Dragon Pride Winter 2023

Dona

Nanette

The

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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

top gun

PUBLISHER

Mike Tesoriero

Mike@SouthlakeStyle.com

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Nicole Tesoriero

Nicole@SouthlakeStyle.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

David Dunn

David@SouthlakeStyle.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bruce Sons

ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER

Andrea Hatchett

Andrea@SouthlakeStyle.com

OFFICE COORDINATOR

Kelly Rose

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Zach Warner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

BluDoor Studios

Stewart Johnson

Will Schutts

Dragon Media

It’s rare in high school team sports to have a four-year varsity career, especially for athletes at larger 6A schools where competition for playing time can be tremendous. Yet for the last four seasons, we’ve been watching with growing enthusiasm for one Lady Dragon Basketball star — Camryn Tade.

At a height of 5’10”, size isn’t necessarily her calling card, but discipline is thanks in part to her family’s deep military roots. After countless hours of dribbling and shooting drills, summer leagues and thousands of free throws, this Dragon senior is standing tall, averaging 21 points and seven rebounds per game.

By continuing to add new moves and shooting range to her arsenal each season, Camryn surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her Carroll career earlier this year. Her scoring average is just as impressive in the classroom, where she ranks near the top of an equally competitive academic crowd. That’s a stat not lost on the recruiting team at West Point, where she’ll follow in her family’s legacy of military service in the Fall.

As she’s improved as a player and leader, so too have the Lady Dragons, who have a record of 29-3, are the bi-district champions and the second highest-scoring team in the area at 68.2 points per game.

Whether she’s scoring 45 points one night or grabbing double-digit rebounds another, Camryn continues to find ways to keep the Lady Dragons in the win column for 21 games and counting. Here’s to a few more wins before she’s done.

Yours in Dragon Pride,

Mike Tesoriero | Publisher Mike@SouthlakeStyle.com

CONTACT US

520 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 100 Southlake, TX 76092 817.416.4500

SouthlakeStyle.com

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTO BY STEWART JOHNSON

ALWAYS in season

Flying High: The Lady Dragons set up for an attack against Plano West.

Brody, Kathy, Jesse, Garrett and Averi Hull

Brody, Kathy, Jesse, Garrett and Averi Hull

, 22 , 23 -, 22 , 23

SPORTS IN REVIEW

DRAGONS

ROSTER CROSS-COUNTRY

Head Coach: Justin Leonard Assistant Coaches: Dusty Allen, Emilia Egel, Phillip O’Neal, Zach Sellers

BOYS

ABOUT THE TEAM

Senior leadership and experience played a key role at the 6A cross-country state meet, where the Carroll boys and girls finished first and second respectively.

“I knew that the talent and ability was there,” Dragons coach Justin Leonard says. “It was just a matter of doing what it takes.”

Compiling 62 points to take the title, the boys were led by freshman Caden Leonard (fifth, 15:56.2), followed closely by junior Jude Alvarez (eighth, 15:59.1). Six of Carroll’s seven runners finished in the Top 22, including Logan Cantu (13th), Blake Bullard (17th), Robert Freeman (19th) and Zach Troutman (22nd). Tyler Ortiz posted a time of 16:58.1.

The Lady Dragons (51 points) finished second behind Flower Mound (42 points), a team that boasted the top three finishers at state. Carroll was led by senior Ava Bushaw (fourth, 17:58.3), Sylvia Schwedler (sixth, 18:16.9) and Audrey Dunn (seventh, 18:36.3). Elizabeth Smits (16th) and Alexandra Walsh (18th) finished in the Top 20, while Sarayu Veluri (25th) and Natalie Ng (41st) followed from behind.

Losing three seniors from both teams, Leonard says their leadership will be missed, but he expects those returning to continue carrying the torch.

Jude Alvarez Jr

Blake Bullard So.

Logan Cantu Sr.

Robert Freeman Sr.

Caden Leonard Fr

Tyler Ortiz Sr.

Zach Troutman Jr

GIRLS

Ava Bushaw Sr.

Audrey Dunn Sr.

Natalie Ng Sr.

Sylvia Schwedler Jr

Elizabeth Smits So.

Sarayu Veluri So.

Alexandra Walsh Jr

i knew that the talent and ability was there. it was just a matter of doing what it takes.

— Head Coach Justin Leonard

SEASON RECAP

Fueled by determined and committed Dragon runners, the Carroll boys crosscountry team won their fourth straight state title last fall, with the girls finishing second.

“That’s the standard that we have set — to win state,” Carroll cross-country coach Justin Leonard says. “You want to win state championships, and you want to chase titles.”

The boys looked ready to repeat, winning all but one of the meets in which they raced. The Dragons finished third out of over 200 teams at the Woodbridge Classic in Irvine, California, a meet comprised of some nationally-ranked programs. The boys went on to win district and set a record at the regional meet with the lowest team score (25 points).

At state, the Carroll boys took gold with 62 points, ahead of Austin Vendegrift (81 points) and Coppell (126). It’s the 13th consecutive year the boys finished first or second at state.

Meanwhile, the girls just lost four meets this season, including Woodbridge and a second-place finish at region, where they trailed Flower Mound by just four points. It was a rematch at state as Flower Mound (42 points) narrowly edged out Carroll (51 points) once again.

In total, the girls advanced to state for 26 consecutive years and medaled in 21 of those contests.

“We have what I call a ‘price-tag mentality,’ where we have a pretty good idea of what it takes as far as work ethic and commitment in order to achieve a state championship,” Leonard says. “It’s a sacrifice. It’s a total commitment.”

DRAGONS

Head Coach: David Markley

Assistant Coaches:

Jon Cravens, Jordan Willis, Dustin Burchfield, Cade McCrary

ABOUT THE TEAM

Strong play on both sides of the court is something Carroll boys basketball coach David Markley wants to see from his team on a regular basis. The Dragons have shown explosiveness on offense, but continue working to develop a gritty defense to keep opponents in check.

Averaging 59.4 points per game through 24 contests, Carroll also held opponents to just 52.4 points per game. A low of 31 points allowed against Magnolia was an impressive defensive showing by the Dragons, as was their 81-point scoring performance against Pasadena Memorial.

Junior Christian O’Connor (15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 42% on three-pointers) leads the charge for Carroll, while 6-foot-5 junior Jack Lawson (12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds) provides size. Senior point guard Carter Ruck (11.7 points, 4.3 assists) can score and create offense for the Dragons.

Markley says sophomores Ari Tumma and Oakley Sarshar also show promise and could play key roles for the Dragons over the next couple of seasons. Despite his team’s setbacks in district, Markley said he’s confident in their ability and knows what they can accomplish.

“Sometimes we’re not the most talented team, but we can be the tougher team, the team that plays together the best,” he says. “That’s what we’ve got to do to win some games in this district.”

