Sept. 7, 2024 issue

Vol. 1, No. 2

Austin Sports Journal Sept. 7, 2024

AustinSportsJournal.com

Heart Attack Wolf Pack

Cedar Park beats Vandegrift in overtime thriller PAGE 3

ON SOCIAL MEDIA @ASJSportsATX

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austinsportsjournal.com/newsletter-signup/ Austin Sports Journal P.O. Box 160911 Austin, TX 78716

WATER POLO

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Westlake girls find success in 1st season

San Benito.............7 Westlake..............63

Rockwall..............42 Lake Travis..........45

Rouse..................38 Liberty Hill............57

Stony Point..........24 Buda Johnson......35

Weiss...................54 San Marcos...........0

Glenn...................41 Copp. Cove..........40

Hutto....................29 Conv. Judson.......31

Round Rock.........42 Temple.................21

Anderson.............55 Elgin.......................7

With a new program in a fairly new sport to many of the players, the Chaps are in position to take on the state’s best as postseason looms.

– Page 8

– More scores inside, page 4

CONTACT US Mailing address: P.O. Box 160911, Austin, TX 78716 Email: madams@austinsportsjournal.com Phone: 512-779-4527 PUBLISHER & OWNER Michael Adams AUSTIN SPORTS JOURNAL (ISSN: Pending) is published weekly on Saturdays by The Sports Journals, LLC. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is strictly prohibited. Subscription rates are $29.99 annually (52 weeks). Subscriptions automatically renew, but can be canceled anytime. Readers may purchase subscriptions at austinsportsjournal.com. © 2024 | Austin Sports Journal STORY IDEAS Send tips to publisher Michael Adams at madams@ austinsportsjournal.com.

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CORRECTIONS & CLARRIFICATIONS Fair and accurate reporting is at the heart of what we do at the Austin Sports Journal. Contact Publisher Michael Adams at madams@austinsportsjournal.com about anything that is incorrect or needs clarification.

On the sidelines photo of the week

5

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

QUESTIONS WITH...

LUKE WELTON, WESTLAKE BOYS WATER POLO

What is your biggest water polo ick?

My biggest ick in water polo is when the caps that we have to wear are too small and it hurts my ears.

If you were given $1 million, what is the first thing you’d do, and you can’t say travel?

I would give some to my family for everything they have put into me, all the hours they spent driving me to different events. I would then put the rest towards improving Texas water polo opportunities.

Photo courtesy of Westlake water polo

2 | Sept. 7, 2024

What would your last meal be?

Warm bread for a starter, then a steak and potatoes for the main course and the best ice cream for desert.

Who is your favorite water polo player from the Austin area that’s not on your team?

Zeke Simeloff from LASA. He has so much enthusiasm for the sport even though he’s not the biggest player in stature. He has the biggest heart in the game of water polo.

What are the first three songs you’re putting on a pregame playlist?

King of Time by Johnny Clegg, Cradles by Sub Urban, and Wake Me Up by Avicii

Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal

The Cedar Park High School student section cheers on the Timberwolves Friday at Gupton Stadium.

Bonus question: If you could invite one person in the history of the world to dinner, who would you invite?

I would have dinner with Nelson Mandela because he died when I was living in South Africa and about 4 years old. I would want to talk to him for guidance on how he dealt with being a leader and the choices that made him so great to the country.

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

Sept. 7, 2024 | 3

HOW OUR POWER 5s FARED

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CLASS 6A UP NEXT vs. Humble Atascocita

WESTLAKE (2-0)

def. San Benito 63-7

LAKE TRAVIS (2-0)

UP NEXT at Midland Legacy

VANDEGRIFT (1-1)

UP NEXT at. Stony Point (Thur.)

AUSTIN HIGH (2-0)

UP NEXT at Buda Johnson (Thur.)

