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Sports
INGRAM, HOCKADAY LOOK TO DEFEND SPC VOLLEYBALL TITLE
Standout hitter back at full strength after severe knee injury
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Just as her decorated high school volleyball career hit full swing, an injury forced Lauren Ingram to the sidelines.
Yet, the torn knee ligament that caused Hockaday’s star outside hitter to miss almost all of 2021 also enabled her to grow off the court and return even better for her senior year.
Her 2022 goal: helping the Daisies defend their SPC championship.
“It was a huge setback for me,” Ingram said. “I had never had a big injury like that, so I was really shocked. It taught me patience.”
The injury in January 2021 caused her to miss the entire club season and clouded her college recruitment process. It also proved a
Hockaday senior Lauren Ingram will play volleyball at Duke University next season.
(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
character-building process for Ingram as she attended every Hockaday practice during rehab, eager to rejoin her teammates.
She worked her way back into
SPC FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: Nov. 3-5
Where: Houston
Sports: Football, cross country, volleyball, field hockey
Notable: St. Mark’s is the defending champion in boys cross country and boys volleyball. ESD was the runner-up last year in 4A football.
the lineup late in the regular season for the Daisies, first in the back row and as a serving specialist. One match before the SPC tournament, the 6-foot-1 Ingram returned to full strength in her customary place at the net.
“Lauren was really committed to getting back and helping the team,” said Hockaday head coach Andy Gass. “She’s the heart and soul of the team in terms of her personality. We can give the ball to her when we really need a kill or need a play. She makes it fun but also makes sure we work hard.”
After the championship match against Arlington Oakridge in Dallas, which gave Hockaday its first title since 2008, Ingram dominated on the club circuit and verbally committed to Duke University this summer.
With the Blue Devils, she hopes to carve a legacy like her older brother, Harrison, a former basketball star at St. Mark’s School of Texas who is now a standout at Stanford.
“I knew I always wanted to play volleyball at the next level. I’m really grateful to the coaches for the opportunity. I really connected with them,” Ingram said of Duke. “I just want to do the best that I can and play good volleyball and get better as a person and as a player.”
But first, Ingram is focused on making her fourth varsity season her best on a Hockaday team that includes junior Avery Jackson, a Stanford beach volleyball pledge.
“The goal was to win SPC. Now it’s to repeat,” Gass said. “They can leave their mark and leave a legacy.”
Taking Offense: St. Mark’s Senior Thrives After Position Switch Shoulder injury turned star linebacker Leffel into running back for Lions
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Keats Leffel was supposed to be one of the top linebackers in the SPC this season, but his shoulder had other ideas.
Faced with the prospect of season-ending surgery, Leffel and his St. Mark’s coaches came up with a different plan for his senior year. Instead of being one of the Lions’ leading tacklers, he now stars on offense as the team’s leading rusher.
The issue began toward the end of last season when Leffel dislocated his shoulder but was able to finish the year. Flash forward to halftime of the season opener on Aug. 26, and the same shoulder popped out.
Leffel’s doctors gave the St. Mark’s defensive captain a choice to avoid risking further injury — end his season or switch positions.
“I ended up moving to running back, and I’ve loved it,” Leffel said. “It was hard news to take, but I wanted to help the team however I could.”
Leffel hadn’t played running back consistently since middle school but showed no signs of rust. In his first three games on offense, Leffel averaged 106 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns.
“I was definitely surprised — something
Instead of missing the rest of his senior season, Keats Leffel switched from linebacker to running back for St. Mark’s. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
in me just kind of clicked. Our offensive line gave me a lot of nice holes to run through,” Leffel said. “It’s been a very nice transition. I’m hitting people in other ways, and I love hard physical football.”
The switch has bolstered the St. Mark’s offense, too. The Lions were primarily rotating two sophomores at running back to complement the passing game led by quarterback Asher Wilburn.
“He had gotten so few reps heading into that first game,” said St. Mark’s head coach Harry Flaherty. “He’s as tough a guy as we have. I was surprised how quickly he picked up our run schemes.”
Leffel is a three-sport standout for the Lions. His ability to compete in soccer and baseball depends on whether he will have surgery immediately after football season or postpone it further, which might impact whether he plays college football in 2023.
Coincidentally, fellow St. Mark’s captain Blake Malouf has thrived in a similar move this season, with a broken hand forcing him to move from receiver to defensive back.
“I’m thankful that they’re both able to continue competing during their senior seasons,” Flaherty said. “They’ve invested so much in this program. It’s certainly been a big boost to our team.”
