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Sports
SHOOTING POOL: SCOTS EAGER FOR INAUGURAL WATER POLO SEASON
HP slated to host several games in new natatorium for boys, girls teams
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Water polo has been steadily growing, even flourishing, at the high school level in Texas for more than two decades.
Now that the University Interscholastic League has sanctioned the sport, that progress will accelerate, and longtime coaches like Chris Cullen can see their efforts come to fruition.
Cullen, who has been an aquatics instructor and water polo coach in Denton ISD for more than 30 years, will lead Highland Park in its inaugural season beginning in August.
“We were beyond excited,” Cullen said of the UIL approval. “We had been working so hard at the grassroots level to get kids interested, teaching fundamentals and developing a passion for the sport.”
The Scots will have separate teams for boys and girls, both coached by Cullen, and likely enough participation for a boys JV team.
The game features six swimmers in the
Highland Park’s water polo program will include experienced players like Kylie Williams,
who competed with the Pegasus Water Polo club. (COURTESY PHOTO)
pool at a time, including a goalie, with about 14 on the average roster. With four quarters of seven minutes each, the games should last about an hour.
The season will be structured much like other UIL team sports, starting with nondistrict games and tournaments. District games will then determine seeding for a playoff bracket in October.
HP’s district includes schools from Irving and Grand Prairie. Due to pool availability, the Scots will host all District 3 games on two Saturdays in September. The boys and girls squads will play identical schedules with doubleheaders before the playoffs.
As for the players, Cullen expects to mix newcomers with a handful of players who have competed on the club level.
“It’s going to be a challenge. There will be some bumps along the way,” said Cullen, who graduated from SMU. “There will be some kids who have never played a game of water polo and others who I can talk to at the highest tactical levels. I’m able to incorporate challenging the experienced players and raising the bar for the less experienced ones.”
SCHEDULE
August 12-13 Jesuit tournament TBA 19-20 Hebron tournament TBA 26-27 FM Marcus tourney TBA September 10 St. Mark’s^ TBA 13 Rockwall 6:30 p.m. 20 Rockwall-Heath 6:30 p.m. 24 South Grand Prairie* 10:30 a.m. 24 Irving Nimitz* 1:30 p.m. October 1 Irving* 10:30 a.m. 1 Irving MacArthur* 1:30 p.m.
Note: All games will be girls/boys doubleheaders unless specified.
* — District 3 game ^ — Boys only
Previously, the Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association oversaw high school water polo, including an annual state tournament each spring. The sport hasn’t been contested in the fall since 2009, Cullen said.
As the season approaches, preparation has been a whirlwind of scheduling, infrastructure, logistics, and perhaps most importantly, building interest among students.
“If they like team sports, and they like to swim, I can sell them on water polo,” Cullen said. “We’re going to set a championship culture from the beginning.”
Lady Scots Bring Depth and Experience to Daunting New 6A Schedule
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
After a season that started with so much promise ended in heartbreak, Highland Park will look to reload behind a deep and experienced volleyball roster.
However, those familiar faces will meet a new landscape for the Lady Scots, whose jump to Class 6A presents daunting postseason obstacles.
Last season, HP established state tournament aspirations by defeating some of the top teams in Texas in August. However, the Lady Scots suffered a narrow loss to Frisco Reedy in the fourth round of the Class 5A Region II playoffs.
“That has not gone away in the minds of the returning players,” said longtime HP head coach Michael Dearman. “It’s not something we are dwelling on, but it’s PCP_Aug2022_Banner-FINAL.pdf 1 7/6/2022 4:15:34 PMsomething that is motivating us.”
The Lady Scots graduated just four players. They will have 12 returnees this year, including eight seniors, many with multiple years of experience on the varsity level. “Everything we accomplished last year, we have built on that in the offseason,” Dearman said. “The continuity is going to be a big plus. They’ve learned a lot and have gotten better. Those returning players are coming in more skilled and more experienced than last year. It gives us a lot of hope for great things.” The top returnees include outside hitter Sydney Breon (verbally committed to UCLA), middle blocker Ceci Gooch (committed to Michigan), and setter Gracie Braner. HP also will have senior transfer Zoe Winford (committed to Georgia Tech) at libero. Also back are Margo Flint, Harper Hall, Alex Richter, Sydney Johnson, Nicole Mauser, and Bella Ocampo, who each gained significant varsity experience a year ago. The non-district campaign will be grueling as usual for the Lady
Highland Park returns a strong roster with experienced players such as
Harper Hall. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
Scots, followed by a District 7-6A slate that includes opponents from Irving and Richardson ISD — an upgrade over the alignments at the 5A level.
“We’re looking forward to having some good competition,” Dearman said. “It’s going to be a different level in district than what we’ve experienced the last few years.”
Dearman hopes HP will be battle-tested for a potential 6A Region II playoff bracket that would likely include perennial powers Allen, Prosper, Southlake Carroll, and Plano West.
“This is a unique opportunity for us even though we’re moving up to 6A,” Dearman said. “It’s a matter of understanding the position that we were in and that we have another chance.”
2022 SCHEDULE
August 9 Red Oak 7 p.m. 12-13 Rockwall tourney TBA 16 Colleyville Heritage 7 p.m. 18-20 Northwest tourney TBA 23 at Rockwall 7 p.m. 25-27 Volleypalooza tourney^ TBA 30 at Plano East 7 p.m. September 2 at Aledo 5 p.m. 6 Rockwall-Heath 6:30 p.m. 9 Richardson Pearce* 7 p.m. 13 at Irving Nimitz* 7 p.m. 16 Lake Highlands* 7 p.m. 20 at Irving* 7 p.m. 23 Richardson Berkner* 7 p.m. 27 Richardson* 7 p.m. 30 at Irving MacArthur* 7 p.m. October 4 at Richardson Pearce* 7 p.m. 7 Irving Nimitz* 7 p.m. 11 at Lake Highlands* 7 p.m. 14 Irving* 7 p.m. 18 at Richardson Berkner*7 p.m. 21 at Richardson* 7 p.m. 25 Irving MacArthur* 7 p.m.
* — District 7-6A match ^ — at Leander
