times, it's worked really well for us... That's been the concept, to keep changing it up, to see different pitchers, different deliveries and different pitches.” A young team with only three seniors on the roster, the Lady Dragons did whatever it took to get a leg up. Although the younger players made an impact, the seniors set the tone. Morgan Cashon led in batting average (.432) and stolen bases (22), while Lillian Cooper (.362 average) led with three home runs. Freshman infielder Scarlett Kuhn (.392, 22 RBI) was another threat at the plate, as were freshman Jordan Stewart (.338, team-high 27 RBI) and junior Timmons (.377, tied for the lead in triples with four).

when we're clicking on all cylinders and playing like we're capable of, we're a tough team to beat. —H ead Coach Tim Stuewe 08 • SPRING ’22

The upside of a young, talented team is knowing the future is bright and that good athletes have a chance to get even better with extensive varsity experience. The downside is battling inconsistency while players endure the growing pains as they gain experience. It was a roller coaster ride at times for Carroll softball, as the Lady Dragons (15-17-2 at the end of the regular season) broke even at some tough tournaments before entering district to start 2-1, fall to 2-3, then win three of their next four heading into the final three games. “It's been up and down,” says Carroll coach Tim Stuewe. “But they've shown that they can regroup…We just have to have a short memory and get ready [for the next game].” The Lady Dragons beat perennial power and district rival Keller 9-8 in their first district meeting but lost 8-3 the second time around after leading 3-1 going into the sixth. Losing its first contest against a tough Byron Nelson team, Carroll redeemed itself with a solid 8-1 win when the teams met again. The top five teams in District 4-6A were engaged in a dogfight for playoff spots, with only four advancing. Qualifying for the playoffs, Carroll ultimately lost in Round 1 to Boswell. Though their season ended earlier than they would have liked, the Lady Dragons will use this season's experiences as fuel for next year. “It's never over,” he said. “You've got to keep on fighting.” DRAGONPRIDE

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SPRING ’22 • 09

D RAG O N S

BASEBALL

ROSTER Head Coach: Larry Vucan Assistant Coaches: Zach Sellers, Robert Mendoza, Phillip O'Neil

ABOUT THE TEAM Stacked with talent and depth, the Carroll baseball pitching staff has shown they can be dominant at times. Producing runs is no easy task when facing the Dragons, who as a team boasted a 1.56 ERA heading into the final games of the regular season. Led by two Division I commits in senior left-handers Owen Proksch (Duke) and Griffin Herring (LSU), Carroll’s pitching can take over games when they’re on. Other than Proksch (0.99 ERA, 3-1, 50 strikeouts) and Herring (0.43, 4-1, 48 SO), Tyler White (4-1), Nathan Rusher (1.69 ERA), Dominic Gill (3 saves, 0 ERA) and Zach Coletti (17 SO in 16 innings) have shown they can carry the load when taking the mound as well. “Those are the guys that really will help us once the postseason comes,” says Larry Vucan, Carroll baseball head coach. “I think we have enough depth in arms, we have enough matchups with righty-lefty, that we can match up well in playoff games.” With plenty of veteran experience, the Dragons' offense is no slouch either. Senior infielder Ethan Mendoza leads the team in batting average (.379), hits (22) and doubles (seven). Proksch has the most home runs (four) and is second in runs batted in (13), trailing only senior catcher Clark Springs (14). Vucan touted Springs (.375 average, .484 on-base percentage, .987 fielding percentage) as possibly the best catcher in the state. Where Vucan would like to see the team improve is in their consistency at the plate. “To be a threat each inning is something that we're still working on,” says Vucan. “We need to step up and be a little nastier.”

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40 42 44 46

Nathan Rusher Ethan Mendoza Brady Henderson Max Reyes Tyson Drake Brady Miller Clark Springs Jack Labarge Ben Tryon Owen Proksch Spencer Simpson Jake Moran Dane DeLugo Anthony Llera Griffin Herring Jared White Nolan Harsy Cole Bedwell Cody Cashon Tanner Sumer Tyler White Grant Wright Eric Thiel Ryan Golomb David Rose Nick Jones Colin Coulter Colin Robson Caden Orr Zac Colletti Tice Purpura Dominic Gill Armani Knipper Trevor Tachibana Manning Fike Austin Page Seaver Newby Ian Reid

Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr.

the only rankings that matter are in june. —H ead Coach Larry Vucan 10 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

S E A S O N U P D AT E It’s nearly a total role reversal from last year when a young Carroll baseball team with no returning starters wasn’t expected to go far in 2021. Green in the beginning, the Dragons grew up as the season progressed and fell one inning short of a return to the state tournament in Round Rock. This year, a more experienced Carroll team had lofty expectations coming in, but has had to deal with the pressure of having targets on their backs and playing consistently up to its potential. Starting off ranked No. 1 among Class 6A teams in the state, some non-district losses and up-and-down play dropped the Dragons in the polls. But Carroll coach Larry Vucan wants his players to ignore that and focus on being their best now so that it will pay off later. “The only rankings that matter are in June,” says Vucan, whose Dragons were 19-8 overall, 6-2 in district heading into the final four games. Carroll had a nice string of nine wins heading into district, then defeated a solid Byron Nelson team twice to start District 4-6A competition. However, Keller took two wins in a row in their district match-ups in late March, fueling the teams’ growing rivalry. The Indians defeated Carroll in the Region I final game to end the Dragons’ season in 2021. “They've gotten our number lately,” Vuc an s ay s. “Nobody usually has Southlake's number over a two-year span. But hopefully, we'll see them again once we get into [the playoffs], and we can take care of business.”

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SPRING ’22 • 11

D RAG O N S

BOYS LACROSSE

ROSTER Head Coach: Bruce Frady Assistant Coaches: Justin Anderson, Ed Matis, Jonathan Quickel 1 2 3 4 6 8 10 11 12 17 19 20 22 25 31 34 38 40 42 43 49 53 66 75 90 95

Aiden Gillen Quinn Ruiz Andrew Dumbleton Rex Duggan Zane Mammoser Colin O'Rourke Jonathan Cox Luke Sganga Logan Clay Austin Baldwin Austin Williams Noah Cooper Christian Coniglio Sam Sheehan Sloan Miller Jared Steinman Quinn Tyler Luke Jaeger Jack Manero Matt Tugman Aaryan Madhani Grant Doby Robert Bryant Neel Shenoy Nick Trevino Jackson Mirza

Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Fr.

