32 February 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com
Sports
REPEAT CHAMP: THESE DAYS, SAUSTAD SHUTS DOWN BIG PLAYS Former HP receiver a defensive standout for Virginia’s lacrosse team By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
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t seems whatever sport Cade Saustad plays, and wherever he plays it, championships follow. Saustad is still best remembered at Highland Park for all the passes he caught and all the points he scored, as a leader on back-toback football championship teams in 2016 and 2017, when he set multiple school receiving records.
I wanted to choose the best experience. Cade Saustad However, at the college level, Saustad has thrived by keeping points off the scoreboard. He’s emerged as one of the country’s elite defensemen in lacrosse and a key reason why Virginia has earned back-to-back NCAA tournament titles. “As a defender, you’re not scoring or making highlight plays,” said Saustad, a redshirt junior and
Highland Park alum Cade Saustad has won two national championships as a defenseman at Virginia. (PHOTO: MATT RILEY/VIRGINIA ATHLETICS)
team captain. ‘You’re trying to stop someone else from making those highlight plays.” With his 6-foot-5 frame, Saustad was one of the top defensive recruits in lacrosse after a standout four years for the Scots, which included a state title in 2015. Saustad became a valuable contributor almost immediately for
the Cavaliers as a freshman in 2019, scooping ground balls and stifling opposing attackmen, culminating with a victory over Yale in the national championship game. Last season, he garnered honorable mention All-American honors while marking some of the country’s top players, including
Georgetown’s Jake Carraway and Maryland’s Jared Bernhardt. After an underdog tournament run, Saustad and the Cavaliers again hoisted the trophy in May. “Our team defense did a really good job supporting each other,” Saustad said. “That was definitely a special season.” But repeating that success
wasn’t as simple as following the same formula, as Saustad missed the entire 2020 season with an injury — a year that wound up being shortened anyway by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was just a confidence thing for me. I was trying to get back as soon as possible,” said Saustad, who focused on improving his diet while rehabilitating the injury. “It had been a long time since I played, and I was super-excited. It took me a while to learn how to play again to my full ability and feel comfortable.” Three years ago, Saustad became the first Texas native to play lacrosse for Virginia. Now there are four Texans on the roster, including fellow HP alum Thomas Mencke. The Cavaliers open the season on Feb. 5 against Air Force. “I wanted to choose the best experience,” Saustad said. “I chose lacrosse because I enjoy the entire experience more, and I knew that going to UVA, I would have a better chance of achieving that feeling I had playing football in high school.”
Dallas Open Brings Pro Tennis to the Park Cities
Isner, SMU to host as ATP tour begins late winter North American swing By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
It’s been more than 30 years since tennis fans packed Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas to watch the best men’s tennis players in the world in the annual WCT Finals. The Dallas Open won’t immediately return the city to that level of prominence on the professional tennis landscape, but it’s a long-overdue start.
We’re planning to be here for many years. Peter Lebedevs
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The tournament, scheduled for Feb. 6-13, will bring world-ranked players such as John Isner, Reilly Opelka, and Grigor Dimitrov to SMU’s Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex for what organizers hope will become an annual fixture on1 the AssociaPCP_Feb2022-1inBanner.pdf 1/11/2022 3:16:57 PM tion of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour. The event, which had been called the
Highland Park resident John Isner will be among the top seeds when the tournament begins Feb. 6. (PHOTOS: COURTESY GF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT) New York Open since 2018, is being relocated to a venue with about 2,500 seats — barely meeting the minimum indoor requirement from the ATP, the global governing body for men’s tennis. “The history and the excitement said
that this was the right place. It hit all of our marks,” said tournament director Peter Lebedevs. “The players and the fans like to get up close and personal. It’s more memorable for both sides. Our worst seat will be about 45 feet from the court.” The Dallas Open will be the only indoor ATP event in the United States this year. Many players will be flying in from the prestigious Australian Open to begin the tour’s traditional late-winter North American swing. Isner, 36, who lives in the Park Cities with his wife, Highland Park graduate Madison McKinley, and their three children, helped lure the event to SMU. A portion of the proceeds will benefit his foundation. “Having John as our host is also very helpful,” Lebedevs said. “We’ve never had a player in the locker room promoting our tournament.” Among the planned fan amenities are player meet-and-greet opportunities, theme nights – one devoted to the history of tennis in Dallas – and various giveaways and interactive experiences. Plus, officials will place a bubble over
the six outdoor courts at the SMU complex, enclosing the practice courts so fans can watch up close. “When we looked for opportunities, we wanted to create a very intimate atmosphere,” Lebedevs said. “We can create some great memories for the fans who are there.” The championship matches will be on Feb. 13, a few hours before the Super Bowl. So instead of forcing Texans to choose between tennis and football, they can have both. “Everybody’s enthusiasm has been great,” Lebedevs said. “We’re planning to be here for many years.”
DALLAS OPEN When: Feb. 6-13 Where: SMU’s Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex Notable: The inaugural event will feature 28 singles players and 16 doubles tandems. Tickets: dallasopen.com