23 Taye Johnson G Sr.

SEASON UPDATE

Posting a 14-18 overall record last season, the Carroll boys basketball team had already matched last year’s pace before returning to the court after winter break this season.

However, Carroll found wins much tougher to come by once they dove into the first half of the district schedule.

“(4-6A) is one of the tougher districts in the Metroplex,” coach David Markley says, whose team went 0-5 to start district after compiling a 14-4 record in non-district games. “It’s a battle every single night. If you’re not ready to play, you’re going to get beat.”

The Dragons faced stout opponents such as Keller Central and Trophy Club Byron Nelson, both ranked in the Top 25 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC). Carroll also contended with the likes of Keller, Northwest Eaton and Timber Creek, teams with winning records that were ready to challenge for playoff spots.

The Dragons gave Markley reason to be optimistic early in the season as they won the Magnolia tournament in mid-November, then advanced to the championship game in December’s Cedar Hill tournament before falling to Top 10-ranked Plano East. A 57-55 road win against McKinney Boyd, a double overtime win over Pasadena Memorial and a late game dagger to beat Arlington Bowie 36-34 were other memorable non-district games that allowed the Dragons to gain confidence.

“We’ve made some great strides, and I think our effort every day in practice has gotten better,” Markley says.

” we give ourselves a chance to win with our defense — that’s what good teams do.

—

Head Coach David Markley

DRAGONS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Head Coach: Robyn McCoart

Assistant Coaches: Sally Allsbrook, Rosana Barbosa, Vernon Coleman, Callie Pomroy

SEASON UPDATE

Since taking over the Carroll girls basketball program, coach Robin McCoart’s teams have developed a reputation for feisty, relentless defenses. But an increase in offensive prowess this season has produced impressive results that has the team and its fans optimistic about the potential for a long playoff run.

ABOUT THE TEAM

This year’s Lady Dragon basketball team owes much of its explosiveness to a four-year veteran and a trio of underclassmen sisters.

Senior guard Camryn Tade, last year’s District 4-6A MVP, eclipsed 2,000 points for her four-year varsity career this season. The Lady Dragons’ leading scorer averaged 21.5 points per game and added 6.7 rebounds, placing her amongst the top scorers in North Texas. Sophomore guard Milania Jordan returns as a more consistent offensive threat, contributing 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Milania's freshmen sisters, Natalia and Gianna, have quickly become staples to head coach Robyn McCoart’s lineup. Natalia averages 8.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals, while Gianna adds 7.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.

Post players Taryn Barnes and Katah Gunter utilize their grit and tenacity together, averaging a combined 11 rebounds per game. Junior guard Caitlin Slowik comes off the bench with experience and poise to run the offense, while also providing an outside touch behind the arc (38%).

“I feel like we’re gelling and we’re finding the right people at the right times,” McCoart says. “Every game, we’re staying dialed in.”

“Lopsided” is the best way to describe the Lady Dragon victories, especially as they rolled through District 4-6A in dominant fashion. Carroll (28-3 entering the postseason) captured its second consecutive district title, winning 4-6A contests by a 39.5 average point differential.

“Usually it’s a five-point game and we’re scrapping and clawing,” McCoart says of typical games in past seasons. “Defense is always a theme, but this is the most offensive power I’ve ever had (from a team).”

The Lady Dragons (68.5 points per game) hung 89 points against Byron Nelson and 88 against Haltom in district play. A 51-47 win over Fossil Ridge was Carroll’s closest contest thus far in 4-6A.

The team learned from tough matchups early on. Tournament losses to Highland Park and McKinney North gave the Lady Dragons a 3-2 start to the season. Carroll followed that by winning 20 of its next 21, with a 55-50 loss to Mansfield Summit being its only defeat during that clip.

”“They set an overall goal of going to state, and I respect it,” McCoart says. “I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

We have some talented girls this year who have a lot of basketball skills.

— Head Coach Robin McCoart

SWIM AND DIVE

DRAGONS ROSTER

Head Coach: Kevin Murphy

Assistant Coaches: Paul Wallace, Rachael Ausdenmoore

Diving Coach: Anastasia Pozdniakova

SWIMMERS/DIVERS

Kazumi Alvarez Sr.

Eleanor Ammermann Sr.

Sofia Armbruster So.

Farya Aryan Jr

Andrew Balson Jr

Camdyn Bettencourt Jr

Emma Bibza Fr

Grant Bibza Jr

Cole Bishop Jr

Owen Blanford So.

Alexander Boeck So.

Andrew Boeck So.

James Buehner Jr

Thomas Buehner Jr

Jackson Buford Sr.

Blake Bullard So.

Matthew Cai So.

Reese Calvin Fr

Jackson Campbell Fr

Tommy Chan Jr

Carissa Chandra Fr

Cameron Chin Jr

Louie Christensen So.

Christopher Clarin Jr

Madelyn Clem Sr.

Marin Clem So.

Jacob Cohen Fr

Cassandra Collins Sr.

Olivia Colombo Fr

Chloe Criswell So.

Elle Cundiff Sr.

Julia Da Silva So.

Dillan DeLugo Jr

Alexis Drap Sr.

Kate Drap Jr

Katharine Dukes Sr.

Alexander Erastov So.

Reagan Evans Jr

Chloe Fisher Jr

Katherine Francis So.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Loaded with experience, the Carroll girls swim team boasts several high school All-Americans and returning athletes who competed and placed in state competition last season.

Senior Hailey Heldenbrand, who finished second at state in the 50 freestyle and seventh in the 100 backstroke, leads the charge for the Lady Dragons. Sophomore Marin Clem (third in the 50 free, seventh in the 100 free) and senior Kate Heintz (fifth in the 200 free, eighth in the 100 fly) also carry state experience.

After taking the 6A state title last year, the Carroll boys team has less stateexperienced swimmers this season. Junior Max Hatcher is one of the few returners that finaled at state, finishing fifth in the 500 free. But younger boys swimmers are gaining experience this year.

“A lot of them are just about a year away from being significant state swimmers,” swim coach Kevin Murphy says. “We’re looking forward to that.”

Carroll’s top female diver, junior Natalie Stubbs (second at state in 2022), is injured and won’t compete in postseason meets. But other girls divers (Jenna Hurley, Melina Michaelides, Reagan Evans and Dillan DeLugo) stepped up to finish No. 2-5 at district and advance to region. Carroll junior Nathan Stone finished fifth among boys divers to advance as well.

— Head Coach Kevin Murphy

Leonard Fu Sr.

Penelope Gerrick Fr

Merren Grannell So.

Griffin Green So.

Avery Hafele Jr

William Hao Jr

Max Hatcher Jr

Clary Heintz Sr.

Colin Heintz Fr

Hailey Heldenbrand Sr.

SEASON UPDATE

A dominant program that captured the boys and girls 6A state titles in 2022, the Carroll swimming and diving teams are rarely challenged at the district meet. However, the boys team’s toughest competition likely comes from its own backyard this season.