SEASON RECAP ABOUT THE TEAM The ability to win face-offs can provide lacrosse teams a real boost in contests, and the Dragons displayed strength in gaining possession consistently. The Dragons' prowess in both areas is a big reason why Carroll (11-6 heading into the final three games of the regular season) was ranked within the top eight teams in the state and in prime position to return to the playoffs. Although only a sophomore, Neel Shenoy’s effort in face-offs (winning 218 of 348 face-offs — 62%) gave the Dragons a huge lift and has earned the praise of Carroll head coach Bruce Frady. “He's one of the better face-off guys in the state,” Frady says. “He's done a phenomenal job.” Once possession was established, the Dragons' attack knew how to put shots away. Juniors Luke Sganga (79 points — 59 goals, 20 assists) and Jack Manero (50 points — 36 goals, 14 assists) have made their presence known. Of the 550 shots taken by the team through 17 games, Sganga and Manero combined for 285. Quinn Tyler, a sophomore who also started on the attack, was next with 34 points. Defensively, junior Grant Doby anchored the unit with his ability to cover the field, play ground balls, display solid defense and aid in early stages of attack. “We're a little light in our senior class,” Frady says. “We're playing some younger guys when we're short... but we have plenty of competition within our roster.”

we have plenty of competition within our roster. —H ead Coach Bruce Frady 12 • SPRING ’22

The Carroll boys lacrosse team’s comeback win over The Woodlands on April 3 put an end to a three-game skid against top-tier programs, including national power St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (SSSA) out of Virginia and state power Highland Park. The excitement culminated in the final two minutes, as Carroll went from trailing 7-6 to scoring twice, including the winning goal with 19 seconds remaining. As of May, Southlake Carroll was ranked seventh in the state with a 13-8 overall record. Highland Park was fourth, while The Woodlands was 12th. “[The Woodlands win] has a lot of value for us in terms of where we're ranked,” Carroll head coach Bruce Frady says. Playing top teams — and defeating quality programs — helped the Dragons in the rankings until they were propelled all the way to the Division I-AA playoffs, along with eight other teams for a chance at the state title. While the Dragons ultimately fell 12-13 against St. Marks in round one, this season did see the Dragons overcome Austin Lake Travis (No. 12) and St. John’s (No. 24). “That's why I schedule [quality teams], because the bottom line is we're going to have to see those guys again [in the playoffs],” Frady says.

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D RAG O N S

GIRLS LACROSSE

ROSTER Head Coach: Rainey Hodgson Assistant Coaches: Megan Drew, Lauren Hickman 0 1 4 6 11 12 13 15 22 21 23 25 27 33

Gabrielle Forry Katelyn Sclafani Ashlyn Bowman Brooke Jones Sophia Harris Olivia Pierret Lola Bushaw Logan Risenhoover Lauren Tillotson Ava Valdez Viola Ajro Landry Risenhoover Keira Wallace Brooklyn Crowe

So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. So.

SEASON RECAP

ABOUT THE TEAM When first-year Carroll girls lacrosse coach Rainey Hodgson took over the program a few months ago, it didn’t take long to discover her team’s mindset heading into the 2022 season. Reconvening as a team after falling short in the 2021 state championship game, the Lady Dragons’ hunger was evident. “The first thing they said when I took the job and we were at our first practice was, ‘We're ready to go to state,’” says Hodgson. “Since Day One, they've been talking about getting back there.” With a senior-stacked roster, experience gives the Lady Dragons a chance to achieve their lofty goals. Senior attacker Katelyn Sclafani, committed to play Division I lacrosse at East Carolina next season, is the veteran leader of the Lady Dragons’ offense with 13 goals and seven assists. Midfielder Logan Risenhoover (committed to Vanderbilt) has 16 goals and 16 draw controls in the regular season. Fellow senior midfielder Kaileigh Wallace (Mercer commit) leads the team with 29 goals, 33 draw controls and seven caused turnovers. Those three, along with senior defender Bella Van Hoosier, are all captains on this year’s team. Van Hoosier, along with senior goalkeeper Angeli Patel, has anchored a solid defense. “Their drive never stops,” Hodgson says of her players. “I'm very confident that going into the postseason, we'll be ready to overcome any obstacles and adversity thrown our way.”

they have been extremely impressive with how they've been able to bounce back.

Sometimes early schedule losses have a positive impact on a team. Carroll girls lacrosse coach Rainey Hodgson points to such a loss in helping improve her team’s mindset, which in turn has benefited the Lady Dragons' play for most of the season going forward. A one-point loss to McKinney (ranked No. 3 in the state) in the third game this spring was Carroll’s first defeat of the season and helped put things in perspective for them, Hodgson says. “That was a big wake-up call,” she says. “But it happened at the perfect time. We're going into the season, kids are thinking they want to go back to state, maybe getting a little ahead of ourselves. We've got to focus on the here and now.” The Lady Dragons (5-2 with three games remaining and ranked No. 2 in the state) only dropped one of their next four, falling to No. 1-ranked Hockaday on March 29. They defeated other quality programs this season such as Flower Mound (No. 4 in the state), Allen (No. 20), Greenhill (No. 11), Episcopal School of Dallas (No. 8) and Frisco (No. 6). How they’ve won is also impressive, Hodgson says. Trailing or leading by small amounts in the first half, Carroll has pulled away in the second half. The Lady Dragons led Frisco 8-7 at the half before notching a 19-9 victory. “They have been extremely impressive with how they've been able to bounce back, and their in-game adjustments are very good,” Hodgson says.

—H ead Coach Rainey Hodgson

14 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

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WINTER ’22 • 15

D RAG O N S

BOYS GOLF

ROSTER Head Coaches: Matt Glenn and Paige Martin Zan Ali Joe Brickner Caden Hansen Brian Kopf Jason Lew Jeremy Lew Neel Sandhu Gonzalo Tirado

Sr. So. So. So. So. Sr. Sr. So.

