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Sports
WITH 6A SCHEDULE LOOMING, SCOTS MAKE STRIDES IN SPRING
Storer, HP building depth and experience to prepare for upcoming season
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
It’s been six months since Highland Park’s football season ended with an upset loss to Frisco Wakeland in the second round of the Class 5A Region I playoffs.
Yet, the sting of that defeat is still vivid for returning players, offering some motivation during three weeks of spring practices that provided valuable preparation for the upcoming 2022 season.
“The guys are making a lot of progress,” said HP head coach Randy Allen, who is entering his 24th season at the school. “We’ve gotten a great look at our players who are competing for starting positions and have a good feel for our depth chart.”
The Scots practiced for three weeks in late April and early May, as permitted by UIL guidelines, to build depth and gain experience before a jump to Class 6A next season. Highland Park will make the jump to Class 6A next season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
With a handful of returnees missing spring drills due to minor injuries or commitments in other sports, Allen and his staff were able to glimpse players who are shifting positions or otherwise haven’t had any varsity reps but could be valuable contributors in the fall.
One player who did participate throughout the spring is quarterback Brennan Storer, who passed for more than 2,500 yards with 25 touchdowns while starting every game as a junior. He also ran for eight scores.
“He’s executing our offense very well and showing the benefits of having 12 games under his belt,” Allen said. “As a quarterback, your offensive line and receivers have a lot to do with your success. Our line is developing just as Brennan is developing.”
Storer will have other familiar faces around him, such as Jay Cox, Jackson Heis, Beau Lilly, and Luke Herring. Meanwhile, the HP defense has just two returning starters, meaning that development in the spring has been especially critical. 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time Aug. 26 Flower Mound Marcus 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at Lewisville 7 p.m. Sept. 9 Lake Highlands* 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Irving* 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Jesuit* 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Richardson Berkner* 7 p.m. Oct. 14 Irving Nimitz* 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Irving MacArthur* 7 p.m. Oct. 28 Richardson* 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Richardson Pearce* 7 p.m.
* — District 7-6A game
“We have good speed on defense,” Allen said. “Once we get everybody back, we’re going to have a lot more experience.”
The Scots will resume practice on Aug. 8 before traveling to Plano East for a scrimmage on Aug. 19. The regular-season opener will be a week later when HP hosts Flower Mound Marcus. The eight-game slate in District 7-6A starts on Sept. 9 against Lake Highlands.
“It’s a new challenge with new opponents. For our fans and players, there’s excitement in something different. It’s going to motivate our team,” Allen said. “Our guys feel like they have something to prove.”
Why Rodney Webb Left Coaching After the Best Season of His Career The new HPISD athletic director stepped away from the sidelines for ‘a unique opportunity’
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Rodney Webb had just taken Denton Guyer to the Class 6A Division II state championship game and had the talent to refuel for another deep run in the football playoffs.
So why would he suddenly leave the sidelines? The opportunity to become the athletic director at Highland Park ISD might not come around again.
“It wasn’t that I was ready to walk away from coaching, but it was a unique opportunity to go ahead and make that jump. It’s such a great district with great people,” Webb said. “It’s not a completely different feel, but it’s more administrative and less blowing the whistle.”
Webb has 32 years of high school coaching experience, including 19 years as either an athletic director or campus athletics coordinator. He will replace Johnny Ringo, who is rePCP_June2022_Banner-FINAL.pdf 1 5/4/2022 9:06:33 AMtiring in June after nine years leading the HPISD athletic programs.
“This is a job where you don’t necessarily have the same day-today interaction with kids, but I will get to know the kids,” Webb said. “I’ve always really valued those player-coach relationships.” Webb just completed a two-year tenure as football coach at Guyer, following successful stints at Rockwall, Mesquite Horn, and Royse City. He has compiled an overall record of 160-78 in 19 seasons as a head coach. His teams made the playoffs in 18 consecutive years. “Coach Webb is highly respected in the coaching profession as a person with class and character,” said HP football coach Randy Allen. “He has been the athletic coordinator of very successful programs, and he has served in statewide leadership positions because of the respect he has earned from the 30,000 high school coaches in Texas.” Webb served as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association from 2018 to 2021, a position previously held by both Ringo and Allen. Currently, he is a member of the Texas High School Coaches Educational Foundation board of Rodney Webb began his tenure as Highland Park ISD athletic director on May 1. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY AND COURTESY)
directors and has experience with UIL councils and committees.
“We were searching for someone who knows how to sustain and build upon a strong program, who is a respected leader with strong character and who has a strong track record of supporting and promoting all boys’ and girls’ sports,” HPISD superintendent Tom Trigg said.
Webb started his new role on May 1, giving him time to learn from Ringo about the district, its athletic structure, and various traditions he intends to uphold.
“Just by looking at the success of the programs, there are great systems in place,” he said. “At the same time, I’m excited about putting my stamp on the program.”
Meanwhile, he knows that Friday nights in the fall will feel a little different, and he’s mentally preparing himself for that.
“Instead of worrying about what I’m going to call on third-and-short, I’m going to be nervous about other things,” Webb said. “I’m going to be so busy that I won’t have much time to think about it.”
Longtime Scots coach Holden set to retire after final spring championship
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
After her junior season ended with a loss in the championship match at the Class 5A state tennis tournament, Highland Park’s Isabella McElfresh wanted redemption.
She accomplished that goal, although with a different partner and in a different division. Instead of mixed doubles alongside Ray Saalfield, she won a state title with Eden Rogozinski in girls doubles.
The decision to split up last year’s silver medalists came from longtime HP head coach Dan Holden, whose program has always specialized in dominant doubles teams. In this case, he
FROM LEFT: Assistant coaches Robert Hogan and Tylir Jimenez, state champions Isabella McElfresh and Eden
Rogozinski, and head coach Dan Holden. (COURTESY PHOTO)
figured shuffling arguably the two best players in his program would give the Scots a chance at two spring titles instead of just one.
While Saalfield and Carl Newell dropped a three-set heartbreaker in the boys doubles championship match, McElfresh and Rogozinski continued a dominant season that started with HP’s state title during the fall team season.
“We definitely practiced a lot last spring, even when we weren’t playing together,” McElfresh said. “We would always talk and give each other tips.”
That chemistry paid off for a tandem that lost only one match all season and didn’t drop a set during postseason play. They sealed the deal with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Amarillo’s Allex Gonzales and Morgan Rose in San Antonio.
It marked the first state title in girls doubles for the Scots since 2015, when HP was in Class 6A. McElfresh is a senior, but Rogozinski will return next year along with her younger sister, Mia, who finished third in mixed doubles at the regional tournament.
“I had no idea how to play doubles until I got here. The coaches really emphasize that,” McElfresh said. “We wanted it for ourselves, but with everything that Dan has taught us, we wanted to make him proud.”
The state championship will be the last at HP for Holden, who plans to retire after 22 seasons of turning the Scots into the most decorated high school program in Texas, with dozens of state crowns in the fall and spring seasons.
“This was a bittersweet decision. I struggled with it,” Holden said. “I love these kids, and I love this program, but it’s time. I feel great about what we accomplished.”
Holden, who coached at the college level with Louisiana-Lafayette in the mid-1990s, plans to keep coaching privately and supporting the Scots behind the scenes.
“It will be great to watch them do well,” Holden said. “The program is in great hands.”
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