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Sports
REPEAT CHAMP: THESE DAYS, SAUSTAD SHUTS DOWN BIG PLAYS
Former HP receiver a defensive standout for Virginia’s lacrosse team
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
It 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.
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.
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 PCP_Feb2022-1inBanner.pdf 1 1/11/2022 3:16:57 PM become an annual fixture on the Association 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
Lady Scots Look for Growth in Challenging District Starting lineup includes several key returnees as HP seeks playoff berth
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
The good news: Highland Park’s 2022 softball roster will feature plenty of familiar faces. The bad news: So, will the rest of District 13-5A.
The Lady Scots struggled with a young roster in one of the area’s most challenging districts a year ago. This spring, they hope improvement will help them close the gap on powerhouses such as Royse City, Forney, Crandall, and others — ultimately hoping to return to postseason play for the first time since 2019.
“They’re really strong programs. Our plan this year is to hang with them,” said HP head coach Michael Pullen. “Last year, we had to grow up on the field. We definitely will take steps forward.”
Indeed, much of the lineup returns from a squad that endured lopsided losses last season and finished sixth in league play with a 4-10 mark.
Primary pitcher Lilli Reenan is back as part of a solid senior contingent that includes third baseman Ava White, shortstop Shelby Pettit, and first baseman Olivia Jewell. Most of them have multiple years of varsity experience.
Reese Singleton, an all-district outfielder last year as a sophomore, will again play center field and anchor the lineup after leading the Lady Scots in several hitting categories.
Other returnees include second baseman Campbell Sharpe and catcher Audrey Schedler, who played key roles as freshmen.
“We’ve got a really talented group of sophomores who got some experience last year,” Pullen said. “It’s a good combination.”
HP will tune up for the rigorous district schedule with February tournaments in Carrollton and Richardson, plus matchups against Class 6A opponents Garland Lakeview and Tyler Legacy.
The 13-5A slate does HP no favors, providing an immediate measuring stick with consecutive games against Mesquite Poteet, Forney, and Crandall.
However, Pullen is confident his team has better chemistry and leadership this season to prepare for the pressure of such competition.
“The girls put in tons of work in the offseason,” he said. “It’s a different type of vibe.”
Senior pitcher Lilli Reenan is among the most experienced players on Highland Park’s roster.
(PHOTO: ROB GRAHAM) SCHEDULE
February 15 Newman Smith 7 p.m. 17 Gunter^ Noon 17 Abilene Cooper^ 5:45 p.m. 18 Gar. Naaman Forest^ 12:45 p.m. 18 Spruce^ 4:30 p.m. 19 Carrollton tourney TBA 22 Garland Lakeview 7 p.m. 24-26 Richardson tourney TBA March 1 Tyler Legacy 6:30 p.m. 4 Kaufman 6:30 p.m. 8 Mesquite Poteet* 7 p.m. 11 at Forney* 7 p.m. 12 Crandall* Noon 14 at West Mesquite* Noon 22 at North Forney* 7 p.m. 25 Greenville* 7 p.m. 29 at Royse City* 7 p.m. April 1 at Mesquite Poteet* 7 p.m. 5 Forney* 7 p.m. 8 West Mesquite* 7 p.m. 12 at Crandall* 7 p.m. 14 North Forney* 7 p.m. 19 at Greenville* 6 p.m. 22 Royse City* 7 p.m.
* — District 13-5A game ^ — at Carrollton Ranchview
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