HUTTO (1-1)

UP NEXT vs. Cedar Ridge

def. Rockwall 45-42

Lost to Cedar Park 49-46

def. Westwood 35-34

Lost to Judson 31-29

49 46 2 OVERTIMES

Timberwolves snap losing streak to Vipers

CLASS 5A UP NEXT vs. A&M Cons.

(Thur.)

WEISS (2-0)

def. San Marcos 54-0

BASTROP (1-1)

UP NEXT vs. Rouse

Lost to China Spring 27-24

LIBERTY HILL (1-1)

UP NEXT vs. EP Eastlake (at Midland)

ANDERSON (2-0)

UP NEXT at College Station

def. Roiuse 57-38

def. Elgin 55-7

UP NEXT vs. Copperas Cove

GEORGETOWN (2-0) def. McCallum 39-10

CLASS 4A & BELOW

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High School Football

WIMBERLEY (2-0)

def. Fredericksburg 35-9

UP NEXT at LBJ (Nelson)

Open

UP NEXT vs. Wimberley (Nelson)

LAGO VISTA (1-1)

UP NEXT vs. Taylor

LA GRANGE (1-1)

UP NEXT at Smithville

MARBLE FALLS (1-1)

UP NEXT at Llano

Lost to Waco Connally 44-26

Lost to Jarrell 21-14

Cedar Park linebacker Logan Wicketts (31) makes the chomping motion after a tackle for a loss during a high school football game at Gupton Stadium on Friday in Cedar Park.

By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal

LBJ (1-0)

Lost to Columbus 63-21

Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal

CEDAR PARK – Cedar Park’s recent history with Vandegrift hasn’t been that great.

The Timberwolves (1-1) lost their last three meetings against their Leander ISD rival, but on Friday they caught lightning in a bottle.

It took two overtimes, but Cedar Park was finally able to put the nail in the proverbial coffin with a 26-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from David Cooper to Bowen Travis to seal the 49-46 victory in double overtime at Gupton Stadium.

Don’t be fooled. Vandegrift (1-1) sure gave Cedar Park every opportunity over and over again.

The Vipers missed two field goals, including one late in the fourth quarter that could have won the game.

Then there were the penalties and a muffed snap on the Cedar Park 6-yard-line in overtime.

None of that would have mattered had Cedar Park not seized every opportunity given to them.

MORE COVERAGE ONLINE See more photos with this story online at austinsportsjournal.com.

Up next • •

Cedar Park vs. Huntsville, 7 p.m., Friday at Gupton Vandegrift at Stony Point, 7 p.m., Thursday at KRAC

Like, for instance, junior running back Trae Hill’s 21yard touchdown run late fourth quarter touchdown to tie the game. Or his third touchdown of the game that put the Timberwolves up 41-35 in the first overtime.

In the end it wasn’t just Hill’s continuous sparks, but a collective effort that finally ended a three-year losing streak to the Vipers.

“There were a lot of guys who put us in position to win, the O-line did a great job and the defense stepped up as well,” said Cedar Park head coach Michael Quintero.

4 | Sept. 7, 2024

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

High School Football SCOREBOARD

35 34

Late touchdown toss by Ditta lifts Lake Travis past Rockwall

Thursday’s scores Bowie 37, Vista Ridge 28 Lake Belton 41, McNeil 28 Leander 42, Hendrickson 21 Pflugerville 47, Hays 7 Austin High 35, Westwood 34 Harker Heights 38, Manor 14 Akins 42, Cedar Creek 29 Killeen Chaparral 54, Manor New Tech 0 Friday’s games Class 6A Westlake 63, San Benito 7 Buda Johnson 35, Stony Point 24 Converse Judson 31, Hutto 29 Dripping Springs 35, San Antonio Wagner 6 Weiss 54, San Marcos 0 Lake Travis 45, Rockwall 42 Round Rock 42, Temple 21 Waco Midway 44, Cedar Ridge 14 Schertz Clemens 37, Del Valle 13

Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal

Rockwall’s Justin Rickers (2) hits Lake Travis quarterback Chaston Ditta (2) as he makes a pass during a football game at Cavarlier Stadium on Friday in Austin. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal Chaston Ditta connected with Patrick Colby for a 10-yard touchdown toss late in the fourth quarter to push Lake Travis to a 45-42 win over Rockwall in a battle of two state ranked teams.