SEASON RECAP

ABOUT THE TEAM It takes growing pains for young players to become experienced in varsity competition, and that was the case for a Carroll boys golf team with five sophomores bringing little more than a JV resume into the 2022 season. But the young athletes showed they’re full of surprises, giving some strong performances throughout the season and hope for the Dragons’ future. Sophomore Brian Kopf was one such athlete who won the State Preview tournament between Feb. 25-26 in Georgetown. “He's definitely got one of the best mentalities around the golf course of anybody on the team,” says Matt Glenn, Carroll associate head golf coach. “A lot of times with golf, you can get too fired up and your emotions take a toll, but he seems to be able to handle that kind of stuff.” Led by seniors Zan Ali, Neel Sandhu and Jeremy Lew, the Dragons continued to develop as the season progressed. At the district tournament on March 28-29, sophomore Jason Lew led the way for Carroll by shooting a two-day 153 (75-78) to tie for second individually and help the Dragons capture the district title. Carroll had 10 golfers finish in the top 17 at the event, playing at Fossil Creek golf course. “They need to see what's out there, they need to see where they need to be next year and what the expectation is,” says Paige Martin, Carroll associate head coach. “We’re really proud about how they fought through and finished.”

we’re really proud about how they fought through and finished.

—A ssociate Head Coach Paige Martin

16 • SPRING ’22

At times, the Carroll boys golf team performed like the young and inexperienced team they were. At other times, flashes of brilliance foreshadowed the Dragons’ true potential. Overall, Carroll’s lack of experience at the varsity level kept them from reaching state, a level they haven’t reached since 2019. The Dragons finished eighth at the 6A Region I tournament in Grand Prairie on April 18-19. “They really needed one more year underneath an older crew to let them get settled in, but they just didn't have that luxury,” says Matt Glenn, Carroll associate head golf coach. “The talent level's there, it's just how much they're going to mature to play at that level.” The Dragons exceeded expectations at times, as demonstrated by a third-place finish at the State Preview Tournament in Georgetown on Feb. 25-26. All the top contending teams were on hand, and the young Carroll team looked strong. The event was one of four tournaments at which Carroll finished third. Carroll took first place at the District 4-6A tournament, shooting a twoday total of 620 (315-305) to easily beat out second-place Keller (643). “The boys got to play some of the top teams in the state throughout the fall and spring,” says Paige Martin, Carroll associate head golf coach. “It was nice to see them grow.”

DRAGONPRIDE

D RAG O N S

GIRLS GOLF

ROSTER Head Coaches: Matt Glenn and Paige Martin Morgan Becker Chiara Brambilla Alisha Choudry Ashley Kim Reagan Mills Brooke Norman MaKayla Tyrrell

Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

S E A S O N U P D AT E

ABOUT THE TEAM Possessing a fair share of talent and experience, the Carroll girls golf team finished second at the 6A Region I golf tournament in April to clinch another trip to the state meet on May 16-17 in Georgetown. However, it wasn’t dominant individual performances or unmatched prowess in a portion of Carroll’s game that allowed the Lady Dragons to find success this season. Drive, effort and extensive preparation paved the way to state this time around. “Honestly, this team right here works harder than any team I've ever coached,” says Matt Glenn, associate head golf coach at Carroll, who’s overseen golf teams for more than 30 years. “They're highly motivated and highly competitive. When you put work ethic underneath that, that's a pretty good combination.” Led by seniors MaKayla Tyrrell, Morgan Becker, Brooke Norman, Reagan Mills and Alisha Choudry, hard work in team practice and additional time on the course have displayed what it takes to compete at the highest level. “Like the old saying, they’ve put their money where their mouth is,” Glenn says. “If you want to be good, this is what you've got to do.” The younger members of the team are following their lead and making their presence felt as well. Sophomore Chiara Brambilla is a hard hitter off the tee, driving it the farthest most consistently. Junior Ashley Kim began playing golf only a year and a half ago, starting with the JV but making big enough jumps in her play to reach varsity last spring.

they're highly motivated and highly competitive. —A ssociate Head Coach Matt Glenn

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Competing against high- quality competition all season prepared the Carroll girls golf team for challenges they would face in postseason tournaments. That experience will once again come in handy when they face Texas’ very best teams at the Class 6A state tournament on May 16-17. “Just about every tournament they played in, they faced someone they will see at the state tournament,” says Paige Martin, Carroll associate head golf coach. “Being around that competition all year long is really important.” The Lady Dragons won two meets this season — including the District 4-6A meet in March — finishing second three times and third twice. Playing on courses like Legacy in Georgetown, where the state meet will be held, Texarkana Country Club and Fossil Creek in Fort Worth provided solid tests in the mental aspects of the game. That mental toughness will be necessary at state, where there’s more on the line, more pressure and more eyes on players than at any other high school tournament. Matt Glenn, associate head golf coach, says the competition level will be one of the strongest at state in years. But Carroll has a good chance to do something special. “This group has a chance to win a state championship,” Glenn says. “If they get it all right, they can make some magic.” SPRING ’22 • 17

D RAG O N S

BOYS SOCCER

ROSTER Head Coach: Chris Padilla Assistant Coach: Ian Gonzales 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 30

Jacob Hargreaves Adam Paquette Abraham Kamal Thomas Evans Parker Owens Corbin Duwe Nathan Allen Adrian Nunez Jack Meyer Peter Bazan Hayes Buete Dylan Mundy Scott Mundy Nick Bloedow Chais Dickens Charlie Su Chris Parsons Connor Whittaker Aidan Jordan Nathan Parsons Clayton Wayland Stefano Palmer John Carr Matthew Vasquez Max Burger Bryce Lydick Cameron Hern Zachary Wegner

Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr.

SEASON RECAP ABOUT THE TEAM Despite having a skilled group of veterans, Carroll boys soccer coach Chris Padilla knew his team needed to change things up a bit to get the most from its attack. In the second half of the season, Padilla implemented a high press, in which the final third would relentlessly attack opposing defenses. The new strategy paid off, as the Dragons won their final five games — including four district contests — outscoring opponents 22-4 and securing a playoff berth. “We have very technical, disciplined and coachable players, and whenever we started to install the high press, our boys really took it and ran with it,” says Padilla, in his first season as head coach after serving as a Carroll assistant. “Our offense was just clicking.” The Dragons (11-7-3), bolstered by the experience of 15 seniors, were led offensively by seniors Corbin Duwe (9 goals, 5 assists), Hayes Buete (9 goals, 3 assists) and Jack Meyer (5 goals, 9 assists), as well as junior Parker Owens (8 goals). Defensively, senior Scott Mundy served as defensive central midfielder, helping to bring organization to the group. Owens was the center back and a leader who also possessed goal-scoring ability. Senior Adam Paquette started as goalkeeper, providing shot-stopping ability as well as communication for players in front of him. The unit held opponents to 1.2 goals per game.

i love being able to watch our boys play with grit and fi ght.