The Keller boys might be the top 6A team in Texas this year, as the Dragons witnessed the neighboring school district’s depth firsthand when they finished second to the Indians (193-142) at the 4-6A meet Jan. 20th.

Carroll swim coach Kevin Murphy expected a replay finish at the Region I meet Feb. 3-4.

if they’re sharp, then they’re going to have good results.

Jackson Hernandez So.

Logan Hough So.

Jenna Hurley Sr.

Hayden Hurrell Sr.

Alien Ilin Sr.

Grant Jackson Fr

Tatum Janning Jr

Andrea Jimenez Lopez So.

Jordan Jiuliano So.

Kaitlyn Jiuliano So.

Bailey Kaiser Sr.

Sydney Klopfenstein Fr

Ronan Lang Sr.

Charlotte Laurence So.

Ella Le So.

Andrew Lee Sr.

Dawn Lee So.

Ava Logan So.

Jack Lu So.

Abigail Maeker Jr

Sunisha Mahat So.

Erika Martinez Sr.

Brandt McBride Jr

Grace McCarrick Jr

Rory McCarthy Jr

Zayn McKeon So.

Daniel Melville Jr

Lucas Mijares So.

Coleman O’Brian Jr

Jackson O’Brian Jr

Nonyem Okafo Fr

Somtochukwu Okafo Jr

Emma Oldroyd Jr

Thomas Paskvan Fr

Lucy Reynolds Fr

Lillian Rogers Fr

Sydney Rubin So.

Riley Schultz Fr

Joshua Shafer Jr

Riddhima Shanker So.

John Stoklas Sr.

Nathan Stone Jr

Natalie Stubbs Jr

Milo Tagliani Sr.

David Tyler Jr

David Valderrama Pena Sr.

Jack Van Dorselaer So.

Hannah Vinas Jr

Jacqueline Walters Jr

Jesse Wang Jr.

William Ward Sr.

Oscar Weber So.

Landon Weilert So.

Preslie Weilert Jr

Adam Wenger Sr.

Eric Winkler Jr

Catherine Woods Jr

Collin Woods Jr

William Zhang Fr

The Carroll girls, on the other hand, appear more likely to defend their state title. The Lady Dragons easily won district over second-place Keller (233-129) and won regionals in dominant fashion by more than 200 points.

Success at state for the Carroll girls would require overcoming teams like The Woodlands, while Keller, The Woodlands and Humble Kingwood are teams that loom large for the boys.

The Lady Dragons won every swim meet they competed in this season, while the boys won all their dual meets and finished second at the TISCA meet to Keller.

"We need to stay healthy and focused and accelerate in swim practice," Murphy says. “If they’re sharp, then they’re going to have good results (at region and state).”

DRAGONS

Head Coach: Jason Tanaka

Assistant Coaches: Rosana Barbosa, Alli Lofton, Ami Sarigeo, Erin Weir

SEASON RECAP

With a new head coach, new players and a key injury for part of the season, the Lady Dragons volleyball team struggled to find consistency at times this past fall. A 0-4 start and an 11-14 record entering challenging district competition made Carroll’s postseason chances appear shaky.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Leading the Lady Dragons with 639 digs, junior libero Caleigh King made it hard for opponents to register kills this past season. The 4-6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year embodied one of the main focal points Carroll volleyball coach Jason Tanaka wanted to establish as he took over the Lady Dragons’ program this past season.

“A lot of things that I tried to emphasize this fall was with our defense, and we did a really great job,” Tanaka says, whose team went 21-21 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs. “Offensively, things came a little bit more naturally for a lot of the players.”

Freshman outside hitter Layla Austin led the attack for Carroll, registering 244 kills despite missing nearly four weeks with an ankle injury. Senior captain Kaylee Young (206) and junior Taryn Barnes (218) weren’t far behind, as the two were the Lady Dragons’ only other first-team All-District selections. Junior setter and second-team All-District player Cat Millsap also maintained a key role as she led the team with 679 assists and 57 aces.

Losing six seniors to graduation, Tanaka expects his returning players to build off of what they accomplished this season.

However, things began to click in the second half of district play as the Lady Dragons went 5-2 to clinch the final playoff spot and enter the postseason.

“I don’t think we really got it rolling until the last third of our season,” Jason Tanaka says, who took over as head volleyball coach last summer. “They really did a great job of understanding my system a little bit more.”

Carroll (21-21 overall, 8-6 in district) used a strong serve game and improved defense to compete with the likes of Keller (33-12, ranked No. 3 in 6A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association) and Byron Nelson (38-6, No. 17).

The Lady Dragons lost freshman star Layla Austin to an ankle injury for four weeks, including much of the first half of district. But her return in the final games, as well as the team’s clutch district win against Fossil Ridge, allowed Carroll to make the playoffs. Carroll defeated Weatherford and Odessa Permian in the first two postseason rounds before ultimately losing to district foe Keller in a five-set match in the regional quarterfinal.

”

i think we can go a lot further into the playoffs. it’s going to be really up to the players' willingnes to work.

— Head Coach Jason Tanaka

DRAGONS

Head Coach: Corey Aldridge

Assistant Coach: Abby White

SEASON RECAP

The Southlake Carroll tennis team started its season with a 10-9 win over Round Rock Westwood on Aug. 5, but the outcome proved much different when the two teams met again. Westwood defeated the Dragons 10-1 in the 6A state semifinal match on Oct. 26 in College Station, then went on to claim the state championship the next day.

ABOUT THE TEAM

With 14 seniors on the roster, Carroll tennis coach Corey Aldridge had a good feeling about what his tennis players could collectively accomplish this past fall. Experience and depth powered the Dragons throughout the season and allowed them to reach the 6A state tennis tournament, something they’ve done only once before.

“I don’t think they were better than any years previous — they just had that mental advantage because they played so much together,” Aldridge says of his team. “They were able to close out close games, and they did all year.”

Focused on building strong doubles play, the Dragons coupled that facet of the game with the skills of their talented singles players. Senior Bella Andrade led the girls, having won a state title in mixed doubles last spring, while Avi Kumar was the No. 1 boys player.

While the girls had more star power at the top of their lineup, Carroll’s boys were deep and consistent from top to bottom. That even skill level was helpful during stretches of the season, including in district, when they could have suffered from potential setbacks.

“That depth carried us,” Aldridge says. “We had some injuries on the boys' side. It was really easy when one person went down to plug somebody right back in and keep up to speed. There was no drop off skill-wise.”

Although the loss of several experienced seniors will be a challenge to overcome, the Dragons will look to returners such as juniors Maddy Clark and Andy Li to lead the way for the team next season.

Despite the loss, Carroll (22-3) tied its best finish in team tennis history by reaching the state tournament, a feat the Dragons haven’t achieved since 2019.

“They knew what was at stake and they knew the big stage that the kids were going to play on, and they just stepped up,” Carroll tennis coach Corey Aldridge says. “The chemistry and the support behind one another was just unmatched. It was a special year.”