The No. 8 Cavaliers (2-0) found themselves in an early 17-7 hole, but Ditta and the offense found its grove in the second quarter.

Ditta found Colby for a 38-yard touchdowwn to pull the caves to within three.

The Austin Sports Journal’s Week 1 player of the week Vann Hopping scored with 51 seconds left in the half to send Lake Travis into the locker room at halftime with a 21-17 lead.

Ditta found Colby again on the first drive of the third quarter to give the Cavs a comfortable 28-17 lead after the extra point, but the Yellowjackets wouldn’t go away.

No. 18 Rockwall tied the game at 28 midway through the third quarter. However, Lake Travis got a field goal

MORE COVERAGE ONLINE See more photos with this story online at austinsportsjournal.com.

Up next •

Lake Travis at Midland Legacy, 7 p.m., Friday

and a rushing touchdown by a resilient Ditta to extend the lead back to 10 points.

The Yellowjackets, however, wouldn’t go away and cut the lead to seven with a field goal with nine minutes left in the game.

Five minutes later, got a touchdown pass from Landyn Locke to put Rockwall ahead 42-38.

The Cavaliers offense then put together what ended up being the game-winning scoring drive.

The Yellowjackets had a chance to send the game to overtime, but missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Class 5A Cedar Park 49, Vandegrift 46 (2 OT) Liberty hill 57, Rouse 38 Glenn 41, Copperas Cove 40 McCallum 42, Travis 14 Sam Antonio Southwest 36, Lockhart 23 Connally 49, Taylor 15 East View 51, Burnet 0 Georgetown 39, Belton 10 China Spring 27, Bastrop 24 Canyon Lake 56, Crockett 0 LASA 20, Eastside 8 Navarro 19, Northeast 16 Anderson 55, Elgin 7 Class 4A Jarrell 21, Marble Falls 14 Lampasas 49, Salado 30 Giddings 41, Smithville 7 Columbus 63, La Grange 21 Wimberley 35, Fredericksburg 9 St. Anthony’s 66, Austin Achieve 0 Waco Connally 44, Lago Vista 26 Class 3A Thrall 38, Roesebud-Lott 21 Randolph 19, Blanco 12 Class 2A Bartlett 16, Bruceville-Eddy 14 Johnson City 36, Sonora 35 Thorndale 33, Granger 27 Hubbard 70, McDade 24

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

Sept. 7, 2024 | 5

Thursday Football Rewind 35 34

Maroons escape with late score Austin High snaps eight-game losing streak to Warriors

By Michael Adams madams@austinsportsjournal.com

Despite an impressive night from Westwood quarterback Cooper Waits, the Austin High Maroons couldn’t be denied Thursday night.

Trailing 34-28 with under a minute to play, quarterback John Latham connected with fellow senior Bryson Batts for a 53-yard touchdown pass to push Austin High past Westwood 34-35 at House Park Sta+dium in downtown Austin.

Batts finished the night with three touchdowns, helping the Maroons to their first 2-0 start since the 2020 season.

Westwood (0-2) looked like a completely different team from last week’s 43-7 loss to Waco Midway.

The Warriors offense exploded to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter behind an impressive performance from sophomore quarterback Cooper Waits, who threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns.

Running back Scott Uffelman blew through the Austin High defense for a 60-yard touchdown run on Westwood’s second play of the game to give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later, Waits completed a 20-yard pass to Drew Norrell to extend the lead to 14-0.

The Maroons stopped the bleeding with a 3-yard touchdown run by junior Reid Childers, his first of two for the game. Before Childers could score his second, Westwood running back Xavion Sutton scored on a 1-yard run late in the first quarter.