— Head Coach Chris Padilla

18 • SPRING ’22

Sometimes, the team with the superior offensive performance doesn’t win. That’s the lesson the Carroll boys soccer team learned as its season ended in a 2-0 loss to L.D. Bell in the first round of the playoffs. The Dragons (11-7-3) outshot their opponent 24-7, with 17 shots on goal to Bell’s two shots on goal, but those two shots were the difference in Carroll’s chances to advance. “It doesn't matter how hard you play if the ball doesn't go in the back of the net,” head coach Chris Padilla says. Great matchups early in the season are what strengthened Padilla’s players and brought them to the playoffs. Carroll previously defeated 2021 state champ San Antonio Lee during a pre-district showcase, and in District 4-6A, quality opponents such as Byron Nelson (12-7-1), Timber Creek (14-5-3) and Keller (23-3) pushed the Dragons to be their best. “I think we were playing our best soccer towards the end of the year,” Padilla says. “We had really started to hit our stride and were peaking at the right time.”

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D RAG O N S

GIRLS SOCCER

ROSTER Head Coach: Matt Colvin Assistant Coaches: Lindsey Jacobson, Paul Lee, Allison Loftin 0 00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 34 36

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SEASON RECAP

ABOUT THE TEAM Starting six freshmen and just one senior sounds like an experiment for a team in rebuilding mode with unlikely playoff hopes. But for the 2022 Carroll girls soccer team, an abundance of young talent and some dangerous veterans proved the perfect mix for capturing a state championship. Fielding six freshmen, three sophomores, a junior and a senior, the Lady Dragons (23-1-4) rolled to the 6A state title on April 16. The Lady Dragons performed beyond their years, especially on defense. Colvin started a back four of Abigail Mills and Parker Wilkerson (freshmen), as well as Kaylie Harris and Carly Walter (sophomores). Freshman Olivia Geller started 18 games as goalkeeper, giving up just four goals. Their scoring ability proved just as impressive. Led by senior forward and four-year star Hanna Khan (18 goals, 8 assists, 73 shots) and freshman forward Kennedy Fuller (14 goals, 15 assists, 65 shots), Carroll outscored district opponents 53-5 to secure a spot in the playoffs. Khan, the only freshman on Carroll’s 2019 state-winning team, closed out her high school career with a second title. She and the other five seniors helped set the example for the talented young roster. “If I had to pinpoint one thing that was big in us winning a championship this year, it was the seniors being able to steer the ship the right way,” head coach Matt Colvin says.

having a team this young and having that much success… i don't think we've ever had that.

—H ead Coach Matt Colvin

20 • SPRING ’22

Olivia Geller Kat Dalton Katie Burlingame Paige Becker Olivia Jacoby Kenzi Tufts Madison Khan Lauren Baiotto Bella Clahane Hanna Khan Payton Wilkerson Kennedy Fuller Ria Narayanan Madison Sexton Stephanie Smith Kaylie Harris Kinsey Irvin Ella Harris Rebeca Schulz Parker Wilkerson Jordan McConnell Zoe Matthews Madison Pensom Marley Naughton Erin O'Donnell Lillian Garland Alexis Wegner Carly Walter Ava Olson Laney Maclin Abigail Mills Taelor Brouse Julia Pino Hannah Jordan Camryn Tade

Shutouts and defensive dominance were the names of the game in the Carroll girls soccer team’s race to the 6A state championship. Looking tough all season, Carroll (23-1-4) ratcheted up the defensive intensity in the playof fs, giving up just one goal in seven games and outscoring postseason foes 26-1. Carroll carried that momentum up until defeating Rockwall 4-0 in the state championship, giving the Lady Dragons their third overall title and second state trophy in four years. “They just had that killer-instinct mentality,” head coach Matt Colvin says. “Once they smelled blood in the water, they were going after it.” Once in the playoffs, a second-round contest with Wolfforth Frenship helped solidify the Lady Dragons’ momentum going forward. Facing a tough Frenship team and battling 50mph wind gusts, Carroll held on for a 3-1 win. “We had never dealt with those conditions, and [Frenship is] a very solid team,” Colvin says. “After we got over [that challenge], the confidence was at an all-time high for the year.” DRAGONPRIDE

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SPOTLIGHT

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SPRING ’22 • 23

PHOTO BY JESSIE McCABE

SPOTLIGHT focus

Southlake Hosts Special Olympics Athletes Special Olympics Dragons Shine At Annual Track Meet

n Sunday, April 30, over 200 people came out to the Carroll Middle School track to watch the Southlake Carroll Special Olympics team compete against Birdville, Argyle and HEB ISD. The meet kicked off with a community parade led by five Carroll school resource officers during the opening ceremony. “That was the first time we had ever done something like that,” says Ashley Poteet, Special Olympics head coach. “We don’t always see that interaction between the SROs and the kids, so having that at the start of the ceremony was very special.” From there, around 25 Carroll Special Olympians competed in 10 track and field contests, including 50-200 meter runs, 4x100 relays, assisted races, throwing and javelin

24 • SPRING ’22

events. With families cheering them on and volunteers from the National Charity League and the Young Men’s Service League helping to organize the events, Ashley says the community helped make the track meet a success. “It’s all about participation,” she says. “The support we get from all of our faculty, staff, teachers and parents — we wouldn’t have been able to run the event without all of the support we have from them.” With several Dragon athletes medaling in individual contests, it was a great day to be part of Southlake Carroll’s Special Olympics. “Just seeing the kids be happy, successful and smile as they do something they don’t normally get to do makes it all worth it,” Ashley says.