The Dragons (ranked No. 3 by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association) dominated District 4-6A play by going 7-0 and holding off its biggest challenge in Keller (No. 10 in the TTCA poll) by a 14-5 final. Carroll went 134-18 overall in district matches.

Facing tough opposition prepared the Dragons for both district and the postseason. Westwood (No. 1), Allen (No. 5), Highland Park (No. 7), Plano West (No. 8) and Coppell (No. 14) were all challenges that sharpened Carroll. The experience helped as Carroll got past Highland Park in the regional semifinals and finally defeated Allen in the regional final after losing their previous two meetings in the regular season.

Head Coach Corey Aldridge

“When you win, you win, and when you lose, you learn,” Aldridge says. “By losing those two matches (to Allen), it allowed us to expose some weakness that we needed to address, and it paid off.”

” when you win, you win, and when you lose, you learn.

—

ALL-STAR ORTHOPAEDICS

Carroll ISD’s Official Orthopaedic, Sports Medicine And Spinal Care Provider

2016-2022

As Carroll ISD’s official orthopaedic, sports medicine and spinal care provider, All-Star Orthopaedics understands that being there for the community means meeting you where you are. Athletics are in full swing, and for many families, that can be coupled with unexpected injuries and other surprises on and off the field.

For busy people like the families in our community, it’s important to remind everyone that All-Star Orthopaedics can help you skip the urgent care in the event of an injury. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your star student-athlete or senior relative. When

you call us first, you can trust that we will work very hard to get our patients in on the same or next day.

Our new texting feature can help cut out wait times and assist in getting you answers even sooner. On-site imaging and eight orthopaedic specialists on board help to make your visit to our location a smooth and swift experience every time. You can rest easy knowing that you’re in the right hands when you call All-Star Orthopaedics first.

Our friendly staff, personalized care, conservative treatment plans and state-of-the-art facilities are just a few reasons why patients refer All-Star to their family and friends over and over again.

“I count on All-Star to take care of us all.”

— Lindsay W.

(Back L to R) W. Grear Hurt, M.D.; Stephen Timon, M.D.; Thomas Schott, M.D.; and Kevin Honig, M.D. (Front L to R) Brian Straus, M.D.; Michael Hahn, M.D.; Bing Tsay, M.D.; and Mark Greenberg, M.D.

DRAGONS

ROSTER

Head Coach: Joe Hathaway

Assistant Coaches: Steve Love, Gabe Reyes

BOYS

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Carroll boys and girls wrestling teams are ready to finish the 2023 season even better than last year. With 10 wrestlers (seven boys, three girls) at the state meet in 2022, the Dragons saw five athletes place fifth or better, including a second state title by Carroll girls wrestler Bayley Trang.

The senior champ has endured injuries that have kept her off the mats at times this season, but Carroll wrestling coach Joe Hathaway doesn’t expect that to slow down her pursuit for a third-straight title once she returns to full strength.

“She won’t have forgotten how to wrestle, that’s for sure,” Hathaway says.

Senior Grant Hollaway reached state in the 113 weight class in 2022, but grew and is working to find his groove wrestling at 138. He continues to improve, while junior Boede Gibson (152) and senior Dylan Vaughn (285) — others who reached state for the boys last year — are looking strong as well. Tobi Akenroye, Dylan Ota and Carson Ota are other standout boys this season.

For the girls, KK Bucher is developing into a threat, as is Kenzy Sobh. Brenna Trang, who finished fifth at state in the girls 95-pound class last season, is battling to overcome the heightened effort she now receives from opponents.

“People have seen her, and she’s not surprising anybody this year,” Hathaway says.

Tobi Akenroye Sr.

Luke Akleh Jr

Cole Austin Fr

Parker Barry So.

Blaise Bennett Fr

Tyler Blain So.

Luke Brown So.

Shashwat Calyampoondi Sr.

Miles Coleman So.

Ayaan Didarali So.

Noah Dyer Fr

Dominick Esposito Jr

Ignacio Esposito So.

Xavier Flanagan Jr

Boede Gibson Jr

Josh Gruenewald Sr.

Ryan Haskell Fr

Kenon Hayes Jr

Grant Hollaway Sr.

Ethan Hunt So.

Parker Iniguez So.

Matthew Kruger Fr

Patrick Lynch Jr

Todd Mallory Sr.

Dustan Mark Jr

Glenn McMillon Fr

Matthew Miller So.

Stosh Niezgoda So.

Carson Ota So.

Dylan Ota Fr

Matthew Reyes So.

Patricio Reynoso Jr

Blake Rich Fr

Aidan Setzer Jr

Ethan Singh Fr

J. David Sparks Sr.

Deuce Taholo Jr

Aaron Thomas Fr

Trenton Thomas Jr

Jack Thrailkill So.

Braden Trang Fr

Dylan Vaughn Sr.

Wissam Waheed Sr.

Luke Whillock Jr

Aiden White Fr

Cort Whitney So.

Trent Wilson So.

Colton Young Sr.

GIRLS

KK Bucher Sr.

Niyanta Calyampoondi Sr.

Gracie Fordjour So.

Ava Glaser Jr

Valerie Gonzalez Jr

Grace Jose Fr

Haley Maxwell Jr

Zarriah McGrue Fr

Kenzy Sobh Sr.

Sylvi Sutinen So.

Simaima Taholo So.

Bayley Trang Sr.

Brenna Trang Jr.

— Head Coach Joe Hathaway

” they’ve been putting in the work… winning a state title and getting that hardware is still very realistic.

SEASON UPDATE

Two years after making history with its first individual female state wrestling championship, the Carroll wrestling program has its sights set on capturing the first team title at this year’s UIL state meet.

Finishing fourth overall at state last year, the Lady Dragons could make a run at the state trophy judging from this season’s performances. Carroll sent three girls to state in 2022 and will send three again in 2023.

“They’ve been putting in the work to get to that point, so winning a state title and getting that hardware is still very realistic,” Carroll wrestling coach Joe Hathaway says.

The Carroll boys, who sent seven wrestlers to state and finished 12th as a team last year, are sending seven again this year and could place in the top 10 at state.

The boys were 10-0 and the girls were 9-1 through their first 10 dual meets this year, with both also winning a couple of tournaments. Hathaway was impressed with the teams’ showing at the Cy-Fair Invitational in Houston, where the boys finished second and the girls took ninth out of 80-plus teams each.

Both teams excelled at events in Oklahoma — the Mid-America Nationals for the boys (Top 10 finish) and the Border Wars for the girls, who cruised to first place over teams from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

However, more fine-tuning is necessary for the boys to overcome foes like Marcus in district and Arlington Martin in region. The girls will face challenges from Coppell in district and El Paso Eastwood in region, where the Lady Dragons were runners-up in 2022.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do to get up to where we think our standards are and where we could be,” Hathaway says. “But we’re doing pretty well overall.”