The Warriors took a 21-14 lead into the locker room, but Austin High quickly tied the game in the first minute with a 30-yard touchdown run by Batts.

Waits answered on the Warriors next possession, finding Norrell for his second touchdown reception of the game.

Batts tied the game again midway through the fourth quarter on a 60-yard touchdown run and then answered another Warriors score with his last-minute heroics.

Up next • •

Austin High at Buda Johnson, 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Shelton Stadium Westwood vs. McNeil, 7 p.m., Friday at Kelly Reeves Stadium

Top: Austin High’s Reid Childers (23) scores a touchdown during a high school football game on Thursday at House Park Stadium in Austin. Left: Westwood’s Drew Norrell (4) is greeted by teammates after scoring a touchdown.

Michael Adams photos/ Austin Sports Journal

6 | Sept. 7, 2024

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

Thursday Football Rewind 37 28

47 7

Lightning doesn’t strike Panthers high-powered twice for Vista Ridge offense rolls to a big win From Staff Reports BUDA – The Pflugerville Panthers (2-0) spoiled Hays’ first-year head coach Mark Torres’ home debut at Bob Shelton Stadium.

The Panthers’ high-powered offense, led by junior quarterback Cole Taylor, looked unstoppable in a 47-7 win over the Hawks. Pflugerville scored 47-unanswered points and looked to be on its way to a shutout, but the Hawks (1-1) got a late touchdown to avoid the shutout.

Pflugerville has scored 101 points. inits first two games, defeating opponents by an average 33 points.

Up next • •

Pflugerville at Fort Bend Christian 7:30 p.m., Friday Hays vs. Hendrickson, 7:30 p.m., Friday at Shelton Stadium

Ursula Rogers for the Austin Sports Journal

Vista Ridge’s JD Jackson (13) is pursued by Jackson Long (0) of Bowie during a high school football game at Gupton Stadium on Thursday in Cedar Park.

By Steve Thomas Special to the Austin Sports Journal CEDAR PARK ­– Lightning was not just striking from the skies over Gupton Stadium.

After streaking to a 60-34 win over Manor last week, the Bowie Bulldogs (2-) bolted to a fast start against the Vista Ridge Rangers and rolled to a 37-28 win in a soggy Thursday night game.

“We knew they were going to play us hard and fight until the end; and we found a way to get it done this year,” said Bowie head coach Jeff Ables.

Annmarie Davis for the Austin Sports Journal

Pflugerville running back Rhyder Miller (24) makes a run during a high school football game at Shelton Stadium on Thursday in Buda.

Last year, Vista Ridge got the upper hand and defeated the Bulldogs 21-14. The Rangers (1-1) had some brilliant flashes on offense, but the Bulldogs made several big plays to hinder the surge.

The Bulldogs were in control early in the first half.

After forcing the Rangers to punt on the opening drive, Owen booted a 35-yard field goal for an early lead.

Up next • •

Bowie vs Glenn, 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Burger Stadium Vista Ridge at Round Rock, 7 p.m., Friday

Defensive back Taylor Gibbs’s interception then ended Vista Ridge’s possession after two plays. The Bulldogs capitalized with a methodical drive culminating in a 17-yard touchdown grab by Owen Ball from quarterback Cruz Tello.

Midway through the second quarter, Bowie defensive back Aeden Solis jumped in front of Vista Ridge quarterback Kaden Arnott’s pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.

The Rangers were able to gain some momentum on the next drive. Arnott connected with receiver Kieren Paegle for a one-yard touchdown toss shortly before halftime, but the Bulldogs blocked the extra point and Continued on page 7

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

Sept. 7, 2024 | 7

Football Look Ahead: Week 3 SCHEDULE

Thursday’s games

East View at Belton, 7 p.m.