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SPOTLIGHT sports SOUTHLAKE ROWERS EARN GOLD AT STATE In late April, five Southlake Carroll rowers earned gold at the 2022 State Championship Regatta at White Rock Lake. Competing for the Founders Rowing Club, sophomore Olivia Knight won gold in the Women’s U17 single event while seniors Camille Egger and Ashley Hall and juniors Sophia Rhodes and Maile Nelson earned gold in the Women’s 4x event, beating out second-place finisher Episcopal School of Dallas by nine seconds. These Dragons, along with sophomores Abby Evans and Samantha Rietbroek, then went to compete in the U.S. Rowing Central Region Championships on May 7-8. At the event, Knight, Rietbroek, Rhodes, Nelson, Egger and Hall qualified for the U.S. Youth Rowing National Championships in Sarasota, Florida, on June 9-12. CARROLL ISD ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR INDUCTS CLASS OF 2021 Dragon Nation celebrated some of its most inspiring athletes, coaches and supporters during Carroll ISD’s Athletic Hall Of Honor banquet on May 21. Twelve inductees — Fred Maples, Riley Dodge, McKay Jacobson, Wayne Moffat, Paula Bailey Egger, Stephanie Luce Ola, Katya Muller Winslow, Doug Fike, Mark Feuchter, Jay Armstrong and the 1998 and 2002 football teams — were honored during the ceremony at the Hilton Southlake. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the Class of 2021’s achievements and cementing their legacies into the Carroll ISD Athletic Hall of Honor.

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SPRING ’22 • 25

SPOTLIGHT sports

DRAGON TENNIS WINS DOUBLES STATE TITLE During the state tournament in late April, Dragon tennis players Brennan Becicka and Bella Andrade won the 6A Girls Doubles state title, finishing the season with a 20-0 record. This follows the duo’s standout performance at regionals, where they were named the Region 1 Girls Doubles champions. Over the course of this season, Dragon Tennis has dominated the competition. At regionals, senior Colin Scruggs was named the Region 1 Boys Singles champion, and during the district meet, both the boys and girls teams won the district championship with 13 athletes qualifying for the regional contest. BAYLEY TRANG FINISHES FIFTH AT USA WRESTLING NATIONAL SHOWCASE At USA Wrestling’s National High School Girls Recruiting Showcase held at Las Vegas in late April, Dragon wrestler Bayley Trang finished in fifth place at the competition. This performance comes after the junior — ranked No. 9 in her weight class of 112 pounds, according to national rankings released in March by USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum — earned her second-straight state title in late February.

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DRAGON LACROSSE EARNS CLASS A NORTH DISTRICT AWARDS As the season came to an end, several Dragon Lacrosse players earned accolades from the Texas High School Lacrosse League’s Class A North District Awards. Junior Luke Sganga was named to the All-District team while juniors Grant Doby and Jack Manero and sophomore Neel Shenoy were named Honorable Mentions. Head coach Bruce Frady was also named Coach of the Year. Though they made it to the playoffs, the Dragons fell 12-13 to St. Mark’s in round one. DRAGON GOLF DOMINATES AT DISTRICT MEET Both the boys and girls Dragon golf teams swept the district meet in late March. On the girls side, both teams earned first and second place, while the boys teams earned first and third place. With the top two teams qualifying for regionals, Carroll sent both girls teams, the top boys team and sophomore Joe Brickner to the regional competition on April 18-21 at Tangle Ridge Golf Course in Grand Prairie. Additionally, Jason and Jeremy Lew, Chiarra Brambilla, McKayla Tyrrell and Ashley Kim were named to the 4-6A First All-District Team, while Caroline Crump, Brooke Norman, Morgan Becker, Alisha Choudry, Neel Sandhu, Zan Ali, Joe Brickner and Caden Hansen were named to the 4-6A Second All-District Team. “It was a great showing by both teams,” head coach Paige Martin says. “All players stepped up and competed, and that’s what we asked of them.” At the regional competition, the first girls team qualified for state after a second-place finish, while the second girls team earned seventh place. Meanwhile, the boys team placed eighth while Joe Brickner finished ninth.

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LADY DRAGON WATER POLO EARNS SECOND PLACE AT STATE During the 50th annual Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association state tournament on May 6-7, the Lady Dragons earned second place, falling to Flower Mound in a close 5-4 game. Meanwhile, the boys water polo team earned seventh place at the tournament. Following the end of the season, the athletes earned several accolades. Jojo Walters was named the TISCA’s girls MVP while captain Whitney Wood was named to the First Team All-State and Emily Hatcher was named to the Second Team All-State. On the boys side, Eric Winkler was named to the First Team All-State while Brandt McBride and Chris Clarin earned honorable mentions. Head coach Keeley Lowery also tied for Coach of the Year. This is the last season of club water polo, which is set to become a UIL program next fall. SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM

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ALL-STAR ORTHOPAEDICS Carroll ISD’s Official Orthopaedic, Sports Medicine And Spinal Care Provider

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s Carroll ISD’s official orthopaedic, sports medicine and spinal care provider, All-Star Orthopaedics understands that being there for the community means meeting you where you are. Athletics are in full swing, and for many families, that can be coupled with unexpected injuries and other surprises on and off the field. For busy people like the families in our community, it’s important to remind everyone that All-Star Orthopaedics can help you skip the urgent care in the event of an injury. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your star student-athlete or senior relative. When you call us first, you can trust that we will work very hard to get our patients in on the same or next day.

Our new texting feature can help cut out wait times and assist in getting you answers even sooner. On-site imaging and eight orthopaedic specialists on board help to make your visit to our location a smooth and swift experience every time. You can rest easy knowing that you’re in the right hands when you call All-Star Orthopaedics first. Our friendly staff, personalized care, conservative treatment plans and state-of-the-art facilities are just a few reasons why patients refer All-Star to their family and friends over and over again. At All-Star, we aren’t just your orthopaedic providers — we’re family. We will help you get back in the game!

“I count on All-Star to take care of us all.” — Lindsay W. ALL-STAR ORTHOPAEDICS | 910 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 155 | 817.421.5000 | AllStarOrtho.com 28 • SPRING ’22

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national

signing day

DRAGON ATHLETES SIGN NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT During Carroll ISD’s National Signing Day ceremonies held in April, eight Dragon athletes signed letters of intent, committing themselves to play their sport in college. Girls soccer, girls basketball, water polo, diving, wrestling, boys lacrosse, boys soccer and football each had one signee.