WATER POLO

DRAGONS ROSTER

Head Coach: Keith Gomez

Assistant Coach: Kevin Murphy

BOYS

ABOUT THE TEAM

While both the boys and girls water polo teams showed plenty of offensive prowess in their first season of UIL competition, the Lady Dragons had an extra spark, winning 22 of 24 games this fall.

Junior Jojo Walters, who led the Lady Dragons with an impressive 110 goals and 24 assists, was named state MVP and was also a UIL state tournament team selection. Junior Somto Okafo was also named Goalkeeper of the Year for Region I.

Other offensive leaders for the Lady Dragons included Sydney Rubin (49 goals), Maile Farden (49), Kamdyn Geisel (37) and co-captain Regan Dixon (31). Walters was also tops in steals (93), while Okafo had three shutouts and registered 242 saves while in goal.

The boys were led by junior Rory McCarthy’s 91 goals on offense, while Chris Clarin (57 goals) and Brandt McBride (48) were next in scoring. Ryan Bradford had 17 wins and 191 saves in goal, while Louie Christensen was assigned to guard top opponents and registered a team-high 55 steals.

Eric Winkler (42 goals, 33 assists, 44 steals) was named MVP by his teammates, while David Valderrama (39 goals) was named to the UIL state tournament team. Valderrama scored several goals in the state semifinal game, allowing Carroll to come back and tie after trailing 6-1.

“They learned how to play in tight games, and by the end of the year, they thrived playing in those tight games,” head coach Keith Gomez says.

1 Ryan Bradford So.

1 Griffin Lang So.

2 Xavier Flanagan Jr

3 Chris Clarin Jr

4 David Valderrama Sr.

5 Louie Christensen So.

6 Royce McBride Fr

7 Rory McCarthy Jr

8 Eric Winkler Jr

9 Ivo Tagliani Fr

10 Carter Smith So.

11 Brandt McBride Jr

12 Hayden Hurrell Sr.

14 Ian Yu Jr

15 Leo Fu Sr.

16 Milo Tagliani Sr.

GIRLS

1 Somto Okafo Jr

2 Riya Erasani Fr

3 Kamdyn Geisel Sr.

4 Maile Farden Fr

5 Chloe Criswell So.

6 Arianna Schutts Sr.

7 Sydney Rubin So.

8 Reidun King Sr.

9 Regan Dixon Sr.

10 Malak Askar Sr.

11 Lauren Anderson Sr.

12 Cami Bettencourt Jr

13 Ella Le So.

14 Kaitlyn Jiuliano So.

15 Jojo Walters Jr.

16 Jordan Jiuliano So.

17 Noor-E-Sahar Ahmed Jr.

18 Sofia Armbruster So.

19 Annika Mark So.

20 Riddhima Shanker So.

”

When it was crunch time, they really stepped up and won those crucial games.

— Head Coach Keith Gomez

SEASON RECAP

With water polo becoming an official UIL sport this past fall, the question became whether Carroll athletes could successfully transition from a club level to the scholastic level while facing increased competition amongst a broader range of schools. The Dragons checked that box and proved that they are among the elite programs in the state, as the Carroll boys (20-5-1) and girls (21-2) reached the state tournament in the sport’s inaugural UIL season.

“By all accounts, we played the toughest region in the state,” head coach Keith Gomez says. “We really worked with the kids as far as having a growth mindset.”

Gomez saw his team grow up in a hurry, especially on the boys side since they had to overcome tough losses earlier in the season. The Dragons started off 5-3-1, tying then losing twice to Highland Park, as well as falling to Flower Mound Marcus. The boys then bounced back by winning 10 straight regular season games, then defeated Highland Park and Marcus in the second and fifth rounds of the playoffs, especially.

The girls looked dominant for most of the season, often winning handily and only losing once in the regular season. The loss came to rival Flower Mound, the defending state champions and Carroll’s biggest challenge to reaching state. The girls likewise found redemption in the playoffs, defeating Flower Mound 12-10 in the regional final to advance to the state tournament.

“I think they realize the pressure and how important each and every game is in the playoffs,” Gomez says.

senior TRIBUTES

MADELYN CLEM

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE-SWIMMING

We are so proud and know you will continue to do great things in this next chapter of your life!

— Love Mom, Dad, Marin & Max

”

2023

Congrats Class of ,23 ,23

KIERSTIN BUCHER JARVIS

PRE-LAW STUDIES

You embraced new paths, stuck your neck out and inspired us. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

— Love Mom, Dad, Chloe & Tyler

”

2023

DANIEL HENRICKS

MIA TESORIERO

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES

You’ve made effort and excellence a habit. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

We are so proud of all you have accomplished. Anchor down, we love you!

Mom & Dad

”

”

— Love Mom, Dad & G

2023

2023

senior TRIBUTES

CLASS OF 2023

CONGRATS ’ 23 CARROLL XC SENIORS!

SPOTLIGHT

HOME RUN

Dragon baseball welcomes players young and old p. 30

Carroll ISD Dedicates Athletic Facilities

Southlake Carroll's football field and aquatics center have storied histories of nationally-renowned teams, athletes and coaches. But starting this year, both will be operating under new names and turning the chapter towards a new era.

Last month, the Carroll ISD board of trustees approved the renaming of both facilities. The former head football coach and athletic director who led the Dragons to three state titles in 1988, 1992 and 1993, Bob Ledbetter received the distinct honor of having the football field at Dragon Stadium renamed to Bob Ledbetter Field. Inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2016, Bob was instrumental in growing Carroll

athletics from a small 3A program into one of the most prominent high school powerhouses in the nation.

But he wasn’t the only one recognized – the CISD Aquatics Center was also named after Elise Cerami. A former Dragon and member of the NTN Navy Elite swim club, Elise passed away from a drowning accident in 2016. Her mother, Lori, founded the water safety nonprofit Swim4Elise in her honor.

“We share her story to raise awareness of water safety in hope of preventing drownings,” Lori says. “We believe Elise’s legacy continues to have a positive impact on our community, and we are grateful to the city of Southlake for highlighting our efforts.”

CARROLL GIRLS FINISH FIRST AT SWIM AND DIVE REGIONALS

The Carroll swim and dive team is on the road to state. Earlier this month, the boys and girls competed against eight other teams at the Region I swim and dive meet. By the end of the contest, the girls won first place by more than 200 points and won all three of their relays, while the boys finished second overall. In total, 11 girls and seven boys qualified for the state contest and went to Austin on Feb. 17 to compete for the state title.

KENNEDY FULLER COMMITS TO UNC

Even though she is just a sophomore, Lady Dragon soccer star Kennedy Fuller has announced her intention to commit to the University of North Carolina after graduation. “I knew I wanted to call UNC home the second I stepped on the campus,” Kennedy says via Twitter. “The history and the tradition of excellence of the UNC soccer program is second to none.” Fuller served a pivotal role in the Lady Dragons’ state championship win last year as a freshman, achieving a hat trick and scoring three of the Dragons’ four goals. She currently leads the Lady Dragons with 32 goals and 83 points through 16 games this season. By attending UNC, she will join the ranks of other USWNT greats like Mia Hamm, Tobin Heath and Heather O’Reilly.