Vandegrift at Stony Point, 7 p.m. at Kelly Reeves A&M Consolidated at Weiss, 7 p.m. at The Pfield Austin High at Buda Johnson, 7:30 p.m. at Shelton Stadium LASA at Northeast, 7:30 p.m. at Nelson Stadium Glenn at Bowie, 7:30 p.m. at Burger Stadium

Big School Game of the Week A&M CONSOLIDATED 2-0 TIGERS

@

WEISS WOLVES

2-0

7 p.m.,Thursday at The Pfield | Series record: First meeting VANDEGRIFT TO WATCH: LB Ethan Walton; DL Vakpuna Foketi; QB Will Hargett; WR Colton Chmelar; WR Darius Roberts. OL Jud Brown.

CEDAR PARK PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jaxon Schad; WR Adrian Wilson; RBN DJ Dugar; DB Jason Stokes; DB Jorian Guinn; RB/WR Braiden Wooley

Friday’s games

Liberty Hill vs. El Paso Eastlake 6 p.m. at Midland Christian Lake Travis at Midland Legacy, 7 p.m.

Vista Ridge at Round Rock, 7 p.m. at Dragon Stadium McNeil at Westwood, 7 p.m. at Kelly Reeves Rouse at Waco Midway, 7 p.m.

Anderson at College Station, 7 p.m.

Cedar Ridge at Hutto, 7 p.m.

Del Valle at Leander, 7 p.m. at Bible Stadium Huntsville at Cedar Park, 7 p.m. at Gupton Stadium Bryan Rudder at Connally, 7 p.m. at The Pfield Elgin at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Copperas Cove at Georgetown, 7 p.m.

Marble Falls at Llano, 7 p.m.

San Antonio Lanier at Blanco, 7 p.m.

Holland at Granger, 7 p.m.

Risel at Thorndale, 7 p.m.

Austin Achieve at Florence, 7 p.m.

McDade at New Braunfels Christian, 7 p.m.

Humble Atascocita at Westlake, 7:30 p.m.

Dripping Springs at Harker Heights, 7:30 p.m.

San Antonio Wagner at San Marcos, 7:30 p.m.

Akins at Manor New Tech, 7:30 p.m. ‘ Hendrickson at Hays, 7:30 p.m. at Shelton Stadium McCallum at Dallas Pinkston, 7:30 p.m.

Lehman at Lockhart, 7:30 p.m.

Navarro at Travis, 7:30 p.m. at Burger Stadium Crockett at New Braunfels Long Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Burnet at Little River Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Mart at Bartlett, 7:30 p.m.

Bastrop at Plano Prestonwood, 7:30 p.m.

Wimberley at LBJ, 7:30 p.m. at Nelson Stadium Thrall at Eastside, 7:30 p.m. at House Park Salado at Giddings, 7:30 p.m.

La Grange at Smithville, 7:30 p.m.

Taylor at Lago Vista, 7:30 p.m.

Jarrell at Caldwell, 7:30 p.m.

Miles at Johnson City, 7:30 p.m.

Small School Game of the Week WIMBERLEY LBJ @ 2-0 TEXANS JAGUARS

1-0

7:30 p.m.,Friday at Nelson Stadium | Series record: First meeting WIMBERLEY PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Cody Stoever; WR/ DB Noah Waida; LB/TE Reid Leinnewber; OL Hudson Rivera; RB/LB Braden Cayce; WR/DB Danny Effiom.

LB PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Ali Scott; DB Yahieim Riley; RB Caleb Crenshaw; DB K.J. Houston; WR/DB Treawn YoungHenderson; WB/DB Marquis Murry.

Continued from page 6 took a 17-6 lead into the locker room.

Vista Ridge rallied last week to defeat Killeen after being down 21-0. The Rangers looked for a similar spark in the second half. However, the resilient Bulldogs held off any second half magic.

Vista Ridge was able to claw their way back into the game early in the second half. After forcing the Bowie to punt on the opening drive of the second half, Arnott found the end zone on a two-yard quarterback keeper.

The Rangers faked the extra-point attempt and converted the two-point try to cut the Bulldogs lead to three.

However, the Bulldogs responded on the next possession with a one-yard touchdown keeper by Tello.