CONGRATS TO THESE DRAGONS! Kylie Swanson GIRLS SOCCER Anderson University Kayle Nguyen GIRLS BASKETBALL University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy In St. Louis Reyna Clark WATER POLO California Lutheran University Bella Reynolds DIVING West Virginia University Cole Bennett WRESTLING Colorado State University Pueblo Jared Steinman BOYS LACROSSE North Greenville University Jack Meyer BOYS SOCCER United States Military Academy at West Point Tyler White FOOTBALL Texas A&M University

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SPRING ’22 • 29

Working Smarter and Harder Pays Off For Dragon Baseball BY DAVID DUNN PHOTO BY STEWART JOHNSON

THE DRAGON

N EDGE

aseball practice means much more than batting cages and shagging fly balls. It also means evaluating your performance, picking apart your skills and implementing needed improvements. That’s the type of system head baseball coach Larry Vucan has installed to train his Dragons, and it’s made all of the difference. Utilizing a system molded during his early coaching days, coach Vucan breaks down performances into analytics providing a clearer path of advancement for players to reach the next level. The strategy is consistently paying off as the Dragons head yet again into the playoffs, this year with a 27-8 (11-2 district) record and an eight-game winning streak. With a team packed with senior talent and some of the top-ranked pitchers in the area, the Dragons are ready to take on any challenge. CALCULATING SUCCESS Before joining Southlake Carroll as an assistant baseball coach, Vucan was the head coach for Franklin High School in El Paso. Aspiring to sharpen his players’ ball game, Vucan wanted to implement a strategic evaluation system that could pay off for their program in the long run. “I wanted to find a way to tally their strengths and mistakes, calculate it and put it into a percentage system that kids could see and learn from,” coach Vucan says. “I needed to develop a system where I could boil their performance down to one number.” Asking PE and math teachers for their brightest minds in class, coach Vucan recruited seven students to evaluate his players and point out errors and improvement areas in exchange for PE credit. Breaking them up between different sections in the outfield and infield, coach Vucan trained them to record base running, swinging and fielding errors, then tally up the numbers on a spreadsheet to calculate their ranking. He would then post the results in the dugout the following week for players to review. “Players walked up to the pit to see where they rank in terms of fielding, hitting percentages — basically everything you can think of,” coach Vucan says. “Once they have all of that information, they know which areas they need to work and improve in. Nothing is a surprise to anyone. They all know where they’re at every week.” That system not only propelled the Franklin Cougars to first place in district rankings but also took them to multiple state playoff appearances between 2002 and 2010. When Vucan became head coach at Carroll in 2016, he knew he wanted to replicate that system for the Dragons as well. “From watching how coach Larry Hughes did it to becoming head coach myself, I was able to learn and reimagine where I wanted to take the program,” coach Vucan says. “Once we were able to get the right people on the field, that’s when it really took off.” While their 2017 season ended in a 2-3 loss against eventual state champions Deer Park, looking ahead helped set the Dragons up for success in 2018. Using the stats he recorded in the spring, coach Vucan developed individual evaluations for each player that served as a blueprint for where they needed to take their game. “We would have exit meetings with our players at the end of the spring and set up what their work was going to look like in the fall,” coach Vucan says. “By the time we broke for Christmas, they would know exactly what they had to work on in order to compete hard and make a difference for us.” SPRING ’22 • 31

Practicing smarter and harder paid off for the Dragons with a 7-2 state championship win in 2018, followed by a second consecutive state win 17-0 in 2019. As the Dragons looked ahead, they were prepared to make 2020 their most successful season yet.

“Our biggest asset on the team is easily our pitching,” Max says. “We have some of the best pitchers in the state. They definitely get the job done.” Between its lightning-fast pitchers and aggressive offense scoring 194 runs during the regular season, Carroll is a formidable force heading into the postseason. “What’s important is that this group of young guys is continuing to progress each week,” coach Vucan says. “They’re getting bigger and stronger. They’re developing confidence. They’re playing the game fast and hard — and that’s the way we need them to.”

LEARNING THROUGH THEIR LOSSES While Southlake Carroll started strong with a 12-2 overall record and a first-place ranking in district, the Dragons’ 2020 season ended early after the University Interscholastic League canceled all spring sports. The 19 seniors graduating from the program left Southlake Carroll with a youngPOISED FOR THE POSTSEASON er, less experienced team in its place. The Dragons came into the 2022 season swinging right The following season, the upstart Dragons got off to a out of the gate, winning 14-3 and sluggish 1-7 start against tough com7-0 in their first two out-of-state petition from the likes of perennial games against Chaparral and JSercontenders in Lake Travis, Prosper and ra Catholic High School. They conRockwall-Heath. tinued to excel in district contests, “We had a very young team in 2021, winning 10-0 against Byron Nelson and we expected to struggle with it,” and Keller Central and 12-0 against coach Vucan says. “We weren’t expectTimber Creek. And after finishing ed to do a whole lot.” their regular season with a 10-0 win Carroll gained a lot of on-field and against Fossil Ridge, the Dragons internal experience and rebounded to a are first in the district with an 11-2 29-18 overall record and a 10-2 district record. What's more, they are peakrecord, shutting tough opponents out ing at the right time, heading into of competition like Odessa Permian, El the playoffs on an eight-game winPaso Montwood and Marcus. It wasn’t ning streak. until Keller defeated them 6-4 in the Yet coach Vucan emphasizes the regional final that the Dragons’ season importance of never becoming comcame to an end. placent. He tells his players all the “It was heartbreaking to get so close time that the only ranking that reto state and come up short,” senior ally matters is in June, and the most shortstop Max Reyes says. “I think the important game on the way there is team is a little bit battle-hardened from the next one. the whole experience.” “We know as a team that we can Even though the season’s end and will make it to Round Rock, but brought disappointment, coach Vucan — Head Coach Larry Vucan we’re also figuring out we won’t says that 2021 wasn’t a complete loss. make it there if that’s all we’re foIn fact, he feels it better prepared the cused on,” Owen says. “Staying foDragons going into 2022. cused on the day-to-day is the most important thing for us “It was a good year of experience for these young guys,” right now.” he says. “They learned a lot coming up that short in game While many teams have their number, Carroll also has three against Keller.” theirs. The only two district losses they sustained this seaThat’s how junior third baseman Ben Tryon views the son were both from Keller, the same team that dethroned 2021 season — as a learning opportunity. them last year — and the Dragons are eager for a rematch. “We were the underdogs last year,” Ben says. “We came “We just want to get back at them,” Ben says. “Knowing up short in a few areas, but we kind of needed some of that we could face them again kind of adds some fuel to our losses. It taught us a lot about our team and the things the fire.” we needed to fix if we were going to make a long run at Regardless of how the playoffs pan out, coach Vucan the playoffs.” doesn’t want his players to lose their competitive edge. Even if the season doesn’t go their way, their shortcomings POWERHOUSE PITCHERS & SENIOR STARS can feed into next year — just like it has for every season Enter the ’22 season with a senior-laden roster that is before. poised for playoff contention. Before a single player’s “You have to fail before you can succeed,” coach Vucan cleats stepped onto the field, the Dragons were ranked states. “The most important part is finding out who your the No. 1 high school baseball team in the state by multiple sluggers are — who the guys who have grit and tenacity outlets. Its players received individual recognitions as well, are. Because those are the guys who are going to be on the with 18 Dragons making the “Perfect Game And Rawlings’” field and perform when it matters.” All-American and All-Region teams. With 26 seniors and Whether this season’s playoffs produce another state 12 underclassmen, this is one of Carroll’s most experienced championship trophy or not, the Dragons rise and fall torosters of Vucan’s tenure. gether. That’s what being a team means to each of them. But the senior experience isn’t all that stands out on the “We don’t want to win for ourselves,” senior catcher Dragon Baseball team — it’s also the exemplary pitching Clark Springs says. “We want to win for the guys playing staff. Comprised of seniors Griffin Herring (LSU), Owen next to us out on that field, the guys cheering us on from Proksch (Duke) and Tyler White (Texas A&M), these powthe dugout. We go through so much together as a team erhouse pitchers have contributed over 130 strikeouts that it turns into a family, and everyone wants to see everythroughout the season. Their earned run averages are also one else succeed. That is our strongest asset. That’s what among the top 20 in the area, with Griffin topping the list makes us Dragons.” with a 0.41 ERA.