SOUTHLAKE CARROLL IN SECOND PLACE FOR LONE STAR CUP

Southlake Carroll is among the top three in the first rankings for the UIL’s prestigious Lone Star Cup. Awarded annually by the University Interscholastic League, schools in each classification earn points based on their athletic teams' performances in district and state championships. With the success of tennis, cross-country, marching band, military marching band, volleyball, robotics, football, Congress and spirit, Southlake Carroll is currently in second place with 44 points total. Out of 25 school districts, Austin Vandegrift is currently in first place with 49 points.

DRAGON CROSS-COUNTRY EXCELS AT 2023 NIKE NATIONALS

For the past 17 years, the Nike Cross Nationals has brought together 27,000 schools together to race in Portland, Oregon – and Southlake Carroll was there for 14 of them. This past winter, the Dragons competed yet again against 22 of the top teams in the nation. The girls finished in 11th place with 57 points total and Ava Bushaw in the lead, while the boys finished 20th with 56 points total and Logan Cantu being the top runner. “We are extremely proud of all of the runners in our program for their continued dedication,” coach Leonard says. “Having the opportunity to represent our school and community on a national stage is indescribable and the perfect way to cap off a season.”

CARROLL CHEER WINS NATIONAL CHEERLEADERS ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP

The Southlake Carroll Cheerleaders are officially national champions. Last year, the Carroll cheerleaders competed at the National Cheer Association High School Nationals for the first time in eight years. A year ago, Carroll finished third out of 21 of the most talented teams in the country. This year, they doubled down on their effort, finishing first out of the 20 top-ranking teams in the Game Day Large Varsity division.“We put in so much work,” head coach Cassie Hopkins says. “Even if we hadn’t won, I would still be so proud to be these girls’ coach. They never cease to amaze me day in and day out, and this journey is proof of that.”

CARROLL ISD ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR ANNOUNCES 2022 INDUCTEES

This year’s Carroll ISD Athletic Hall of Honor will see 10 new inductees enter with the class of 2022. Team inductees include the 1992 men’s basketball and the 1993 football teams, while the fan inductee for this year is Eddie Robertson. Current Detroit Lions center and 2014 Carroll graduate Evan Brown will be honored, while Justin Dobbs will represent the 1993 men’s basketball team. Swimmer Elizabeth Dunbar, tennis player Justin Hunter, soccer player Monica Alvarado and volleyball player Cat McCoy are also being inducted, as well as multi-sport athlete Larry Croy from the class of 1967. The new class will be honored during the 2023 Hall of Honor banquet on May 13th at the Southlake Hilton.

HAILEY HERNANDEZ WINS NATIONAL DIVING TITLE

Hailey Hernandez continues to garner the gold. During the U.S. Diving Weather National Championships in December, the Southlake Carroll diving alumna scored 510.6 points over two lists of dives. Going on to become the only diver to score more than 50 points on all five of her dives in the final, Hailey went on to win her second national title on the 1-meter dive and sixth place overall. “I just really wanted to go out there, stay confident and go for my dives,” Hailey says. “There were some great competitors, and I was happy to be challenged by the competition. I’m hoping to continue to improve and get some harder dives.”

DRAGON PALOOZA KICKS OFF NEW BASEBALL SEASON

Baseball season has officially begun. On Feb. 11, Dragon Palooza was held at Dragon Field to celebrate all Dragon Baseball players both past and present. Clinics were held on the field for young aspiring athletes looking to play for the Dragons one day, as well as a silent auction where bids earned lucky winners some stunning spirit wear. After all the sessions wrapped up, coach Vucan’s Varsity Dragons met on the field with Dragon Baseball alumni for a fun game between both generations. The Dragons’ new season began on Feb. 23 against Rock Hill.

LADY DRAGON SOCCER STARTS UNDEFEATED, NATIONALLY RANKED

Head coach Matt Colvin’s team is at it again. The reigning state champions are currently undefeated with a 16-0 record. Through early February games, the Lady Dragons have outscored their opponents 106-4, posting 12 shutouts and showing no signs of letting up. Led by sophomores Kenedy Fuller and Hannah Jordan, the team is currently ranked as No. 1 in the state and No. 8 nationally according to MaxPreps. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a group that started off like this year. We have so much talent at this moment. It’s kind of an anomaly for our program,” Colvin told “The Dallas Morning News.”

TYLER WHITE NAMED TO ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL

Since the Army All-American Bowl was first played in 2000, some notable football standouts have participated in the event. Southlake Carroll kicker and punter Tyler White can now add his name to the likes of recent NFL stars like Trevor Lawrence and Micah Parsons. A four-star punter and Texas A&M commit, White was honored as a member of the 2023 Army All-American Bowl, which was played on Jan. 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

DRAGON BOYS FINISH FIRST AT DISTRICT 4-6A WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

The Dragon boys wrestling team dominated the mat during the District 4-6A wrestling tournament earlier this month. Competing against 29 other teams in their region, the boys posted 272.5 points to take the top spot, with eight district champions and three additional qualifiers heading to the Region 1 meet. But the boys weren’t the only ones who had a good competition – the girls also placed third and advanced eight Lady Dragons to regionals, including twotime defending state champion Bailey Trang, who is looking to win her third consecutive state title.

CAMRYN TADE

2000

POINTS

BY ZACH WARNER PHOTOS BY BLUDOOR STUDIOS

TThe sign hung over her bed as a reminder — as motivation. It didn’t contain a clever saying or a coaching proverb, and it wasn’t an autographed photo of a favorite player. The sign simply posted the number six. It was put there by her father so his daughter could stare up and think about it each night before drifting off to sleep. Camryn Tade, then a sixth-grader, was given a challenge.

“Her goal was just to score six points,” says Gavin Tade, an Air Force colonel and commercial pilot, who wasn’t opposed to his daughter aiming high — he just wanted her to take a first step towards consistency. “She could definitely shoot and she was always a good basketball player, but she was just too shy.

“When she was little, she’d go out there and score [double-digit] points, but then sometimes she’d score zero — she just wouldn’t shoot the ball. So I told her to just try and score six points on an every-game basis.”

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

If consistency was the lesson being taught through the sign, Camryn got the message loud and clear. The Lady Dragon soon proved to be a steady and reliable scorer, showing she had more in the tank than six points each night.

In middle school, where it’s normally about giving all kids playing time more than riding the hot hand, Camryn often found her way on the court for extended minutes when an important game was on the line.

Heading into high school, Camryn was impressive enough at tryouts to earn a spot on the varsity roster as a freshman. Scoring six — and then some — was not a problem for the rising star, even as she was competing against older and more experienced opponents.