Receiver DeShaun Castillo capped of the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.

After the touchdown, defensive back Seth Jupe made a huge play with an interception at the Bowie 36-yard line.Following the interception, the Vista Ridge drive stalled out at the Bowie 32-yard line.

Down 23-21 in the fourth quarter, Vista Ridge Head Coach Chad Scott turned to his kicker, Clarence Deiparine, for a 49-yard field goal but the Bulldogs blocked the attempt.

One play later, Bowie running back Kayson Mathabela scored on a 44-yard touchdown run. However, Vista Ridge’s JD Jackson kept the Rangers within striking distance with a 19-yard touchdown run.

Bowie wasn’t to be denied as Cruz connected with Rowen Wells for a late 18-yard touchdown pass to secure the win.

Ursula Rogers for the Austin Sports Journal

Bowie’s Owen Ball (3) checks his position with an official during a high school football game at Gupton Stadium on Thursday in Cedar Park.

8 | Sept. 7, 2024

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

Water Polo GIRLS WATER POLO

Despite a learning curve for many players, the Chaps are finding success in the pool

By Michael Adams Austin Sports Journal The Westlake girls water polo team has had a few growing pains in their first year of competition.

Not just in the pool, which requires players to tread water seven feet deep for about 45 minutes chasing a volleyball-like ball and finding a way to put it past a goalkeeper.

There’s definitely been a learning curve.

Several players played the sport for the first time competitively in August when the UIL water polo season began its third year of competition.

The learning curve has even extends to head coach Darci Caruthers, who stepped in to coach the boys team last year when that program started.

Caruthers, who also is the head girls soccer coach, also took on the girls water polo team when Westlake decided to start a team for the 2024 season. Caruthers described the sport as a mixture of soccer, volleyball, swimming and, “a little bit of MMA.” “About two years ago, they decided to field a boys team but couldn’t find a coach. They had candidates, but they weren’t teacher certified,” Caruthers said. “They were on the brink of just canceling the (boys) season, so I felt I needed to step up so these kids had a place to play and a coach to help get this thing going.”

Water polo became a UIL sanctioned sport in 2022 and it spread rapidly in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas. The sport is slowly catching on in the Austin area where there are 13 boys and 12 girls programs.

Westlake’s girls team is one of five new programs for the 2024 season, along with Bowie and McNeil’s boys and girls teams.

Caruthers aided by freshman Allee Prol, who’s father, Ken Proll played water polo at Johns Hopkins University.

Allee has been playing club water polo for a few years now and said she was exited to help start the girls team at Westlake.

“My brother was on the boys team last year, so I was happy when I found out we were getting a girls team (at Westlake),” she said. “This sport is chaos, but it’s fun. The best thing about it is that it’s a team sport and we all get collectively better.

Then there’s goalkeeper Julie Jordan, who is also a volleyball player. Jordan didn’t play water polo until this year but has always had a bit of curiosity about it.

“I’ve always had an interest in water polo, it’s always looked like fun, and being a volleyball player, I thought it would be a good way to get stronger and better conditioning because there’s a lot of conditioning involved,” she said. “I ran a lot in the summer to get ready for volleyball, but what’s really helped was just mental

Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal

Westlake’s Allee Prol (5) takes a shot during practice on Wednesday, at the Westlake Aquatics Center in Austin. conditioning and reminding myself I could do this.”

Westlake is 2-5-1 so far this season. The Chaps picked up the programs first win in history against Anderson in the season opener, a 14-2 decision. Westlake’s second win was against Garland Sachse at a tournament in Lewisville last week.

The Chaps closed out the regular season this week at the Ridgewood Rumble in Round Rock.

The District 24-6A tournament is on the horizon with the first round scheduled for Sept. 20 at Hays Moody Pool. Westlake will host the second round of the district tournament on Oct. 5 at the Westlake High School Aquatics Center.

There are four teams in District 24-6A, including Buda Johnson, Hays and Lehman. All four will make the playoffs, which begin Oct. 7.

