Players' grades lauded by NFF

The Austin chapter of the National Football Foundation on Monday honored 38 Central Texas football players for their accomplishments on and off the field.

The high school seniors, one per school, were selected by the foundation because they maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average while being active in their communities and schools. Many of them will receive $1,000 scholarships from the foundation.

Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Will Muschamp gave the keynote address at the banquet.

Other honorees included former Austin High running back and LBJ and Travis coach David Seaborn (Contribution to Amateur Football Award), former Bowie football player and U.S. Marine Garrett Cox (Young American Award) and Austin Independent School District athletic director Tommy Cox (Contribution to Amateur Football Award).

The scholar-athlete award recipients were: Anderson's Mickey Crawford, Austin High's Emory Blake, Bastrop's Jerry Hilbig, Bowie's Heath Hohmann, Cedar Park's Drew Russo, Connally's Spenser Eggleston, Crockett's Kevin Park, Del Valle's Michael McDowell, Dripping Springs' Andrew Fyall, Eastside Memorial's Jose Padron, Elgin's Kelton McMillan, Georgetown's Matthew Bell, Hays' Colten Boothe, Hendrickson's Paul Rogers, Hutto's Brandon Righter, Lago Vista's Dusty Upchurch, Lake Travis' Marcus Pate, Lanier's Justin Benedict, Leander's Tucker Hancock, Lehman's R.J. Hardaway, Liberty Hill's Robert Emmert, Lockhart's John Alvarez, McCallum's Jordan Cole, McNeil's Phil Steinert, Pflugerville's Joshua Strickland, Reagan's Antoine Hadnot, Regents' Caleb Ingels, Round Rock's Chris White, San Marcos' Mark Line, Walker Wroe of St. Andrew's, Billy Franz of St. Michael's, St. Stephens' D.J. Johnson, Stony Point's Nyk McKissic, Texas School for the Deaf's Joe Conard, Taylor's Tristan Meyer, Travis' Drew McGarrahan, Vista Ridge's Robert Besett, Westlake's Samuel Moore, Westwood's Charlie Worthington and Wimberley's Johan Holter.


Crusaders win TAPPS state title

The St. Michael's boys track team won the TAPPS Class 5A state championship last weekend at Baylor University, the school's first track state title since joining TAPPS in 1998.

Sean Welleck set a TAPPS state record in the 800, his time of 1 minute, 55.57 seconds more than a second faster than the previous mark. Other event gold medal-winners included Dennis Hodapp in 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs, and the 1,600 relay team of Mike McNamara, Augie Alcala, Luke Seeker and Welleck. Mitch Morse was third in the shot put, Alcala was second in the 800, the 800 relay was third, Welleck was second in the 400 and Elliott Petterson was third in the 1,600.

The girls team finished sixth at state, led by the winning 1,600 relay team of Nathalie Yates, Megan Doyle, Paige Seeker and Christina Pensock. The 800 relay team of Madison Brown, Doyle, Ali Wenholz and Pensock set a school record with a time of 1:45.19 and was second at state. Pensock was third in the 100.


Chaps make all-state in soccer

Westlake goalkeeper Erin Wikelius, this season's Central Texas girls soccer player of the year, was named to the Texas Soccer Coaches Association's all-state team. Chaparrals defender Lauren Peterson also was named all-state, and forward Sarah Gross was named All-Region IV.

Several Westlake players also were lauded on TASCO's academic all-state team: Peterson, Wikelius, Chelsea Harris, Alanna Iverson, Lexi Iverson, Adrie Roth and Megan Twomey.


Local lacrosse teams at state

Bowie's lacrosse team beat Cedar Park 15-7 for the Central Texas District championship on Wednesday, qualifying the Bulldogs for this weekend's state tournament at House Park. Stony Point also has qualified for state.

Bowie faces defending state champion Highland Park in a state semifinal at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Stony Point plays Central Catholic at 7:30 p.m. today. The state championship matches are set for 11 a.m. Sunday for Division II and 1:30 p.m. for Division I.

McNeil coach Chris Mele was named the Central Division's coach of the year by the Texas High School Lacrosse League, and Lake Travis's Neil Austria was named the Central Division's assistant coach of the year.

Etc.


Westwood volleyball standout Makenzie Smith has signed with TCU.

Stony Point tennis players Kyle Grandin (Villanova) and Sarah Johnson (Southwestern) are the first in school history to receive college scholarships, said coach Travis Dalrymple.

Lake Travis boys basketball coach Jan Jernberg was named Class 4A's coach of the year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. The 32-year coaching veteran won his 600th career game this past season while leading the Cavaliers to the regional final.