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NEW QUARTERBACK TO LEAD FAMILIAR FACES FOR SCOTS IN 2021
HP uses spring to solidify depth chart ahead of challenging schedule
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By Todd Jorgenson
people newspapers
The lack of spring football practice didn’t seem to hurt Highland Park last season when the Scots still managed an undefeated regular season and a four-week playoff run.
Dual-threat quarterback Brennan Storer will take over as the starter for Highland Park in 2021. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) HP 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 Southlake Carroll^ Sept. 3 Mesquite Horn Sept. 10 at Coppell Sept. 17 Rockwall Oct. 1 at Sherman* Oct. 8 Longview* Oct. 15 at McKinney North* Oct. 22 Tyler* Oct. 29 at West Mesquite* Nov. 5 Wylie East*
* — District 6-5A Div. I game ^ — Neutral site TBA
Still, head coach Randy Allen is pleased that his program could re-establish its offseason routine following a year of interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had to remember how we did spring training since we didn’t have it last year,” Allen joked.
During three weeks of spring workouts, which culminated in a public scrimmage, the Scots developed chemistry while coaches evaluated younger players on the roster.
“It’s a great way to end the school year. We’ve gained a lot of experience and repetition and feel better about our depth chart,” Allen said. “It’s always exciting for our players to start competing before a new season. There’s a lot of enthusiasm.”
There will be plenty of new faces in the starting lineup on both sides of scrimmage for HP in 2021. One of them is dual-threat quarterback Brennan Storer, an incoming junior who Allen said makes good decisions and has improved his throwing velocity and accuracy.
“He’s gotten lots of reps, and just getting the chemistry with his receivers has been important. He’s had a really good spring from that standpoint,” Allen said. “It’s been very important for him. He’s gotten better each week.”
Despite seeing limited varsity action last season behind graduated starter Brayden Schager, Storer already has picked up multiple scholarship offers from major college programs and earned invitations to a handful of national showcases.
Storer will have some experienced receivers to target in the fall, with the returnees including Luke Herring, Jackson Heis, Luke Rossley, John Rutledge, and Grayson Schrank. Grant Gibson will be back to anchor the offensive line.
Familiar faces on defense will include George Wright, Jack Curtis, Mason Gallas, Blake Bevans, Henry Jurgovan, and Adam Rourke. On special teams, kickers Jack Stone and Sam Heinrich also will return.
The Scots, who finished 11-1 overall last year, will start fall practice on Aug. 14. They will face Plano East in a scrimmage on Aug. 19, then open the regular season on Aug. 26 with a neutral-site showdown against Southlake Carroll.
Fleet Footed: Speedy Point Guard Heads to Colorado As a team captain, Pease led the Scots on consecutive deep playoff runs
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached However, the most memorable win a person that can get from Point A to might have been on Dec. 31 this seaPoint B faster,” Piehler said. “He’s the son, when the Scots toppled 6A pow-
David Piehler remembers the first epitome of a hard worker. He’s gotten erhouse Allen and didn’t lose afterward time he saw Jack Pease in the Highland everything out of his ability and has for more than two months. Park High School gym for one reason continued to get Next year, Pease — and it had nothing to do with drib bling, passing, or shooting. - better every year.” Pease’s high I don’t know if will play at the University of Colorado
It was at the Scots’ summer youth school career end- I’ve ever coached as a preferred walkcamp when Pease was in fifth or sixth grade and one of many youngsters hoped when the Scots fell to eventual state a person that can on after the coach ing staff contact ing to play for the longtime HP head runner-up Kimball get from Point A ed him early in the coach one day. “He stood out mainly because of in a hard-fought regional semifito Point B faster. season. It added a wrinkle to a recruithis speed and quickness at that age,” nal playoff game in David Piehler ing cycle that had Piehler said. “It was obvious he had March, ending HP’s Pease contemplatthe ability to be a good athlete in any 18-game winning streak. ing lower-level scholarship offers or sport.” “The camaraderie was incredible even attending a year of prep school or
Flash forward several years, and this year. We were so cohesive,” Pease junior college. Pease is still the fastest guy on the said. “Some of my teammates are my “We stayed in touch throughout the court, except he’s also a floor lead- best friends. We’ve played some big- season. Right after their conference er, lockdown defender, ball-handling time basketball against some big-time tournament, they contacted me and whiz, and team MVP. He and Worthey players.” said they would love to have me on the Wiles were captains for two consecu- Pease joined the varsity roster as a roster,” Pease said. “The dream has been PCP_June2021-1x10Banne_Final.pdf 1 5/6/2021 2:44:39 PMtive years, both of which saw the Scots sophomore when the Scots clinched the to play at the Power Five level. It was reach the fourth round of the Class 5A district title on the same night Piehler too good of an opportunity to pass up. playoffs. earned his 500th career coaching victory. I’m beyond excited.”
Highland Park point guard Jack Pease led the Scots in several statistical categories this season.
(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
20 June 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com After 40 Years, HP’s Sherman Still Loves Coaching, Judging Boys gymnastics leader will officiate Olympic qualifiers again this summer
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Mark Sherman won’t be competing at the Olympics this summer in Tokyo, but he might determine who will be.
After wrapping up his 40th season coaching the boys team at Highland Park, Sherman will be a judge for the U.S. Olympic Trials this spring. Specifically, he will oversee parallel bars at qualifying events in June in Fort Worth and St. Louis, Missouri.
It will be the fifth Olympic Trials experience since 1996 for Sherman, who said officiating the best in the sport never gets old.
“Not only is it fun, but I learn so much,” Sherman said. “I’m always nervous, believe it or not. We just really want to make sure we get the score right. We have to compartmentalize our feelings and be objective.”
Sherman, who has been on the National Gymnastics Judges Association board for decades, regularly officiates top college and international events and has worked with members of the U.S. national team. He was elected to the NGJA Hall of Fame in 2014.
A Brooklyn native who competed at the University of Texas LEFT: Longtime Highland Park gymnastics coach Mark Sherman will be judging parallel bars at two U.S. Olympic qualifying meets in June. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) RIGHT: The Scots posted their highest team score in 26 years at the Texas High School Gymnastics Coaches Association state meet in Euless. (COURTESY PHOTO)
since the 1970s, Sherman came to HP in 1981 and has coached four all-around state champions, including sophomore Clayton Staunton this year.
“Gymnastics has always been the love of my life. I would have never imagined being here for 40 years, but after the first few years, I knew there was no place I’d rather be,” he said. “We’re pretty fortunate to have such great support from the school board, parents, and athletes.”
On May 1, the Scots posted their highest team score in 26 years at the Texas High School Gymnastics Coaches Association state meet in Euless. That meant HP showcased its depth on a roster with just two seniors.
Six gymnasts compete on each event at state, and the top three scores count, so Staunton was able to contribute a maximum of 33% of the team score.
Attributing part of the success to the school’s new gymnastics facility that opened in 2019, Sherman said the success at state indicates a bright future for the program. Having seen the top athletes in the country up close, he would know.
“These guys are very young, mostly freshmen and sophomores,” Sherman said. “I didn’t know how they’d perform. They had personal bests when we really needed it.”