MORE COVERAGE ONLINE See more photos and video with this story online at austinsportsjournal.com.

WATER POLO RULES •

6 “field” players and 1 goalie start the game. Teams consist of up to 15 players.

•

Field players must pass, catch, and shoot with only 1 hand. Goalies may use 2 hands.

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Taking the ball under water when guarded is a turnover.

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The official playing field is at least 25 yards long, 20 yards wide, and 7 feet deep.

• • •

Players may not touch the bottom or hang on the wall.

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There is a 30 second shot clock per possession.

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Minor fouls occur frequently and result in a free pass.

There is no limit to minor fouls.

•

After 3 major fouls (ejections), a player may not return to the game.

Games consist of four eight minute quarters.

Source: U.S. Water Polo

Austin Sports Journal | AustinSportsJournal.com

RANKINGS

Records are as of Sept. 5

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CLASS 6A

Sept. 7, 2024 | 9

Volleyball AUSTIN AREA VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DRIPPING SPRINGS (33-1)

Up next: vs. Cornerstone Christian (Fri.)

MC Brandl

AUSTIN HIGH (28-3)

Up next: vs. Buda Johnson (Tue.)

Glenn, outside hitter, junior

BUDA JOHNSON (25-5)

Brandl had 17 kills, three aces and 20 digs in the Grizzlies win over Bowie on Tuesday. Glenn has been one of the surprises of the 2024 season, and Brandl has been a big part of that success.

Up next: at Austin High (Tue.)

ROUND ROCK (21-11) Up next: at Hutto (Tue.)

WESTLAKE (18-12)

Up next: vs. Anderson (Tue.)

CLASS 5A

About the selection process: Each week, the Austin Sports Journal selects five players from Austin area schools that had standout performances during the previous week of action and let readers vote on the winner. Voting takes place Thursday through noon, Fridays. The winner is announced each week in our e-paper and online on Sundays.

Past winners Week 1: Laney Hennessee, Wimberley Week 2: Takyla Brown, Weiss

GEORGETOWN (23-6)

Game of the Week

Up next: vs. Cedar Park (Tue.)

LIBERTY HILL (25-5)

Up next: at Salado (Tue.)

WEISS (23-8)

Up next: at Burnet (Tue.)

MCCALLUM (16-10)

Up next: at Leander (Tue.)

CEDAR PARK (14-15)

Courtesy photo of SonnyZepeda/A2Z Media

BUDA JOHNSON 25-5 JAGUARS

@

AUSTIN HIGH MAROONS

6:30 p.m.,Tuesday at Maroon Gymnasium | Series record: Austin High leads series 4-2 Last meeting: Austin High won 25-15, 25-16 on Aug. 24, 2024.

BUDA JOHNSON PLAYERS TO WATCH: Zaniah Hoskins, Sr., outside hitter; Brooklyn Myers, Sr., setter/right-side hitter; Rileigh Butler, Jr., defensive specialist; Sophie Haskell, Jr., defensive specialist; Macy Philips, Jr., setter.

AUSTIN HIGH PLAYERS TO WATCH: Riley Malloy, Jr., outside hitter; Chole Kelly, Jr., outside hitter; Harper Luthy, Sr., outside hitter; Camille Presley, So., middle blocker, Laven Blumoff, So., libero; Maddy Kaven, Jr., right-side hitter.

Rileigh Butler of Buda Johnson

Austin High's Laven Blumoff

Up next: at Georgetown (Tue.)

CLASS 4A & BELOW

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WIMBERLEY (22-2)

Up next: vs. Lockhart (Tue.)

SALADO (23-4)

Up next: vs. Liberty Hill (Tue.)

GATEWAY PREP (16-3)

Up next: at Marble Falls (Sept. 17)

JOHNSON CITY (20-7)

Up next: vs. D’Hanis (Tue.)

MARBLE FALLS (15-8)

Up next: vs. Fredericksburg (Tue.)

28-3