Those six points eventually became 2,000 when the senior captain broke the career scoring mark — fittingly a 3-point shot. That same day, she committed to playing for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“I think it’s very rare to be in the position where you could have 2,000 points, where your role would be such for four years that you could produce that kind of offense,” says Robyn McCoart, fifth-year head coach for the Lady Dragons basketball team. “With Camryn, a lot of it is that she’s just gritty. She’ll keep coming down the court and scoring on you. Before you know it, she has 20 and you don’t even know what happened.”

Camryn’s hot start as a freshman allowed her confidence to grow, as well as her offensive production. Averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds that year, her numbers rose as a sophomore (16.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and junior (21.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg). With a handful of games remaining in this year’s regular season, Camryn again led Carroll in scoring (21.5), ranking her among the Top 10 Class 6A scorers in North Texas — all while adding 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

The senior’s performance helped spark a Lady Dragons team that posted a 25-3 record with three district games left while looking poised to capture the district title and make some noise in the postseason.

“I love competing — I’m just a competitive person,” says the star. “Honestly, the most fun for me is rebounding and fighting for loose balls. Shooting is nice, but I love the competitive aspect.

“With Coach (McCoart), her (motto) is ‘Uncommon Attitude and Effort.’ That’s what we embody. Whether we’re up or down, we’re going to fight and we’re going to compete.”

FACING CHALLENGES AND FINDING HER ROLE

Although Camryn makes it look easy at this stage in her game, basketball was not an automatic success for the senior guard. After playing soccer and competing in gymnastics as a kid, the family searched for other athletic outlets for their daughter when the family moved to Southlake when she was in fifth grade.

Unfamiliar with the local sports scene, Camryn joined a club team and learned the ropes of the game while playing against more experienced club athletes. It was a tough lesson for Camryn as she struggled against strong competition.

“She got her butt kicked three or four years, big time,” Camryn’s mom Angie says. “She was riding the bench for a couple of years, and it was tough to watch. But she pulled through, and she was determined.

“She never wanted to quit. She liked what she was doing, so we kept her in. There were times I wanted her to quit. But yeah, she just kept with it and she got a lot better.”

Though a difficult stretch at first, playing top area athletes around her age readied her for the chance to make the jump to varsity as a freshman. Joining a Carroll team with plenty of veteran experience afforded Camryn the opportunity to play more of a support role to senior and leading scorer Jillian Sowell. She grew to take on an important role that year as the team’s sixth man.

The following year, Camryn emerged as a top scorer, but still had plenty of veteran teammates to help carry the load. Then as a junior, she and senior teammate Kylie Swanson were the two most experienced players. As such, they were named co-captains and asked to lead the charge. Camryn became the No. 1 offensive option, while Swanson was the defensive stopper for the Lady Dragons.

“Every year she’s figured out how to redefine herself,” McCoart says. “This year, we’ve added some players that are really skilled. Her role has shifted every year, but she’s always been steady. She doesn’t get rattled, and she stays the course.”

PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

If there is ever an area of her game that needs course correcting, Camryn will often take it upon herself to make the change. Such was the case as she became more of an offensive focal point for Carroll.

“My sophomore year, I only had one basketball move. It was a shot fake, one dribble and a floater, and I just hoped I got it,” Camryn says. “My junior year, my mom was like, ‘Hey, that’s not going to work. Everybody has already seen that.’ So my junior year, I tried

to shoot a few more threes, and I was getting to the basket more. I’d say that I’ve gotten better at scoring in multiple ways.”

The sure-handed guard is also dangerous from the outside (45% behind the arc), as well as anywhere on the court (55% overall FG percentage). She’s also shot well from the free throw line, hitting 74% of her attempts.

The impressive stats are the direct result of a relentless drive to be her best. Her effort during team practice, as well as evenings on the half court in her family’s backyard, continue to pay dividends. Reminders of her dedication reverberate through her dad’s eardrums almost rhythmically as he winds down in the evening.

“You could come by our house and every night, whether it’s July or January, this is the sound I hear — thump, thump, swish… thump, thump, swish… thump, thump, swish,” Gavin says. “I’ve been hearing that (rhythm) at night for like six years. She shoots until she hits some metric in her head. Maybe it’s 300 shots a night. It has to be, because I have that sound ingrained in my skull.”

That passion is evident on game night as well. but it’s also alive and kicking during weekday practices. At times, her teammates wonder if her intensity ever turns off. But they also realize it’s a positive push for them as well.

“She’s always competitive in practice, she’ll always be going hard,” junior forward Taryn Barnes says. “Sometimes it’s frustrating, because it’s like, ‘Dang it, Camryn, give us a break!’ She’s always going 110%, but it pushes the team to do better. She’s a catalyst.”

“She’s the most hard-working person I’ve ever seen in my life,” senior guard Ria Singh says. “She inspires me, and I think her hard work kind of rubs off on the whole team.”

“I just feel like she’s such a great example to all of us of what a great leader is all about,” sophomore point guard Milania Jordan says.

A TRADITION OF SERVICE

There is little doubt Camryn will bring the same leadership to the next level as she prepares for college ball. But her athletic destination carries more weight with it than just the fact she’ll compete in college sports. Her West Point commitment represents the continuation of a family tradition of military service.

It all started with Gavin’s father, who served in the Army. Gavin followed the call and now has three decades of service in the Air Force, while his two broth-

ers have also served in both the Air Force and Army.

“I really look up to my Dad. I think they’re all incredible,” Camryn says of her family’s service. “I think it’s an incredible sacrifice, so I’ve kind of known I wanted to join the military.”

Just which branch of service she would enter was yet to be determined until this January. Camryn also applied at both the Air Force and Naval academies, but after some visits, it became clear she’d land at West Point.

Gavin says there was never any pressure for her or any of their kids to join the military. But he began noticing a growing interest from Camryn over the last two years. Angie saw the same and felt a branch of service might be a perfect fit.

“I really thought that she was kind of made for it,” Angie says. “She’s just kind of got that personality. She’s competitive, she really holds other people to very high standards and she holds herself to those standards.”

The standards go beyond athletics. Camryn excels in the classroom as well, taking advanced classes and scoring a 1500 on the SAT. Academics actually come easier than sports for her, and she’s learned to balance her time doing both. The accomplishments in school garnered Academic All-District Honors three years in a row, with a fourth one likely. West Point’s tradition impressed Camryn, but the young athlete impressed the Black Knights’ coaching staff as well. Camryn, her family and second-year West Point women’s basketball coach Missy Traversi were equally thrilled when the incoming cadet gave her commitment during a visit in January.

“West Point’s mission is to develop leaders of character. Camryn has displayed those qualities prior to beginning her time here,” Traversi says.