You have to fail before you can succeed.

32 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

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senior TRIBUTES CABC RECEIVES 10% OF PROCEEDS

CLASS OF 2022

LADY DRAGON LACROSSE 2022 Seniors, congratulations on coming so far as a team and as individuals! Over the last four years, each of you have triumphed through the adversity that life has thrown at you. Now it is time for your next chapter, which will come with even more obstacles to conquer. We hope each of you continue to pursue your dreams and celebrate your small successes along your journey. Your Lady Dragon Lacrosse family is so proud of you all! You will be dearly missed and have left behind large shoes to fill. LadyDragonLacrosse.org

SPECIAL SECTION 34 • SPRING ’22

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SPECIAL SECTION

EMERSON MACKIE

KAYLE NGUYEN

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND PHARMACY, BASKETBALL

Congratulations! We are so proud of all your accomplishments War Eagle! Love Mom, Dad and Avery!

2022

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VIVI PETTIGREW

BELLA REYNOLDS

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, ECONOMICS

HONORS COLLEGE AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, DIVING

To our little girl — we are so proud of you and your accomplishments. Remember to go after what you want and stay humble along the way.

2022 SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM

We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments! Look to the Lord and his strength. Psalms 105:4

2022

SPRING ’22 • 35

senior TRIBUTES CABC RECEIVES 10% OF PROCEEDS

CLASS OF 2022

SOUTHLAKE NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE SENIOR CLASS 2022 As we celebrate our seniors who have served the Southlake National Charity League from 2016 to 2022, we recognize the 56 mothers and daughters who have given more than 16,424 hours to our mission and partner philanthropies. Their commitment to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences were recently celebrated at the senior recognition ceremony at The Westin Southlake in January, where members and their families came together to celebrate their accomplishments. NationalCharityLeague.org

Schneid er, , Ava Emmert , Ellen Aughenb augh, Kate Coates, Caroline Back Row: Morgan Cashon, Hannah Schafer, Ella Fleming Dugger, Gabby Gillett, Brooke , Sanders Natalie Jesser, Abby Row: Madison Bradford , Kate Sterin, Amberly Seaburn Middle Callahan Clark Wright, Kendall Lyman, Stephan ie Smith, Allie Gardine r, Katherin e Mooney, Evan Troutma n, Karla Aleman, Dana Patel, Macey Robbins , Layne Slahor. Front Row: Mia Matin, Carsyn Bell, Kyleigh Kidd, Angeli

SPECIAL SECTION 36 • SPRING ’22

DRAGONPRIDE

senior

TRIBUTES CABC RECEIVES 10% OF PROCEEDS

LILLIAN COOPER HARVARD UNIVERSITY, SOFTBALL With love, pride and gratitude today and always! Love Mom, Dad, Delaney and Tyler

RORY MCKENNA FAULKNER COLLIN COLLEGE, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT With pride and love, Mom, Dad, Josyln, Cheron, Scott, Megan, Olivia and Grandma

DANIEL BRITTINGHAM KIEDA PURDUE UNIVERSITY We love you and are so proud of you! Love Mom, Dad and John-Adam

RJ MARYLAND SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, FOOTBALL Be the man that lets your heart follow the path of God’s plan for you.

HANNAH SCHAFER

GRANT MICHAEL

OWEN OHSER

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER,

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CARROLL WATER POLO GETS READY TO JOIN THE UIL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DRAGON WATER POLO

MOVING ON UP 38 • SPRING ’22

BY LIZZY SPANGLER

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t's a sport that has seen the girls team four-peat as state runners-up in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. While Southlake Carroll’s water polo team has been around since 2002, it has primarily operated as a club sport. That all changed this past December when the school board voted to add an official water polo pilot program to the district this fall, joining the ranks of CISD’s other University Interscholastic League fall sports like football and basketball. “It’s neat to be on the front side of that and [at] the beginning stages,” CISD athletic director Steve Keasler says. “The story hasn’t been written yet, so it’s wide open. The canvas is yet to be painted on — that’s the fun part. Who knows what could happen or where it will end up being? To be a small part of that and start it is pretty cool.” TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE The Carroll water polo club was originally started by a group of the school’s swimmers, eager to keep working during their offseason. “From what I am told, Carroll Water Polo began in 2002, shortly after the aquatic center opened in 2001,” says Loni McCollom, who currently serves as president of the water polo parent group. “Nowadays, many SLCWP athletes are also on the Carroll swim team.” Hungry for more opportunities to compete, those swim athletes helped lay the foundation for a club program that has thrived despite existing more behind the scenes. In 2015, the girls team won it all at the state tournament. They’ve earned second place every year since, with the exception of 2017 when they came in third, cementing a legacy of success. Meanwhile, the boys team earned second place at state in 2016 and came in fourth in 2017 and 2019, making their own mark at the annual tournament. The team isn’t the only aspect of the program that has seen success. Individual athletes have shined both during and after their time playing water polo. This year, Jojo Walters was named the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association’s girls MVP, while Whitney Wood was named to the First Team AllState and Emily Hatcher was named to the Second Team All-State. This comes after the 2021 season where Jojo was named to the NISCA All-American Second Team and Whitney earned an honorable mention. Meanwhile, Whitney has committed to playing in college, as well as fellow senior athletes Emily and Reyna Clark. “Because of the consistency and the great coaching they’ve had, the accomplishments have just continued to accrue, and the kids seem to just keep getting more and more talented,” says Julie Hahn, whose son Matthew, a 2019 Carroll grad, played water polo. Indeed, head coach Keeley Lowery, now in her fifth year, has proven to be a powerful asset, leading the program to various state tournament accolades from 2018 to 2021. This year, she also tied for Coach of the Year. “My son played and I got involved whenever he was in sixth grade,” coach Lowery says. “I started running the club Thunder Water Polo as the president, and I ran that for a good six or seven years… and then throughout that time is when I started coaching as well.” Though her son was the spark for her involvement, coach Lowery has made a name for herself in the sport, creating her own club called Cowtown Water Polo while coaching the Dragons. “Watching the athletes change and improve in the

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short amount of time that we have them is one of my favorite parts of the program,” coach Lowery says. “In early February after swim state is over with, they’re coming from all different avenues. Getting those kids from so many different situations to become a team that can play together and [be successful], that’s the best part of it.” The successes of both the water polo program and its athletes are also due in part to a force of nature all its own: the parents. For this sport, those sideline supporters have stepped up, forming an informal albeit well-organized group that does a little bit of everything for Dragon Water Polo. “As a group, we help manage the team by overseeing club finances, team gear and merchandise, volunteer coordination, hosting games and events at the Carroll Aquatic Center, travel tournament logistics and other functions that support the team,” Loni says. “Most of the members of the 2021-2022 parent group have been serving since their students joined the team.” Lisa Jones, who helped the group become what it is today, has been part of the parent group for four years, serving as a treasurer and secretary from 2017-2019 before moving into an advisory role to assist the new parents in 2020. “When I took over the financial portion, the group had raised money to a level that we were also able to purchase new caps to replace the deteriorating old ones,” Lisa says. “While still a rather lean program, the parent group was able to subsidize players that required assistance as well as [take care of] some of the overnight expenses.” Even before she had kids in the program, Lisa knew of the parent group and how much they helped the studentathletes. “There have always been super parents associated with this team who want to make sure these kids get the tools they need to achieve the best results,” Lisa says. “I've heard stories of the parent [group] before I joined. They raised money to build a dedicated SLCWP trophy [case] in the aquatic center from donations from other parents.” Though the parent group will undoubtedly undergo its own change next season, the support parents lend to their kids won’t change. “I would imagine the parent group would morph into an SLCWP Booster Club, and team support, finances, tournament coordination, volunteering and merchandising would operate similarly to other sports at Carroll,” Loni says. These student-athletes, alongside their passionate parents and coach, have kept up Carroll’s tradition of excellence simply due to an immeasurable amount of dedication, determination and plenty of grit. STAMP OF APPROVAL As the water polo program’s star rose, so too did the effort to integrate it into the UIL. In October 2019, the UIL Legislative Council — made up of around 65 superintendents from across the state — did their part by approving an amendment to add the sport as a pilot program for the 2020-21 school year. Though the tumult of 2020 eventually led the council to push its start date back a year, the program is now full steam ahead. In October 2021, the council made an amendment to add the athletic plan and structure for water polo to UIL’s constitution and contest rules. With UIL council approval, CISD went through with its own preparations, adding water polo to Carroll’s slate of

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sports following a presentation by the athletic director. “It’s been in the works for the last three or four years,” Keasler says. With approval in hand from both the UIL and Carroll school board, water polo will be moving on up next year. “We couldn’t be certain that the UIL program would be approved until the vote actually happened, and we had worked with many parents and athletes to present our case to the athletic director and the CISD board,” Loni says. “Getting that official approval was extremely gratifying.” UIL recognition also comes with a few changes, among the biggest being the move from spring to the fall. Though the club season typically takes place in the spring, the first day of practice next year is currently set for Aug. 1, with playoffs beginning in October and culminating in the state championships on Oct. 29. Another big change will be felt by the athletes on a personal level, as for the first time, they will have a specific period in their school schedules set aside for the sport, giving them a PE credit. “These kids right now practice outside of the school day,” coach Lowery says. “So we practice at 5:45-7:30 a.m. for some of the teams and then another round comes in at night from 7-9 p.m. So they’re doing all of their stuff outside of the school day.” Modifications will also be made to both resources and the competition structure itself. “Club teams cannot use CISD buses to get to games and tournaments,” Loni says. “And there are no official divisions like 5A and 6A to distinguish the teams, so you have large public schools competing against small private schools.” Even with changes, excitement for the new season is palpable. “By introducing water polo as a UIL sport, Texas is giving the sport a larger platform, recognizing the growth and popularity of the sport in our state and increasing the possibility of similar things happening in other interior states,” Loni says.

The story hasn’t been written yet, so it’s wide open. — Steve Keasler, CISD Athletic Director

Meanwhile, the district continues to move ahead with its preparations needed to kick off the new sport. Earlier this spring, CISD surveyed the community about the program and has begun ordering equipment for the teams. “Out of the UIL, there’ll be 194 schools that will compete in water polo this first year,” Keasler says. “We’re going to try to have boys and girls varsity and [junior varsity], so we’ll hopefully have four teams.” The district has also posted the head coaching position on its website, NISCA’s website and various others with the aim of filling it before the current school year ends. Coach Lowery is among the applicants. “I love this district and these athletes. It has been my educational home for 17 years,” coach Lowery says. “If not in Carroll, I am hoping to be a head coach of an amazing program while working to help coaches new to the sport ONWARD AND UPWARD learn and to develop athletes.” When tryouts begin for the sport, it’s likely to become a Above all, supporters of the water polo program are eacut sport. Currently, the club program has around 60 ath- ger to shine more of a light on these hardworking athletes letes and five teams. and bring attention to a sport growing in popularity. “The program will shrink at the high school level, but “It’s about them, their futures,” coach Lowery says. “I just hopefully the intensity of kids wanting to get in the pro- think it’s going to grow the sport and the recognition in gram is going to increase,” coach Lowery says. Texas so our kids are going to get more visibility.” 40 • SPRING ’22

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