Camryn’s college teammates and opponents will soon get a good taste of the fire and passion she carries onto the court. However, her journey as a Lady Dragon is not yet complete. There are still goals of a lengthy playoff run, and it’s good to know the team’s stat and emotional leader is still hyper-focused on the tasks at hand.

“Whatever my job is, whether it’s to rebound, pass, score, hustle or play defense, I want to be remembered as someone who did my job, did what I was assigned to the best of my ability,” Cameryn says.

Through her effort, attitude and abilities, Camryn Tade is proof that putting in the work pays dividends. And those dividends will be felt at Carroll for many years to come.

She’s the most hard-working person I’ve ever seen in my life.

— Senior Guard Ria Singh

Dr. Michael Nguyen is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who completed a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, knee and hip. He specializes in the care of all levels of athletes from elite competitors to weekend warriors. During these unprecedented times we are working hard to keep you covered even when times are tough.

Michael L. Nguyen, M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon

signing day national

40 40

DRAGON ATHLETES SIGN

NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

During Carroll ISD's National Signing Day ceremonies in November and February, 40 Dragon athletes signed letters of intent, committing themselves to play their sport in college. Coach Larry Vucan’s baseball team led with seven signees, followed by coach Riley Dodge's football team with six signees.

Paige Becker - SOCCER - Virginia Military Institute

Lexi Drap - SWIMMING - Texas Christian University

Luke Gill - BASEBALL - University of Dallas

Kaite Heintz - SWIMMING - Vanderbilt University

Hailey Heldenbrand - SWIMMING - Florida State University

Jenna Hurley - DIVING - Colorado Mesa University

Bailey Kaiser - SWIMMING - University of Tampa

Brooke Jones - LACROSSE - Mercer University

Ashley Kim - GOLF - Arkansas State University

Armani Knipper - BASEBALL - Amarillo College

Jordyn Mactavish - BEACH VOLLEYBALL - Texas Christian University

Jack Manero - LACROSSE - US Military Academy at West Point

Ethan Mendoza - BASEBALL - Arizona State University

Asher Millimet - BASEBALL - Vassar College

Caden Orr - BASEBALL - Weatherford College

Madison Pensom - SOCCER - St. Francis College

Colin Robson - BASEBALL - Duke University

Carter Ruck - BASKETBALL - Trinity University

Maddy Sexton - SOCCER - Dallas Baptist University

Luke Sganga - LACROSSE - University of Utah

Hannah Tichenor - LACROSSE - Palm Beach Atlantic University

Cameron Timmons - SOFTBALL - Harding University

Ben Tryon - BASEBALL - Dallas Baptist University

Payton Wilkerson - SOCCER - Manhattan College

Kaylee Young - VOLLEYBALL - University of Southern California

Owen Allen - FOOTBALL - United States Air Force Academy

Rosabella Andrade - TENNIS - Trinity University

Ava Bushaw - CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK - Army West Point

Art Clayton - FOOTBALL - Morehead State University

Audrey Dunn - CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK - Auburn University

Jake Hall - FOOTBALL - Tarleton State University

Maddie Khan - SOCCER - University of Houston

Maile Nelson - ROWING - University of California, Berkeley

Brock O’Quinn - FOOTBALL - University of Alabama

Parker Owens - SOCCER - California Polytechnic State University

Andrew Perez - FOOTBALL - University of South Florida

Sophia Rhodes - ROWING - University of California, Los Angeles

Camryn Tade - BASKETBALL - Army West Point

Aidan Twamley - TENNIS - The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)

Tyler White - FOOTBALL - Texas A&M University

REPRESENTED,23 well ,23

CURVE LOUNGE: HAPPY HOUR DAILY 4PM - 6PM

WINE WEDNESDAY: ALL DAY SPECIALS

REPRESENTED,23 well ,23

REPRESENTED,23 well ,23

Diving Into A New Season Of Carroll Water Polo

Water polo is much more than simply swimming, splashing and scoring the ball, and Keith Gomez knows that with over 20 years of coaching experience in the pool. Prior to becoming Carroll’s water polo coach last year, Keith volunteered as a coach for many club sports, including swimming and lacrosse. But when water polo became an official UIL sport last year, Keith stepped up to take the Dragons to a higher level.

I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE SPORT OF WATER POLO AT… the University of Arizona. I was swimming, and a couple of other kids I knew were playing water polo. I looked at them and thought if they could do it, I could do it. I went to one of their practices, and the next thing I knew, I made it onto the team. I eventually became the Wildcat’s leading scorer and a four-year letterman.

THERE’S A LOT OF CHALLENGES AS FAR AS… the physical nature and endurance of the sport goes. You’re playing in 8-10 feet deep of water. You’re swimming, you’re passing the ball and you’re trying to score in under 30 seconds. But what really makes it special is the team dynamic. In high school, I played football and basketball, and you build a lot of relationships by being part of a team. You get some opportunities like that in swimming, but not like you do in other ball sports. Water polo is a great alternative to swimming that keeps you in swim shape while maintaining that teamwork aspect.

I WAS A STAY-AT-HOME DAD FOR ABOUT… 10 years before I started coaching for Caroll water polo. During that time, I did a lot of volunteering and coaching for the water polo club and the North Texas Nadadores swim team. I grew a passion for working with kids, and that really took off when I started working with Southlake.

WATER POLO IS A MUCH BIGGER DEAL AS… a UIL sport. It’s much more recognized by the school systems and the district. Practices in the water become much more important, which is difficult because you’re always competing for water time against other people.

THERE’S ALSO A LOT MORE… competition and pressure there. Each game you play matters –especially in district. As a club, you might lose in the playoffs and still get invited to go to a state tournament. UIL doesn’t work that way. You make the playoffs, you win or lose and you’re done. You really want to vie and get that upper seed so you have a clearer and easier path to get through region.

IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND TO… make it to state for our first season. When it came to the playoffs, we were really fortunate to beat Highland Park in the second round, because they were widely expected to win region. To have both teams win region was really special and a great boost for the kids on their way to state.

NOW THAT THE KIDS HAVE GOTTEN A TASTE OF… going to region and state, they really want to go back next year. More importantly, they realize it’s going to be a lot harder and that they’re going to need to put in a lot of extra work to make it there. But they’re committed to coming back and doing just that. They’re very eager to return to the water and continue developing their game.

I’M JUST REALLY PROUD OF… our kids. They’re all very talented and contribute a lot to the program. The pressure could have easily had a huge impact on the kids, but they stayed focused, never got distracted, kept their heads forward and never really missed a beat. It’s really fun to see them develop and work toward success. They’re tremendous players, but they’re even better kids.

FIVE MINUTES with ...

COACH KEITH GOMEZ

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The stage is set for another Dragon victory

parting SHOT

PHOTO BY STEWART JOHNSON

An expert in all facets of home design from construction detailing to turnkey interiors. Susan has the unique gift of creating custom pieces of furnishings, fabrics, drapery, bedding, upholstery, rugs, floral arrangements and more!

Dr. Shane Tolleson and family